Caviahue
Volcano-flank skiing and thermal springs in Patagonia
Caviahue is a small, wonderfully remote Argentine ski area in northern Neuquén, spread across the flanks of the active Copahue volcano and paired with a lakeside village famous for its volcanic hot springs.
- 1,683 m Base
- 2,111 m Top lift
- 428 m Vertical
- 5 Pistes mapped
- 11 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
Après centres on the tiny village of Caviahue and the thermal baths of nearby Copahue rather than bars, a soak-and-supper kind of evening.
The resort
Caviahue is one of Argentina's most distinctive small resorts, set on the slopes of the smoking Copahue volcano amid ancient araucaria (monkey-puzzle) forests and a caldera lake. This is a Southern-Hemisphere resort, so its season runs through the austral winter, and the setting is more the point than the statistics: uncrowded, gentle-to-moderate runs, big volcanic views and the neighbouring spa village of Copahue with its steaming thermal pools. The skiing suits families, beginners and intermediates looking for character and calm rather than steep challenge or nightlife. Because the mountain is genuinely active, ashfall can occasionally close runs, part of the raw, elemental appeal of the place.
Snow & weather
Live conditions from the mountain, plus the average snow you can expect month by month.
- Feels like
- —
- Conditions
- —
- Wind
- —
- Fresh snow (3-day)
- —
Live data © Open-Meteo.com
High altitude and an exposed volcanic setting bring reliable cold snow through the austral winter, though wind and the odd volcanic ash event can affect conditions.
Average monthly snowfall
Snowfall climatology unavailable.
Terrain & aspect
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Flat / ungraded
Slopes mostly face E — 81% on snow-holding, poleward-facing slopes.
Aspect derived from run bearings · OpenSkiStats / © OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Skiing & terrain
Gentle lower slopes and a compact layout make learning relaxed and stress-free.
Rolling open pitches through the araucarias give confident cruisers plenty to enjoy.
Steeper volcanic terrain and off-piste lines appear when snow and wind allow.
Ski-touring potential on Copahue rewards the self-reliant, but lift-served expert terrain is limited.
Copahue thermal springs
Soak in the naturally heated, mineral-rich volcanic pools of neighbouring Copahue, a spa tradition long predating the ski lifts.
Araucaria forest skiing
Weave between the primeval monkey-puzzle trees that make Caviahue's slopes unlike anywhere else in the Andes.
On the map
Legend
Run difficulty
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced / Expert
- Freeride / Extreme
- Unknown
Run types
- Downhill — groomed
- Downhill — ungroomed
- Downhill — gladed
- Nordic (groomed)
- Ski tour
- ☾Lit (night)
- △Not patrolled
- →One-way
- ❄Snowmaking
Lifts
- Operating
- Operating (private)
- Non-operating
- Lift station
Slope-gradient grading
Downhill / ski tour
- Flat<3°
- Easy3–14°
- Intermediate14–22°
- Advanced / Expert22–45°
- Freeride / Extreme>45°
Nordic
- Easy<6°
- Intermediate6–9°
- Advanced>9°
Aspect (sun exposure)
- N — least sun
- E — morning
- S — most sun
- W — afternoon
Legend after OpenSkiMap
Stay in Caviahue
Base yourself in the small lakeside village of Caviahue, with cosy hosterías and cabins a short hop from the lifts.
Lifts and pistes from the door — the point of a high, purpose-built resort.
Self-catering residences, the bulk of the beds and the flexible-budget option.
Catered and self-catered chalets for groups wanting the whole place.
From simple to high-end, with pools and spas to thaw out in.
How to get there
The practical gateway is Neuquén (Presidente Perón, NQN), around 350 km southeast with flights from Buenos Aires, followed by a scenic drive up into the cordillera.
A long but scenic drive of roughly five hours from Neuquén by hire car or seasonal bus via Zapala.
Best time: July and August, the heart of the austral winter, bring the deepest, coldest snow.
Nearby resorts
Other resorts within reach.
Faces north-west © ogwen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Centro Ski Pucón
- Vertical
- 623 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 1
- Lifts
- 7
Getting to Caviahue
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Valdivia (ZAL) — search and compare without leaving the page.
Ski data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via OpenSkiMap & Skimap.org. Basemap © OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles. Editorial: mynext.holiday. Accommodation via Stay22; transfers via Kiwitaxi; car hire via Travelpayouts.