The forecast of snowfall in the Cordillera continues for at least 48 hours and the Cristo Redentor - Los Libertadores pass would only be enabled on Friday, May 26. There are about 1,500 vehicles of Chilean tourists and more than 1,000 trucks waiting in the border towns of Mendoza to cross into Chile.
Last Sunday, due to the advance of the storm, the road coordination had to advance the closure of the border to 15 pm, and many tourists who had traveled on a shopping tour to Mendoza, did not manage to cross.
"We are receiving Chilean tourists who come to our hotel and the accommodations available in the town are at capacity," said Aldo Tillar, manager of the Gran Hotel de Uspallata, located 95 kilometers from the border with Chile.
Not all travelers have money to cover a week's accommodation and there are at least 50 cars with Chilean license plates on the side of Route 7 in Uspallata, next to the fences that prohibit the international tunnel. The Army has assisted them with food and the neighbors lend them the bathrooms.
Domestic tourism is enabled to the bordering town of Las Cuevas, so many tourists can access the natural monument of Puente del Inca. The deadline for return to the city of Mendoza is at 18 pm.
Almost 1,000 trucks are stranded by the closure of the Passage to Chile that will remain unopened due to bad weather. Photo: Los Andes
The new part of the Argentine Coordination of the Christ the Redeemer System reports that rainfall is expected from Tuesday afternoon until Thursday, May 25, so the preventive closure of the international passage is maintained.
"We ask the community to understand that it is a meteorological event that generates traffic insecurity," said Daniel Galdeano, responsible for coordination with Chilean authorities in Mendoza.
The Argentine coordinator assured that they are working with the Chilean authorities "minute by minute", analyzing how the weather continues and bringing food and hot water to the people who are in Uspallata. And he announced that they will carry out a strong training so that individuals who use the corridor carry chains: "It is mandatory," he said.
Holidays in the snow
The other side of this important snowfall in the Andes mountain range is the high tourist expectation for the winter holidays, three weeks before the start of the season.
The valley of Las Leñas, the main ski center in southern Mendoza, already has 80 centimeters of snow at the base and 1.40 meters at the top of the hill. The snow season for the city of Malargüe and the ski resort, starts on Saturday, June 17, in a long weekend that already has a good level of reservations.
The director of tourism of Malargüe, Marcelo Rivarola, highlighted the hotel occupancy that the city maintains throughout the year, from the resurfacing of route 40 that allowed them to shorten distance and be 320 kilometers from the city of Mendoza. "We have broken the seasonality and all year round we have national and foreign tourism from Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay," the official said.
The post-pandemic meant an increase in tourism in Malargüe and in the gastronomic and hotel offer. "The number of hotels of hierarchy, cabins with heated pools and spa services in hotels with hot springs has increased," Rivarola said.
Between Malargüe center, the valley of Las Leñas, and Los Molles, there are 6,000 accommodation places. All registered hotels can be consulted on the official website malargue.tur.ar. By an agreement with the ski resort, tourists staying in Malargüe will have a 25% discount on lifts during the winter.
Among the novelties of the snow season are glamping and alternative skiing in Valle Hermoso, Castillo de Pincheiras, Real del Pehuenche, Los Castaños, and Poti Malal. And the firm possibility of getting a weekly direct flight between Malargüe and Buenos Aires, operated by LADE.
In Las Leñas they expect a very good season, depending on the quality of the snow and the amount of reserves. "The demand from our customers is very strong. We already have reservations until September. People are turning a lot to the ski product, after the good season we had last year, "said Sebastián Otegui, Commercial Manager of the snow resort.
While the last two snowfalls have allowed them to ensure a good start to the season, Otegui said they need to have "climate stability" to ensure snow quality for skiers, which depends on weather conditions.
Packages for the opening are 30% off, with reservations sold out on some days. There are 4 nights of accommodation with half board and ski passes, for $ 160,630 per person at the Acuario hotel; and $194,160 per person, at the Piscis Hotel.
For Mendoza, the Condor Pass is valid, an economic pass for skiing in the week of winter holidays and another full, which covers the entire season. All services and prices are published on laslenas.com.
Mendoza. Correspondent
PS
See also