Valle Nevado Ski Resort
Valle Nevado, Chile is famous for powder skiing, and phenomenal views of the Andes Mountain Range.
This ski resort offers us great days to explore the steeps, bowls, and fantastic views under the shadows of the Andean Condor frequently seen soaring above us. In Valle Nevado, you can ride as high as 3,670 meters (12,400 feet) above sea level.
If you want the chance to fly, Valle Nevado offers Heliskiing on the nearby peaks right out side the door of it's ski in ski out lodgings.
Valle Nevado is fully set up for freestyle and freeriding with it’s big air, boardercross, and epic backcountry. The Burton Snowboard Team shot their catalog here, and for the past several years, Valle Nevado has been the only Latin American site to host the FIS Snowboard World Cup.
- Ski Resort Location: Central Chile
- Ski Resort Elevation: 2,880m (9,450ft) to 3,670m (12,040ft)
- Ski Resort Vertical Drop: 790m (2,590ft)
- Ski Resort Inbound Terrain: 21 Runs
- 15% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, 30% Advanced, 15% Expert
- Lifts: 12
- Valle Nevado Hotels: Hotel Tres Puntas, Hotel Puerta del Sol, Hotel Valle Nevado
- Backcountry Access: Excellent
- Heliski: Yes
- Annual Snowfall: 315 inches (800 cms)
La Parva Ski Resort La Parva is part of Chile's "Three Valleys", along with Valle Nevado and El Colorado.
La Parva quickly climbs to 3,630 meters (11,910 ft.) and has great access to off piste terrain including steep chutes like La Chiminea, deep powder bowls, and cornices. It also provides a clear shot to nearby peaks and world-class backcountry lines like Cerro La Parva, El Plomo, and more.
The views of the Capital of Chile, Santiago on a clear day are amazing!
La Parva means "the haystack" in Spanish. Since hay is for horses and powder is for us, we won't get into it. Just trust us when we say the skiing and snowboarding is excellent.
- Ski Resort Location: Village of Farellones above Santiago, Central Chile
- Ski Resort Elevation: 2,670m (8,759ft) to 3,630m (11,909ft)
- Ski Resort Vertical Drop: 960m (3,150ft)
- Ski Resort Inbound Terrain:
- 20 Runs, 15% Beginner, 45% Intermediate, 30% Advanced, 10% Expert
- Lifts: 14
- Backcountry Access: Excellent
- Heliski: yes
- Annual Snowfall: 300 inches (762 cms)
Testimonials "Had a blast! The guides did a great job even with variable conditions they found the goods. 'Hikin Mike' pushed everyone so we could experience the best terrain. Definitely a must for any true adventure seeker." Mike Angier
El Colorado Ski Area Chile
The cone-shape peak of the Colorado ski area in Chile offers fun lift access terrain, but most of our time here will be taking advantage of the fact that El Colorado, linking with Valle Nevado and La Parva offer South America's largest resort and amazing back country ski terrain. Colorado backcountry skiing trips Include skiing road runs on Santa Tere (Santa Teresita or Santa Teresa) and more.
El Colorado, one hour from Santiago, Chile and just steps away from the village of Farellones has steep lines dropping throughout the cliff bands seen from Valle Nevado.
The East face of El Colorado's cone usually has the best snow, as the Andean winds deposit large amounts of snow here.
- Ski Resort Location: Village of Farellones, Central Chile
- Ski Resort Elevation: 2,250m (9,022 ft) to 3,333m (10,934ft)
- Ski Resort Vertical Drop: 903m(2,965 ft)
- Ski Resort Inbound Terrain: 25 Runs
- 15% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, 35% Advanced, 10% Expert
- Lifts: 16
- Backcountry Access: Very Good
- Heliski: Available at Valle Nevado
- Annual Snowfall: 300 inches (762 cms)
Testimonials
"We had a terrific experience on the slopes as we as a great introduction to Chile. Accomodations and food were top notch! Thanks for creating a wonderful memory!"
Brett Oblon
Portillo Ski Resort
Ski Portillo Chile is often ranked as one of the 10 best ski resorts in the world by Ski Magazine, Warren Miller, and the Travel Channel.
Portillo ski runs are steep and require a special, two-of-a-kind lift. Skiers and snowboarders can traverse to unbelievable terrain such as the steep, powdery Primavera Run. It was on one of these expert runs that the 200km speed barrier was broken.
Portillo lodging guests are left in bliss with endless untracked powder, often for days, and also has some of the best bluebird spring conditions we have seen in Chile.
