Argentina

When it comes to skiing and snowboarding in the Southern Hemisphere, choices are limited, at least in comparison to what's available north of the equator during their winter. But if you've already tried New Zealand or Japan, or just don't fancy that distance in economy, Argentina is a serious contender for a winter on the flip side.

You might think Argentina's all about football. And for about ten months of the year you'd be right. But during July and August (the season runs from mid-June to mid-October) the slopes get mobbed with skiers and snowboarders looking to take advantage of the fact they have the Andes parked conveniently in their back yard.

Of several decent ski resorts in Argentina worth mentioning, Las Leñas in Mendoza is probably Argentina's most popular. It's a big resort, weighted in favour of the experienced rider (around two thirds of the pistes are red or black) but with enough to keep beginners and intermediates out of mischief. There's also extensive off-piste terrain and night skiing, as well as a half pipe and snowboard park.

Cerro Catedral is also an exciting resort, with a good mix of terrain for all abilities. Because of its proximity to Bariloche, the place can get really busy. If you do need to escape the crowds and you're prepared to stump up for a helicopter to drop you higher up the mountain, there's some quality pow and superb off-piste riding here.

Accommodation at the bigger ski resorts in Argentina is plentiful, both on- and off-mountain, and the après ski is lively - especially in Bariloche. Recent developments have added cinemas and health clubs to the range of facilities available once you've kicked off your boots and had a good soak.

Cost

Lift prices in Argentina are still reasonable by Northern Hemisphere standards. An adult weekly lift pass in high season costs around 400 pesos (US$160), though you can pay a lot less out of season. Basic accommodation starts from around US$40 a night.

Getting here

You can get direct flights to Buenos Aires from many major cities in North America and Europe. To get up to the resorts, you need a further internal flight from Buenos Aires. Flying time to Bariloche is about two hours; to Mendoza it's about 90 minutes, plus an hour's bus transfer.