Las Leñas is the most serious ski resort in South America, sitting at the head of a high Andean valley 200 kilometres southwest of San Rafael. The season runs from late June to early October, with a top lift at 3,430 metres and a vertical drop of around 1,200 metres. The off-piste from the Marte chair is the legendary terrain: long, steep bowls and chutes that hold powder for days after a storm.
The base village is purpose-built and a little soulless, but the skiing speaks for itself. In summer (December to March) the lifts open for hikers and mountain-bikers and the village becomes a quiet base for trekking in the surrounding peaks. The road in from San Rafael is paved and dramatic, winding past the El Sosneado hot springs.
Most visitors stay at the village, but San Rafael also runs as a (long) day base, particularly outside peak season.