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- Destinations
- South America
- Argentina
- Ski Resorts
- Los Penitentes
Los Penitentes
Literally translated to 'the penitents', this ski resort's name
is derived from the curious forms the ice on the mountain sides
make, reminiscent of 'penitents' praying on their knees, thought to
be formed by the strong winds of the Andes. Located around 110
miles (180km) from Mendoza, Los Penitentes boasts 300 hectares (741
acres) of skiing with 28 pistes, incorporating every type of run
from beginner and intermediate to advanced and expert runs, many of
which are used for various competitions. The resort may be smaller
than many of its Argentinean counterparts, but it features ski
schools, kindergarten, a shopping centre a variety of restaurants,
a snow garden where parents can leave their kids for the day, and a
disco to heat things up on those cold winter nights. The ski season
at Los Penitentes lasts from mid-June to August.
Information & Facts
Activities
Skiing and snowboarding are the order of the day at Los
Penitentes while and the Snow and Sled Park is great for those
wanting to try their hand at tricks and rails and the tubing park
provides another option for skiers.
Language
Spanish is the official language of Argentina but English
is understood in the tourist areas.
Money
The Argentinean Peso (ARS) is divided into 100 centavos. The
recent devaluation of the Peso has made Argentina more affordable
for travellers but there is still much economic uncertainty and
travellers are advised to keep an eye on the exchange rate.
Currency can be exchanged at banks and
cambios(bureaux de change) but it is easier to use ATMs,
available in most urban towns, which reflect the current exchange
rate. Credit and debit cards are generally accepted, and US Dollars
and Euros are normally taken everywhere, but some international
cards place limits on transactions. Cirrus cards sometimes aren't
accepted. There can be problems using travellers cheques in rural
areas, although most banks in major cities should accept them. It's
best to take travellers cheques in US Dollars to avoid additional
exchange rate charges.
Negatives
Los Penitentes is fairly quiet travellers looking for a wild
nightlife should look to other ski resorts in Argentina for a more
lively holiday.
Night Life
There is not much of nightlife in Los Penitentes but a few
hotels offer occasional shows and disco nights, while a few pubs
and bars are dotted around the resort. Young travellers looking for
a night out of partying and drinking best head to one of
Argentina's other ski resorts.
Restaurants
Los Penitentes offers plenty of eateries for foodies of all
persuasions to enjoy and the best place to start is at the base of
the resort where Lomas Blancas and Ayelen offer great international
cuisine at even better value for money, while La Barraca, located
in the mountain, is the place to rest your legs, have a steaming
cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the house specialties. En el Límite
is located at 8, 202 feet (2, 500 m) and is a popular place for
skiers to stop and take a much-needed break.
Shopping
There isn't the largest variety of shopping in Los Penitentes
and travellers looking to splurge will do better in the nearby city
of Mendoza. There are, however, a few small shops selling
souvenirs, sporting goods and the likes and the local shopping
centre is a good place to indulge in some retail therapy.
Time
Local time in Argentina is GMT -3.