Ski Resorts in Chile
The Andes offer some great skiing and there are a lot of opportunities for back country, heli and cat skiing! The weather is usually sunny, but the altitude and low temperatures keep the snow in good condition.
Pros
- Unique cultural experience
- ‘Summer skiing’
- Home to South America’s largest ski area (Tres Valles)
- Plenty of sunny days
- Unlike Argentina, easy access to major resorts from international airport
- Cheaper lift tickets than North America
Cons
- Need separate lift tickets for the interconnected Tres Valles (three valleys) resorts
- Above the tree-line terrain
- Siesta after après
- Occasional inclement weather causes lift closures due to high exposure
Getting there
- Fly into Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago. It provides easy access to the Tres Valley ski resorts and Portillo. For Nevados De Chillan, fly to Concepcion Airport instead.
- Best way to resorts from Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport is by driving or taking a bus. The journey to the Tres Valley resorts or Portillo takes 1.5 – 2 hours. For Nevados De Chillan the drive from Concepcion Airport takes 2.5 hours or 5-6 hours from Santiago.
- Things you need to know: In South America it is common for hotels at major resorts to offer all-inclusive packages or partially inclusive packages that include room and board. This is perfect for families who would like to focus on skiing and have the rest of the day taken care of. For those who prefer more flexibility, there is independent accommodation available too.
Chile is home to over a dozen ski resorts and ski areas, each with their own unique characteristics. To help you decide which one is right for you, we’ve teamed up with the locals to bring together the best ski resorts in Chile.
If it’s your first time visiting Chile, then you’ll want to ski at these resorts. Their mountains have some of the best terrain that Chile has to offer. They also have great facilities as well as English-speaking staff and ski instructors which will be quite helpful if your Spanish vocabulary is limited to ‘hola’.
The Tres Valles or Three Valleys is the largest ski area in South America offering a wide variety of terrain to suit all abilities. The size might not compare to the mammoth ski areas in Europe but its four interconnected ski resorts (including the small ski area of Farellones) are sure to impress any summer skier.
| Stat | Resorts |
|---|---|
| Best for Beginners | El Colorado |
| Best for Intermediates | El Colorado, Valle Nevado |
| Best for Advanced and Experts | Ski Portillo, La Parva |
| Best for All-rounder | Nevados De Chillan |
| Highest Summit Elevation | Valle Nevado |
| Highest number of runs | El Colorado |
| Largest ski area | El Colorado |
| Highest number of lifts | El Colorado |