Days are yours, free to explore the open slopes with your ski guides, via the 13 chair lifts, hiking the "Super C" and other chutes above the mystical Inca Lake, or even heli-skiing with Frank Coffey of Chugach Powder Guides of Anchorage, Alaska
- Ski Resort Location: Near city of Los Andes, Central Chile
- Ski Resort Elevation: 2,510m (8,240ft) to 3,350m (10985ft)
- Ski Resort Vertical Drop: 835m (2,745ft)
- Ski Resort Inbound Terrain: 23 Runs
- 20% Beginner, 30% Intermediate, 20% Advanced, 30% Expert
- Lifts: 13
- Portillo Lodging: Hotel Portillo, Octagon Lodge, and Inca Lodge
- Backcountry Access: Very Good
- Heliski: Yes, Bell B3 Helicopter
- Annual Snowfall: 265 inches (673 cms)
Ski Arpa Cat Skiing
Praised as one of the best experiences in skiing on the planet by Ski Magazine, El Arpa cat skiing has endless acres of advanced and expert freeride terrain reached by founder Toni Sponar's snowcats. Every time we have cat skied at Arpa, there have only been a dozen skiers and snowboarders to share over 5,000 acres of Andes powder!
It is truly an unforgettable adventure. From the cactus and goat filled snowy-dirt road journey, to the deep powder turns, all the way to the end with a cold beer overlooking one of the Andes most spectacular sunsets.
As one of the only ski resorts with out accommodations, Arpa is hands down one of the best out of the way snow ski resorts on Earth.
"Imagine 5,000 acres of mostly expert terrain, two cats that can hold a maximum of 24, but average 4 people per day at the entire ski area. We´re talking about 2,300 vertical feet per run with views of Aconcagua and the green valley floor filled with vineyards, cactus and goats."
Vanessa Pierce
Powder Magazine
Testimonials
"Thank you for a fantastic trip. Arpa is one of the most amazing places I have skied. The Asado was a great ending to an awesome two days. Mike I thought you did a great job again as a lead guide. Your experience really shows!"
Andrew Curry
Las Lenas Ski
Words simply cannot describe some of the terrain Las Lenas Argentina has to offer!
Las Lenas ski resort offers fun skiing for intermediate to experts. However, the incredible part is the Marte chairlift, servicing terrain that has become a mecca for extreme skiing and snowboarding. From the steep bowl directly under the Marte chairlift, to Eduardo's 48-degree Couloir, and literally hundreds of chutes 40-50 degree plus, some people have said they would give up every chairlift in South America, for the Las Lenas Marte!
Throw in the snowcat tours, and easy backcountry touring access, you are in paradise for steep terrain junkies looking for the ultimate Andean buzz thriller.
If you still have legs after a day on the mountain, Argentina's famous late night bar and disco scene live strong here in the Las Lenas Valley. It is not uncommon to see folks pouring out of the discotheque as you are about to make your first powder turns of the day! This leaves Las Lenas literally crowd free for hours.
It is indeed an unreal experience, including Las Lenas lodging the Piscis, Escorpio and Aires hotels and we get you there for a solid week of some of the best alpine terrain, extreme skiing, and powder on Earth!
- Ski Resort Location: Las Lenas Argentina Near Malargue, Mendoza Province of Argentina
- Ski Resort Elevation: 2,240m (7,349ft) to 3,340m (11,253ft)
- Ski Resort Vertical Drop: 1,100m (3,904ft)
- Ski Resort Inbound Terrain: 35 Runs
- 5% Beginner, 35% Intermediate, 25% Advanced, 35% Expert
- Lifts: 13
- Top Las Lenas Lodging: Piscis, Escorpio, Airies Hotel
- Backcountry Access: Perhaps some of the best in the world
- Heliski: Available
- Las Lenas Annual Snowfall: 250 Inches (635 cms)
Frommer's Argentina guidebook says: "PowderQuest Tours offers packages popular with North Americans and Europeans. A 7-night package includes flights from Buenos Aires and excellent guided English-language tours for a few days of wine touring in Mendoza."
Testimonials
"By now everybody knows that Las Lenas Ski Resort is the sickest resort in the Southern Hemisphere, with enough vertical and lift-serviced terrain to keep you busy for years."
Josh Howell
Travel journalist
"The Marte chair lift is enough to keep anyone occupied forever. I've never seen anything like it!"
Mark Shesser