La Hoya is a friendly, good-value Patagonian ski area above the town of Esquel in Argentina's Chubut province, known for dry snow, a long season and refreshingly uncrowded slopes.
- 1,424 m Base
- 2,081 m Top lift
- 657 m Vertical
- 8 Pistes mapped
- 8 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
The town of Esquel supplies the après and dining, with a genuine Patagonian character rather than a manicured resort scene.
The resort
La Hoya nestles in a shaded, bowl-shaped cirque above the Patagonian town of Esquel, and its geography is its secret: the mostly south-facing slopes stay cool and hold light, dry snow far longer than many Andean resorts. It has a well-earned reputation for a long season, honest prices and an unpretentious, local feel, drawing skiers who prize good snow and elbow room over glamour. The terrain suits a broad range of abilities, with plenty of open, treeless pitch to explore. As a Southern-Hemisphere resort in Argentine Patagonia it runs through the austral winter, and the sheltered, cold-holding aspect often keeps it open later than its neighbours, well into spring. Esquel below provides an authentic, workaday base rather than a purpose-built village.
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)
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Live data © Open-Meteo.com
Its cool, largely south-facing bowl preserves dry snow and typically delivers one of the longer, more dependable seasons in Argentine Patagonia.
Average monthly snowfall
Snowfall climatology unavailable.
Terrain & aspect
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Slopes mostly face SE — 97% on snow-holding, poleward-facing slopes.
Aspect derived from run bearings · OpenSkiStats / © OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Skiing & terrain
Gentle lower slopes provide a welcoming place to learn.
Broad, open pistes make for excellent uncrowded cruising.
Steeper upper terrain and off-piste bowls reward stronger skiers.
Ample off-piste and touring lines around the cirque for the adventurous.
Long-season powder
Thanks to its cool, shaded aspect La Hoya holds dry snow late, often staying open well into spring when other Andean resorts have closed.
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 La Hoya
Most visitors stay in the nearby town of Esquel, a short drive below the slopes, which offers hotels, hostels and restaurants with real local flavour.
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
Esquel has its own airport just outside town with domestic connections, making it the natural gateway; Bariloche to the north is an alternative for wider flight options.
A short drive of well under an hour from Esquel up to the ski area.
Best time: The austral winter, roughly June to September, with the cold, shaded slopes often skiable later into spring than neighbouring resorts.
Nearby resorts
Other resorts within reach.
Cerro Perito Moreno
- Vertical
- 746 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 18
- Lifts
- 6
Estación Esquí Antillanca
- Vertical
- 477 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 14
- Lifts
- 5
Chapelco Ski Resort
- Vertical
- 712 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 24
- Lifts
- 15
Getting to La Hoya
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Bariloche (BRC) — 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.