On Aconcagua Radio, an analysis of the positive season in Las Leñas despite the late start of the snow

Fernando Passano, director of Mountain Activities at Las Leñas , explained how the winter season is unfolding at the Malargüino resort. While weather conditions hampered the start, tourist attendance is steady, and activities for non-skiers are gaining increasing importance.

The winter season at Las Leñas got off to a difficult start due to the lack of early snowfall. “We started with a fairly mild autumn that prevented the mountain from cooling down in a timely manner. We were unable to produce artificial snow, and that made the start difficult,” explained Fernando Passano, the ski resort's director of mountain activities, in an interview withAconcagua Radio .

However, the cold snap a few weeks ago allowed for large volumes of snow to be produced and the existing snow to be preserved. "On June 28, we were able to open the most important section of the mountain, Sector 1, with 7.5 km of skiable slopes. The snow is in very good condition thanks to the artificial snow," Passano emphasized.

Tourism has been growing over the weeks. “The season always kicks off with people from Mendoza, due to its proximity. Then visitors from the rest of the country begin to arrive. Now we're waiting for Buenos Aires , which begins its recess on July 19th. And in August, visitors from the north usually come, looking to avoid the crowds,” he explained.

Occupancy projections for the coming weeks are positive: “We expect to be close to 80 or 70% occupancy. From the beginning, we were honest about what we were offering, explaining that only sector 1 was available. Even so, people chose to come, and we're very satisfied.”

For those who don't ski, Las Leñas has expanded its options. "We're surprised by the number of people who come to enjoy the mountains without skiing. We have the Adventure Park, where you can use sleds, and also a chairlift to go up without skiing. We've also added snowshoe hikes, which are very popular," Passano noted.

Admission to the Adventure Park is $15,000 for ages 11 and up, and free for children under 11. The chairlift costs the same for adults, and $8,000 for children ages 4 to 11. The snowshoe tour costs $10,000. "The prices aren't as unaffordable as you might think. We also have a variety of dining options, from high-end restaurants to food trucks with prices comparable to those in any city," he clarified.

Regarding accommodations, Las Leñas offers options for all budgets. "We have first-class hotels and also a hotel less than 80 meters from the snow, ideal for young people or visitors with tighter budgets. Las Leñas is no longer just for an exclusive audience," he said.

Brazilian tourism is also making a presence felt, even beyond skiing. "Before, we used to see Brazilian skiers. Now we welcome many who don't ski but want to experience the snow and take advantage of all these new offerings," he said.

The center also offers free chairlift access for people with disabilities. "We want everyone to be able to enjoy the mountains," Passano said.

Finally, he recommended a road trip: “Route 222 is in excellent condition. It hasn't snowed heavily in a while, so traffic is very fluid. Plus, those who come can take advantage of the opportunity to visit magical places like the Laguna de la Niña Encantada or the Pozo de las Ánimas.”

Listen to the full article here, and you can listen to the radio live at www.aconcaguaradio.com