The Village Los Penitentes , is located 182 km from the city of Mendoza , a few km from the border with Chile.Posee a major ski resort start from where expeditions to Aconcagua (the highest peak in the Americas 6,959 m) as it is located just 4 km aa . The place took its name from the unique rock formations that seem to represent monks and can be seen on the southern side of the valley .
As the snow and the landscape of rock formations seem a pilgrimage of monks , Penitentes has over 300 hectares of skiable surface covered in winter by a superb powder , dried and packed snow . The season starts in mid-June and ends in August . The month of July is the most popular with tourists so it is advisable to book in advance if you want to go on that date.
The Penitentes Ski Resort has over 300 acres of skiable terrain , divided into over 25 tracks of different lengths and various slopes for skiers whether beginners , advanced or expert .
The area has a varied hotel infrastructure where you can find , refuges , hostels , apartments and hotels, several of them located at the foot of the hill for ski-in/ski-out .
The Aconcagua
Aconcagua , located in the province of Mendoza, is the highest mountain in the world , outside the system of the Himalayas , and the second highest relative height behind Mount Everest.
However, a recent study by scientists from various national and international universities ensures that the mountain is still higher than estimated far.
The results established that the mountain has an elevation of 6960.8 meters above mean sea level.
The park Aconcagua
The park offers a landscape of mountains of immense proportions , with long, deep valleys containing wide open spaces and endless views that fade into the distance. Similarly , it also provides fast flowing rivers and brown or red , white and sparkling streams of water running down the slopes small meadows and wetlands fed green pasture called ” Vegas ” . Different geological formations offer a variety of color gray rocks , brown , red , white and veined . These are the different mountains that flank the vast valleys. The mountain range has large gaps between the base and remote and lofty peaks .
On entering the park and exceeding 4000m disappear sight shrubs, herbs and grasses , and stars scene kingdom high in the mountains overlooking the broken rock by freezing , the gigantic runs of gravel pits or rock, valley glaciers , the vast slopes down from the high peaks , large rock walls , hanging glaciers, snowfields with forms of ” Penitents ” and a stunning dark blue sky. Infinite spaces where man sized natural gigantic scale in proportion to the smallness and human frailty.
How to get there?
To get from Penitentes Mendoza City , take the international route No. 7 towards Chile and the height of 161 km and can be display the Penitentes Ski Resort . This trip takes just over 2 hours by car and about 3 to 4 hours by bus , yes, deperá all the good weather and road conditions .
