Skiing activities in Chile
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La Parva
The most exclusive of Santiago's ski resorts, La Parva is definitely oriented toward posh families rather than the powder-and-party pack. Private cottages and condos make up ski base Villa La Parva, from where 14 lifts take you to its 30 runs, the highest of which starts at 3630m above sea level. Snow permitting, there's plenty of off-piste skiing here, too. The ski between La Parva and Valle Nevado or Farellones is also a favorite among more experienced skiers.
reviewed
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Valle Nevado
About 12km from Farellones is Valle Nevado. Modeled on European setups, Valle Nevado boasts almost 3000 hectares of skiable domain – the largest in South America. It's also the best-maintained of Santiago's resorts and has the most challenging runs. A variety of beginner runs make it good for kids, too. Thirteen chairlifts and surface lifts take you to the 27 pistes' high-altitude start points, which range from 2860m to 3670m. At the time of writing, construction on an eight-person gondola – the first of its kind in Chile – was underway. Adrenaline levels also run high here: there's a snow park, good off-piste action and heli-skiing.
In summer, the Mirador chairlift…
reviewed
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Centro de Ski El Fraile
From June to September, skiers can make turns at the Centro de Ski El Fraile, only 29km south of Coyhaique. A T-bar and pommel lift access 800m of vertical terrain. Experts can hike past the lifts to some bowls with heavy, wet snow and lovely tree-skiing. Rental equipment is available.
reviewed
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Ski Club Andino
Ski Club Andino runs a quaint restaurant at the Reserva Forestal Magallanes chairlift and rents ski equipment. It is skiing - and therefore better than nothing - but not the kind of terrain that would warrant a specific ski trip to Punta Arenas.
reviewed
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Farellones
The village of Farellones is Chile’s first ski resort. At about 2500m, it’s lower than El Colorado and its handful of runs tend to attract mainly beginner skiers, as well as tubing fans.
reviewed