Snowy Valley In Chile

All around you is the snow, as you plunge down the shining white slope. Then you will feel the icy wind beating on your face and the adrenalin throbbing in your body, banishing any fears or qualms. You are skiing and feel absolutely free. You are another convert to the "snow sport". This incredible experience, once a prerogative of Nordic countries, can also be practiced in the vicinity of Santiago, Chile's capital city that, with its over 4,000 kilometers of Cordillera, offers prime skiing runs, considered the best in South America.

The main skiing centers are located in the central Cordillera of the Andes, only a few kilometers from Santiago. The runs are in beautiful surroundings, at between 2,400 meters above sea level and 3,300 meters above sea level, and, as well as their undeniable quality, they offer easy access and complete facilities.

On the "snow circuit" there are over 20 runs, specially prepared to offer extreme thrills; as well as skiing, one can practice snowboarding, heliskiing and helisurfing, in the season extending from mid-June to mid-October.

There are no excuses to avoid the plunge down the snowy slopes. Whether you spend an afternoon, a day or a week, it will always be an unforgettable experience. It doesn't matter either whether you are an expert or a tyro, there is a place for everyone; you can even get a diploma in a ski school, learning the secrets of this thrillingly freezing sport.

The main Ski Resorts in Chile are:

Valle Nevado: (Snow Valley) It is located at only 60 km from Santiago in the Andes Mountain range, with 3 Luxury Hotels and Apartments. Its installations with 29 ski runs, together with the nearby Ski Resorts of La Parva and El Colorado , combine to make this the biggest skiing area in all of Chile, with excellent snow conditions.

La Parva : A Mountain village located at 38 km from Santiago, comprising 30 excellent runs, lodgings in small hotels, rental apartments and shelters. It has all the necessary services for visitors: restaurants, ski school, coffee shop, equipment rentals, parking places, discotheque and a medical clinic. By the purchase of a special ticket you will also gain access to the nearby Valle Nevado ski runs.

El Colorado and Farellones: Located at 32 km from Santiago, these two villages, El Colorado and Farellones have a 40 Km ski terrain at their disposal. There are also 22 cable ski lifts. In the villages there are to be found small hotels, apartment rentals, restaurants, ski schools, equipment rentals, pubs, discotheques and everything a visitor might need. By the purchase of a special ticket you will also gain access to the nearby Valle Nevado ski runs.

Portillo: It is located at 149 km from Santiago on the International Route to Mendoza (Argentina), in an Andean valley. Portillo is one of the most famous winter and ski resorts in all of South America and the only one to have hosted a Ski World Championship. Its runs have seen the breaking of a world speed ski record. The resort is characterised by its fine powder snow during most of the season, its excellent runs, not to mention its unequalled high mountain landscape and its beautiful lake called Inca. It has a luxury hotel, the Hotel Portillo , with a capacity of 500 guests. The hotel has all amenities of a luxury hotel, a heated swimming pool, restaurants, ski schools, equipment rentals and others.