This once-in-a-lifetime vacation is built for incredible memories. You'll never forget the exhilarating overnight journey from summertime to wintertime, followed by three full days to explore one of the world's most culturally rich cities, Buenos Aires. From there, we'll whisk you to the Andes, where you'll enjoy five nights in a swanky slopeside hotel with some of South America's most spectacular skiing & riding right outside your door. Don't miss a unique vacation that'll stay with you for a long time.

Click on the tabs at right to learn more about our trip to Buenos Aires and Las Leñas!

If this is your very first SKI BUMS trip, of if you've got questions about roommates, up-to-date airare recommendations, or extending your trip, email us your questions. We'll send you a personalized reply.

Email me more information >

Special thanks to the Buenos Aires Dept. of Tourism, Rob Moore and Kevin Luck.

Check out pics from our 2008 trip to Buenos Aires and Bariloche >

The residents of Buenos Aires (a port city... hence, "porteños") are known to be courteous, stylish, extroverted and sincere; a hello or a goodbye is always met with a kiss on the cheek. When it comes to late nights, however, the porteños really show their stuff. No self-respecting local shows up for dinner before 10 PM, and you wouldn't think of showing up at a club before midnight. The nightlife of Buenos Aires is nearly as famous as the cuisine, with delicious grass-fed beef, impressive vintages of Malbec, and the global influence of a diverse population, drawing heavily on the Italian, German and British immigrant history of the city.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will award you with plenty of time to see the highlights of Buenos Aires. The SKI BUMS trip leaders will offer group excursions to the Casa Rosada, the former residence of Juan and Eva Perón (where Evita's famous "balcony speech" inspired Broadway history), the stylish boutiques and fashionable cafes of Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood, and the hauntingly beautiful cemetery where Argentine nobles were laid to rest, Recoleta. You'll have lots of time to explore the city on your own, too -- with the chance to see the colorful working-class, soccer-devoted neighborhood known as La Boca and the not-to-be-missed Sunday outdoor street fair that stretches through the tiny streets of San Telmo.

Check out our new interactive map of Argentina with our trip destinations >

Imagine the dog days of summer.

Maybe it's one of those sweltering days where everyone's talking about their weekend plans just to get out of the city... and while everyone seems stuck in their common routine, it's your turn to offer up what you're doing...

"I'm gonna go ski in South America."

Yeah. When it comes to bragging rights, it's hard to top a summertime skiing and snowboarding trip. Thankfully, your Facebook photos won't fail to inspire extra envy, because Las Leñas is one of the most spectacular ski resorts in the Southern Hemisphere. Nearly all of the terrain lies above the treeline, rewarding skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels with the chance to choose your own adventure. And, if you're an advanced skier or rider, you'll be awestruck at the expanse of snow off the Marte lift, which serves some of the world's very finest steeps, chutes and bowls. Compared to many other resorts in the Southern Hemisphere, Las Leñas sits at a high altitude, leading to the kind of soft powder snow that we've come to expect in places like Utah and Colorado; Aspen / Snowmass is its sister resort up here in the north. If you've ever talked to an Argentine employee at one of our resorts, you'll almost always hear the same answer when asked where their favorite place to ski is: it's Las Leñas.

Check out the official Las Leñas resort website >

Lift tickets

• 4 day lift ticket to the Las Leñas resort, which includes night skiing and a Friday night torchlight parade

• In a SKI BUMS first, this trip offers a day in the Las Leñas backcountry on our own private snowcat. Strong intermediates through expert skiers and riders are invited to join this fun-filled excursion into the untracked powder of the legendary Las Leñas backcountry! Cost is approx. $275 USD per person, which includes a guide and a light lunch.

• About half our participants will bring their own skis / snowboards. (Be sure to look into baggage policies for your international flight -- see "Transportation" for more info) If you'd like to rent equipment, you may do so at the mountain for about $25 USD per day.

Amenities and atmosphere

• The Las Leñas base area is home to six hotels and twenty restaurants. There's a casino, movie theater, two discos, wine bars, and everything you'll need for a vacation, all within an easy walk from our hotel. Due to environmental protection, it's not as built-up as many North American resorts -- and that's one reason why ski and snowboard purists love it so much.

You don't go to South America every day. When you're traveling this far, you'll want a comfortable place to lay your head at the end of an exhilarating day, and each of our hotels offer up modern comfort with stylish surroundings.

