Under a heavy fall of fresh snow high in the Patagonian Andes, Cerro Chapelco officially inaugurated the 2026 Argentine ski season, with the ribbon-cutting of a state-of-the-art 10-person gondola lift.
The ceremony was led by Neuquén Province Governor Rolando Figueroa alongside Cerro Chapelco General Manager Nicolás Herrera and national sports officials, celebrating a major milestone in the resort’s transformation.Manufactured by French cable-transit specialist POMA, the new high-speed lift replaces the resort’s historic 6-person gondola, which had been in continuous operation since 1983. For over four decades, the original lift served as the essential backbone of the mountain, carrying generations of winter sports enthusiasts from the valley base up to the key “Espace 1600” mid-mountain hub.
The upgraded system slashes transit time to just five minutes, transporting up to 3,000 passengers per hour to drastically reduce base-area wait times and streamline mountain access.During the snow-drenched event, Governor Figueroa highlighted the project as a prime example of reinvesting regional economic gains into world-class public and private tourism projects.
Joined by Argentina’s Secretary of Tourism, Environment, and Sports Daniel Scioli, Figueroa noted that transparent concession licensing and long-term legal security have reinvigorated investor confidence across Patagonia’s ski industry.The $10text{-person}$ gondola forms the flagship installation of a multi-phase modernization scheme launched under the resort’s updated operating concession.
In addition to the new ropeway, guests visiting San Martín de los Andes this winter will experience fully overhauled guest reception facilities, expanded equipment rental hubs and storage lockers, modernized safety protocols, and upgraded dining options across the mountain.
