After closing for 15 years, Cerro Martial — the in-city ski slope near the world’s southernmost city of Ushuaia, Argentina — is reopening with its brand-new quad chairlift. Set to open on June 19, El Parque del Fin del Mundo (or “End of the World Park”) marks an exciting new era for the Tierra del Fuego ski scene.
Cerro Martial’s new quad lift, built by high-tech Swiss company Bartholet, will have a capacity of 1,450 people per hour at its opening, with the ability to expand to 1,600. The lift features 14 towers, 126 chairs, and over 1,400 meters (4,590 feet) of length. The chairlift is part of a $12 million investment into Cerro Martial’s infrastructure.
The new chairlift comes after its old lift, which was constructed in the 1970s, ceased operations in 2011. It was originally built for the 1978 World Cup to capture tourism, but it missed the deadline due to road closures. The lift finally opened in July 1981, providing access to 1,100 meters of slopes at the time, more than the nearby Andean Club. It operated with minimal maintenance before safety issues ordered its closure.
The COVID-19 pandemic halted the construction of the new chairlift, causing difficulties with imports, foreign currency, and specialists traveling. After the pandemic and environmental approval in 2024, construction began for the new lift, and its first tower was laid on February 3, 2026.
Cerro Martial is headed by its director of concessions, Alejandro Guzmán, who acquired Cerro Martial in a public sale. Guzman has emphasized the impressive technology of the lift, as well as its capacity.
“The lift is a Bartholet, a Swiss high-tech company, and it’s the newest in the country,” Guzmán told Argentina’s La Nación.
The new lift will spin 365 days a year, making Cierra Martial a year-round summer and winter mountain destination in southern Argentina. Winter activities include skiing and snowboarding as well as the toboggan run. Cerro Martial is planning on adding a bike park for its summer operations.
“Cerro Martial is a mountain center that operates 365 days a year, with both winter and summer activities,” Guzmán said in the La Nacion article.
The new lift marks an exciting time for residents in the Ushuaia area. It brings easy access to the Martial Glacier, which is linked to Ushuaia’s local identity and connection with nature. Locals who have previously visited the glacier were forced to travel on foot. With the new lift, Cerro Martial is more accessible. Cerro Martial is also tied with local history, as Tierra del Fuego’s first mountaineers trained in the Martial Mountain range, according to a Clarín interview with Martín Bianchi, Director of Tourism Promotion at the Fuegian Institute of Tourism.
For tourists, Cerro Martial’s new lift makes it a more attractive year-round destination with easy access to the mountain.
With the lift’s regular operation, Cerro Martial also expects to generate employment. A team of 60 employees will work at the resort, with 20 more instructors for its ski and snowboard school.
About Cerro Martial
Cerro Martial is a lift-served ski slope roughly seven kilometers (4.3 miles) north of Ushuaia, Argentina. Cerro Martial offers 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) of skiable terrain. It includes a snowpark in the mid-section, off-piste skiing, and snowshoe walks at the top of the mountain. Cerro Martial is open 365 days a year and has a ski and snowboard school.