This brand-new property was named to Conde Nast Traveler's "Hot List" in 2008, and after last summer's SKI BUMS trip here, we knew we had to return. It's got spacious rooms outfitted with mod furnishings, flood shower heads and cool touches like laptop safes, and the tasty complimentary breakfast got us started on a cheery note each day. The English-speaking staff loved us just as much as we loved them, too. The location, however, is what really wins us over: it's literally within blocks of the Casa Rosada, the San Telmo street fair, and some of downtown Buenos Aires's most famous sights. The Moreno is excited to welcome us back, and we're looking forward to introducing them to a great new group of friends.

Amenities include:

• Complimentary continental breakfast
• Complimentary high-speed WiFi and free lobby internet computer
• Flat-screen cable TV
• Minibar, in-room coffeemaker and laptop-sized safe
• Fitness room
• Outdoor roof terrace with hot tub

If you've got a roommate in mind, you may sign up with another member and share a room. Or, SKI BUMS can easily match you up with someone. (About half of our trip participants sign up without a specific roommate in mind). Single occupancy rooms are also available; to inquire about the single occupancy upgrade, simply email us.

Completed in 2005, the Hotel Virgo is a ski-in, ski-out hotel directly on the slopes of Las Leñas. Complete with modern amenities and a full daily breakfast buffet and 3-course nightly dinners in its panoramic restaurant, the Virgo brings a European-style comfort to the South American slopes. A full-service spa offers massage, mud baths, jacuzzi, Turkish baths and hydrotherapy, and the 24-hour open bar and sushi bar round out the offerings. The Virgo's also got its own 40-seat movie theater, which we'll have all to ourselves for two of the evenings of our stay -- hosting our very own movie nights!

Amenities include:

• Half-board meals, with full breakfast and dinners included each day (vegetarian options are available)
• Heated indoor / outdoor pool, jacuzzi, spa, and gym
• High-speed in-room WiFi, business center, library, game room and shared internet computer
• 24-hour bar and wine cellar, sushi bar, full-service restaurant
• In-room TV, phone with data port, safe
• On-site gift shop and drug store
• Complimentary equipment storage

Download a high-resolution PDF of the Las Leñas Trail Map >

SKI BUMS does not recommend this trip for beginner skiers and snowboarders. If you rarely venture off the green trails of North American ski resorts, you'll find little to enjoy at Las Leñas, and very few BUMS to enjoy it with. Although there are a few small areas with gentle slopes, they're mostly clogged with children who are learning to ski.

The terrain doesn't disappoint, either. With huge expansive bowls that go largely untracked by the locals, Las Leñas offers what is unquestionably some of the biggest, best backcountry skiing in the world, and we've got our own day of private snowcat skiing to go take advantage of it!

Expert skiers have probably heard about the famous steeps of Las Leñas; the chutes of the necklace are as exciting as anything you'd find in Chamonix, Jackson Hole or Big Sky. With pitches up to 53%, they've each got their own name -- you can actually say you've skied Manhattan. (Be sure to check out our Video tab for some awe-inspiring footage of what it's like to drop in on some of these ridges.) With a top altitude of 11,253 and a vertical drop of 4,035, there's an awful lot to set your quads on fire on your way down to our hotel's hot tub.

As with any trip to ski and ride overseas, you'll be happiest if you've got realistic expectations. The lift infrastructure at Las Leñas does not have the capacity we'd expect at most North American resorts; many of the chairlifts at Las Leñas are 2-chairs, and much of the most famed terrain at Las Leñas is off the famous Marte lift -- which is also the lift that's most prone to closure due to high wind. Thankfully, what's lacking in lift capacity is gained in the vast, expansive backcountry areas -- widely considered among the very best in the world. That's why we're setting up our own day of private snowcat skiing; you'll have the chance to explore untracked powder in an area that you can brag about for many, many years.

If you're crossing global destinations off your list, Las Leñas is a must.

Terrain skill level percentages at Las Leñas, from OnTheSnow.com:

Skill level groupings

On every SKI BUMS trip, we begin by introducing you to other skiers and boarders who enjoy the same type of terrain that you do. You'll get to meet them at our Meet & Greet, on the first night of our arrival.

To make your vacation that much smoother, SKI BUMS arranges all transportation within our trip itinerary. We provide private ground transfer buses, group airfare, and the peace of mind that you're going to be where you need to be when you need to be there. And, what's best, you've got a whole group of friends who are along for the ride.

