CHILE
CENTRAL ANDES AND VOLCANOES
Chile has many outstanding ski resorts, just a short distance from major cities. At an altitude of more than 2,000 meters, amid the dazzling white blanket of the Andes mountains, you will find ski runs that are among the best in the world, an essential destination for skiers and snowboarders every winter from mid-June until mid-October.
Chile is home to the best skiing in South America, with slopes for beginners and experts alike.
Most resorts are within an hour's drive of Santiago, including a wide variety of runs at family-oriented La Parva, all-levels El Colorado and Valle Nevado, with a lot of terrain and renowned heli-skiing. Legendary Portillo, the site of several downhill speed records and the summer training base for many of the northern hemisphere's top skiers, is northeast of Santiago near the Argentine border.
Further south, the options for adventure are almost limitless. Termas de Chillan, just east of Chillan, is a more laid-back spot with several beginners' slopes, while Parque Nacional Villarrica, near the resort town of Pucon, has the added thrill of skiing on a smoking volcano. On Volcan Lonquimay, Corralco has great novice and expert terrain, as well as excellent backcountry access. These southern resorts are often close to hot springs, a godsend after a hard day of descents.
