Ski the Andes
Can’t wait until next ski season? Journey Latin America’s Katie Phillips finds plenty of fresh powder in Chile this summer.
So the season’s over and that’s the end of skiing for another year - don’t you believe it! There’s an exciting new ski destination on offer for this summer. From June to October, frustrated skiers who simply can’t wait until next season to hit the slopes, now have the chance to head south and take to the pistes of the Andes!
With twice as many ski areas as New Zealand, and incomparable quantity and quality of snow, it is little wonder that the Andes of Chile and Argentina are now being talked about as the next big thing in the world of winter sports. Visitors will find modern lifts, American-style hotels and all the amenities and creature comforts they are used to in European or North American resorts, as well as welcoming hosts, empty slopes, and fantastic food and wine.
Chile is of course better known for its fine wines than its skiing and a day trip to one of the many vineyards (only an hour’s drive from Santiago) makes for an excellent ‘après ski’ side trip. For those with more time, Chile offers incredible diversity and skiing can be combined with a host of options, from exploring the desertscapes of the Atacama to marvelling at the mysterious moais of Easter Island. While everyone else is waiting six months for it to snow in the Alps, why not check out what the best of the Andean resorts have to offer this summer...
Valle Nevado
Located only 62km from Santiago, this is the closest resort to the capital. Valle Nevado, or ‘Snow Valley’, is part of a trio of resorts that make up the largest ski area in South America. Built by the French in the 1980s, the resort bears a startling resemblance to Les Arcs; and with the piste-linked hamlets of El Colorado and La Parva, creates the nearest equivalent in the Southern Hemisphere to France’s ‘Three Valleys’. Spectacularly located beneath the 5430m peak of Cerro Plomo, there are 100km of trails (mostly intermediate) with 42 modern lifts in addition to a snowboard park and pipe. The resort, the biggest in Chile, also boasts excellent snow making facilities in the unlikely event that there’s not enough of the natural white stuff!
Another highlight for experienced skiers and boarders is the good-value heli-skiing. At around $100 for a morning, the chance to access almost 4000 vertical metres of untouched powder, is a bargain not to be missed.
Where to stay: Hotel Valle Nevado
Top elevation - 3,670m. Vertical drop - 790m. Runs - 29.
A 7-night package at Valle Nevado includes ski pass, accommodation with full board and return transfers from Santiago. See our BESPOKE PAGES for details, or call 020 8747 8315
Portillo
Set on a spectacular plateau, surrounded by some of South America’s highest peaks, Portillo boasts a magnificent natural setting. Three hours’ drive north of Santiago (152km), and close to the Argentine border, the resort is located on the shore of a lake, Laguna del Inca, which is frozen in winter. Portillo is Chile’s oldest and best-known resort. Famous for extremely dry powder snow and consistently sunny weather, the resort offers a vast off-piste terrain with steep trails, accessible from a good network of the lifts. Portillo is the most internationally renowned Andean resort, reflected by the fact that the US and Austrian ski teams often train here during August and September, which can put pressure on the beds available.
Where to Stay: Hotel Portillo
Top Elevation - 3,348m. Vertical Drop - 840m. Runs - 23.
A 7-night package at Portillo includes ski pass, accommodation with full board and return transfers from Santiago. See our BESPOKE PAGES for more details, or call 020 8747 8315.
Termas de Chillán
Located some 480km, and a four-hour train ride to the south of Santiago, the Termas de Chillán resort lies at the foot of a smoking volcano and combines a delightful spa resort with powder terrain and good off-piste skiing.
More snow falls here than in the Santiago resorts, but the powder tends to be heavier. For snowboarders, there is a snowboard park and half-pipe.
With indoor and outdoor pools (with a swim-through waterfall) filled by thermal water pumped straight from the volcano, outstanding spa facilities, and a restaurant with live Latin music, this resort provides everything you could ask for and more.
Where to Stay: The Grand Hotel
Top Elevation - 2,700m. Vertical Drop - 1,100m. Runs - 28.
A 7-night package at Termas de Chillan includes ski pass, accommodation with full board unlimited use of the hot springs and return transfers from Conception. See our BESPOKE PAGES for more details, or call us on 020 8747 8315 or 0161 832 1441.
Las Leñas
Las Leñas is probably the best-known ski resort in South America. For years it has attracted the best skiers from around the globe to its steep, powder-rich terrain, which leads down to an Andean village with numerous restaurants, bars, shops and hotels. With excellent facilities and over 200,000 acres to be conquered, it’s no wonder that Las Leñas has gained such a good reputation.
There is a wide range of scenic runs, from beginner to intermediate. For advanced and expert skiers this resort is heaven, with numerous bowls and chutes and a remarkable variety of terrain - the choice is endless!
Where to Stay: Hotel Piscis & Hotel Escorpio
Top Elevation - 3,430m. Vertical Drop - 1,174m. Runs - 40.
A 7-night package at Las Leñas includes ski pass and accommodation with half board. Return flights from Buenos Aires to Malargue can also be arranged, see our BESPOKE PAGES for more details, or call us on 020 8747 8315 or 0161 832 1441.