Ski Centres in Chile

Central Chile (Santiago)

The three valleys (Tres Valles) is made up of three ski centres which offer combined ticket packages so that you can visit all three: Valle Nevado, El Colorado and La Parva.

Valle Nevado is 90 minutes drive from Santiago and caters to intermediate level and advanced skiiers with some 20 runs for experts. The elevation at the base is nearly 3000m (9839ft)and 3669m (12040ft) at the summit.It has some 9000 hectares of ski area and offers heliskiing. When necessary, artifical snow is produced.

El Colorado is around a 1 hour drive from Santiago airport and is sandwiched between Valle Nevado and La Parva. It is slightly more oriented to beginners and intermediates, especially in the Farellones area. Advanced skiers need to go to the eastern side of the mountain which can get crowded on a good powder day. It boasts over 100 pistes and over 1000 hectares of ski area. Advanced skiers can ski between the three resorts in the valley. The only problem is the price of the inter-resort lift ticket.

La Parva is more suitable to advanced skiers and boasts the famous La Chimenea which is a challenge for advanced and expert skiers, a tight corridor with a very steep entrance. However, there are sufficient runs for intermediates and beginners. It offers night skiing and also allows fabulous access to backcountry skiing areas.

Portillo is a little further away from the capital than the Three Valleys resorts, 164km (102 miles). Portillo has a small resort feel and friendly atmosphere. It also offers a fantastic array of steep runs and off-piste opportunities as well as heli-skiing. If the snow is poor, they make up for it by making powder as do the other resorts close to Santiago. Portillo is perhaps less friendly to snowboarders as there is a fair bit of flat terrain to cross to do to get to the off-piste areas.

Central-southern Chile

Nevados de Chillan 450km south of Santiago is known for it´s great backcountry options. Downhill pistes range from beginner to expert and the resort is close to thermal baths which can be skied to. It has 560 hectares and 30 pistes and recently won the world´s ski awards for the best ski centre in Chile.It boasts the longest piste of South America, 13km long and up to 10m of snow in the season.

Corralco ski resort is located 700km south of Santiago and 1.5 hours from Temuco airport or 1.5 hours from the Argentinian border. This family-friendly resort is ideal for skiers of all levels and particularly good for beginners. It´s a new resort so lacks the crowds and has a friendly atmosphere. The backcountry options are immense with some fantastic options to tour amongst the ancient and endangered Monkey Puzzle trees. The pistes are on the south-east face of Volcano Lonquimay (2865m/9399ft) which provides some nice powder and it´s possible to access the crater by climbing another 490m. From there you have some exciting downhill after enjoying the 360 degree views across the Andes. Corralco ski centre boasts 1775 hectares (4386 acres)of area for skiing, 15 of those hectares are within the area of ski lifts or tow bars, with 25km of ski runs. Malalcahuello still has a small rural town feel to it with the advantage of quality accommodation, quality restaurants and excellent skiing/snowboarding opportunities, including backcountry at other areas away from Volcano Lonquimay using local qualified guides. Ski Corralco For accommodation options in this area see here: Accommodation Malalcahuello

Las Araucarias ski centre on Volcano Llaima in Conguillio National Park is 82km from Temuco airport and is a very small resort on a very active Volcano in a beautiful environment with 350 hectares and a maximum height of 1950m.

Pucon is close to the popular tourist town of the same name on Lake Villarica and is another small resort for mostly beginner and intermediate levels of skiing. Advanced options are mainly off-piste. The maximum height above sea level is 2440m. Situated on an active volcano, Villarica, sometimes it smokes and causes alarm or closures due to the volcanic activity.

Antillancaen Parque Nacional Puyehue, offers a 167 bed hotel in 400 hectares of skiable area. The ski centre is located near Osorno, some 900km from Santiago and not too distant from the Argentinian ski centres at the attractive tourist towns of Villa La Angostura and Bariloche. The volcano is active and from the 2236m summit, offers spectacular views. It´s a rather small ski resort and due to the low altitude can suffer from rain and sloshy skin conditions. For some, the lack of crowds and scenic backcountry terrain may make up for the lack of ideal snow conditions one can encounter.