Included transportation for this trip:

• Round-trip coach airfare on Aerolineas Argentinas between Buenos Aires Jorge Newberry Airport (AEP) and San Rafael (AFA)
• Private ground transfer shuttle buses for all transportation between our airports and our hotels (the travel time from San Rafael to Las Leñas is about two hours)
• Private ground transfer shuttle on Saturday, August 29th from AEP to EZE, for our international flights to depart Argentina

Arranging your international airfare

To provide even greater flexibility for our trip participants, international airfare is not included in the pricing for this year's trip to Argentina. We've got the following recommendations to help you plan your international flight:

• Plan to check-in at our hotel in Buenos Aires by noon on Friday August 21st. Most international flights from the USA arrive quite early, and our hotel rooms will be held for early check-in so you can freshen up or catch some extra sleep. It's about a 45-minute ride from Buenos Aires EZE to our hotel in downtown B.A..
• For your return flight, select a flight that departs Buenos Aires EZE at 7:30 PM or later. Our return flight from San Rafael arrives at 2:50 PM, and we've arranged a private bus transfer for the 30 - 45 minute ride (depending on traffic) between the two airports. We expect to arrive at EZE at 5 PM.

  Recommendation: For those who are flying from the New York City area, we recommend the direct American Airlines flight 955 for the departure and 956 for the return. Email us for the latest reports on what our other participants are booking if you'd like to join other BUMS for the flight down and back.

• Take note, Continental, Delta and many other airlines offer comfortable connecting flights to and from Buenos Aires. Visit Kayak to find the airline and departure point that works best for you.
• If you live outside the USA: SKI BUMS welcomes members from throughout the world. If you live in Central or South America, bienvenido! Si podemos ayudarle con sus planes de viaje, escriba un email. Hablamos español.

Getting from the airport to our hotel

Our hotel is about 45 minutes from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), a modern international airport that's quite easy to get around. Yellow cabs are plentiful and affordable; It's about a 45-minue ride, and it'll cost about $15 USD. SKI BUMS will provide an address card (in Spanish) for all our participants, and our hotel is super easy to locate.

View our hotel's location on a map of Buenos Aires >

Ccnnecting with SKI BUMS trip leaders and other participants

• For all those who are on the same flight, SKI BUMS will help coordinate in case you'd like to sit together or share a cab from the airport to the hotel. The BUMS are a social sort, and we believe in starting the fun nice and early!
• On Friday morning, the SKI BUMS trip leaders will be waiting in the lobby of the Hotel Moreno to warmly welcome you upon your arrival. At check-in, you'll receive an up-to-the-minute plan for the day, including the planned excursions to see the sights of Buenos Aires.

Would you like some more information to help plan your flight?

We've compiled five of our favorite videos with footage from Las Leñas to psych ourselves up for the trip; check 'em out in our brand new YouTube channel >

Thursday, August 20 -- evening

• Fly to Buenos Aires (see "Transportation" for airline recommendations)

Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23: Buenos Aires

• Friday morning: Arrive in Buenos Aires, check-in at our hotel (the rooms will be available for immediate check-in.)
• Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Explore Buenos Aires

Lodging and meals: Hotel Moreno: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Breakfasts are included. We'll have dinner reservations in the evenings, but our dinners in Buenos Aires are not pre-paid.

• Monday morning: fly on Aerolineas Argentinas from Buenos Aires AEP to San Rafael, followed by a 2 hour private charter bus transfer to our hotel
• Monday afternoon & evening: check-in, get settled, set up equipment, guides, lessons, etc.
• Tuesday through Friday: Ski and ride at Las Leñas
• Saturday morning: check out of our hotel, take a 2 hour private bus transfer to San Rafael for our Aerolineas Argentinas return flight to Buenos Aires - AEP
• Saturday evening: depart Buenos Aires to return home on an overnight flight

Lodging and meals: Hotel Virgo, Monday through Friday nights, all breakfasts and dinners are included.

• Sunday morning: arrive home

This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, travel restrictions and circumstances beyond our control.

Included:

• 3 night double-occupancy accommodations at the Moreno Hotel, a new design hotel in downtown Buenos Aires
• 5 night double-occupancy accommodations at Hotel Virgo, a slopeside design hotel at the base of Las Leñas
• 4 day lift ticket to Las Leñas
• Daily breakfasts and welcome reception in Buenos Aires
• Daily breakfast buffet and 3-course evening dinners each night at the Hotel Virgo
• Round-trip coach airfare between Buenos Aires (AEP) and San Rafael (AFA)
• 4 private ground transfer coaches -- to and from Jorge Newberry Airport (AEP), and to and from San Rafael airport (AFA)

• Day of private snowcat skiing / riding in the famous Las Leñas backcountry (approx. $275 pp.)
• Superior room upgrade in Buenos Aires: $199
• Single occupancy for both Buenos Aires and Las Leñas
Inquire about single occupancy >

Payment schedule:

• $899 desposit
• $1000 due May 24
• $1100 due June 24

Price for this trip: $2999

Cancellation policy:

• On or before May 7:Full refund
• On or before May 24: $200 fee
• On or before June 24: $600 fee
• After June 25 No refund