Hitting the slopes in Chile
Head south of the equator for — what else? — skiing
PROFILE. If you are a ski lover and are planning to trade sunbathing on the beach for a slalom down a glacier this summer, don’t forget that Austria, Switzerland, Canada and Colorado are not the only spots you can visit.
Imagine skiing down an endless slope in the Andes in bright sunshine and with temperatures of up to 68ºF; those are the conditions you can expect when you go to one of the many ski resorts in Chile.
“Chile is a privileged spot,” explains Franceso Giangrandi, a former member of the Chilean national skiing team. “High, dry, mild weather and a long mountain range generate perfect conditions for skiing. It is definitely a superb experience compared to the cold and tough conditions usually experienced in northern hemisphere ski areas. The U.S. and Canada have heavy wet snow and are usually very cold. In Europe, snow is dryer, but the cold persists, generating very icy slopes. Prices are also an interesting catch,” he adds.
You can find good snow anytime from mid-June through to between August and October, depending on how far south you go, so it’s a long season.
Thanks to its excellent skiing conditions, every year Chile hosts some of the world’s most prestigious ski teams from Europe and North America that come and train during their summer season.
Only 37 miles away from Santiago and at a 9,800-foot altitude is Valle Nevado. It’s a hugely popular place to ski and the most extensive ski resort in South America, with 9,000 hectares of dust snow, 39 trails and 12 lifts. The resort has three hotels, apartments to rent, six restaurants and a variety of bars, pubs and clubs to cover all après-ski entertainment needs. If you don’t feel like skiing, you can go for a swim in the heated indoor pool, visit the gym at the fitness center or shop at the large variety of stores.
Heading toward the border with Argentina, and 93 miles away from the capital, is Portillo, a ski resort that offers a superb view over the Laguna del Inca (Inca’s Lagoon). Established more than 50 years ago, it has become a place with its own traditions and plenty of regular visitors, who return year after year, drawn there by its great slopes and friendly, cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Another important spot that has a good wintersports infrastructure and beautiful scenery, as well as a thermal spa, is Termas de Chillan. It offers 10,000 hectares of snow, with 28 trails and nine lifts, one of which is 2,500 long. There are plenty of alternative experiences here, from husky dog sledding to heliski trips.
Further south, you’ll reach Volcan Osorno, the ski resort located inside the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. It’s only 45 miles away from Puerto Montt and 37 miles from Puerto Varas, two wonderful cities in southern Chile’s Lake District. From your hotel and the slopes, you’ll be able to enjoy a panoramic view of Llanquihue Lake, Calbuco Volcano, Petrohue River and its surroundings.
Other good alternatives are the resorts of La Parva and El Colorado, only 31 miles away from Santiago and residential skiing resorts that receive more than 100,000 visitors during the winter season.
Smaller resorts include Antillanca in the south and Lagunillas, 35 miles southeast of Santiago. Finally, where the world almost comes to an end, you’ll find Cerro El Fraile, where you can ski among native species of trees (lenga and ñirre), and last, but definitely not least, is the world’s southernmost ski resort, Cerro Mirador, 5 miles from Punta Arenas in the XII Region, from where you can see over the Magellan Straight and Tierra del Fuego.
And when you’re done with skiing, why not combine it with a trip to somewhere else in the country, from vineyards and coastal cities such as Viña del Mar, to the driest desert in the world, the Atacama.