The best ski resorts in Chile

With mountains stretching as high as 22,638 feet, the Andes are home to some of the best snow in the world. And with much of the range stretching the length of Chile, it only makes sense they’d capitalize on this and place incredible ski resorts there.  

With a shorter history in the sport than their European counterparts, you won’t find hundreds of ski resorts to choose from. However, the available resorts all offer the same thing — epic terrain, epic scenery, and epic powder. And we’ve rounded up the best of them. 

With lots of resorts receiving over 30 feet of snow a year – and with long verticals and terrain that’s sure to get even the most seasoned powder hounds salivating – Chile is the perfect choice for a summer getaway. So, if waiting until November is too long for your next ski adventure, then dive into our list of the 10 best ski resorts in Chile – and start planning.

Hanne

Montec crew

Chile has amazing terrain that is easily accessible, and dramatic backdrops. For me it might still not be the skiing itself as much as the culture and the people that makes Chile unique. I’m still in complete awe of the openness and genuineness of the people that we met.

Pssst - If you are still looking for stylish and functional ski clothing to bring on your next adventure in the mountains, check out our latest collections over at Montec. 

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Top 10 ski resorts in Chile

Valle Nevado

Search anywhere for ski resorts in Chile, and there’s a good chance that Valle Nevado pops up first. And for a pretty good reason. It’s within a 45-minute drive from Santiago, Chile’s capital city, provides an amazing amount of altitude and vertical, has a great snow record, and offers a sizeable lift and trail network with rock-solid infrastructure. Plus, it’s well-suited to all skill levels thanks to its range of terrain: from beginner areas to gnarly backcountry descents. This means it’s one of the most accessible and best options for those flying into the country for ski vacations. Need we say more? Well, we’re going to, anyway!

You can grab a shuttle from Santiago to the resort daily, so accommodation is very varied in both price and luxury. Just take your pick! Or, if you’d prefer to stay in the resort, there’s a good selection of stays. Valle Nevado brands itself as the number one all-inclusive ski resort in Chile, and it’s not hard to see why. They have everything you need with a dedicated yet compact resort base with bars and restaurants. Plus, thanks to a steady influx of domestic and foreign visitors, they’re continuously investing, improving, and renewing services around the mountain.

Let’s talk about that mountain, then! In the shadow of the hulking Cerro El Plomo, you’ll get to ride three zones off the Cima Ancla, Cima Andes, and Tres Puntas. All of these serve up some pretty epic terrain. Cima Ancla and Tres Puntas have insane steeps but also come with a cruisey blue run. On the other hand, the Cima Andes zone has a good selection of intermediate red trails, and a network of blues and greens lower down. Honestly, anywhere you go, you’ll be surfing powder and treating the whole place like a playground. It’s the number one resort for a reason!

Hanne

Montec crew

Valle Nevado is more alpine, with high altitude skiing and serious lines, and the most stunning sunsets.

La Parva

La Parva is Valle Nevado’s next-door neighbor, forming part of the Chilean Tres Valles resort trio. However, despite its similar stats and attractive terrain, international visitors often overlook La Parva. Instead, it’s mainly frequented by locals. But don’t mistake that to mean this is the best bang for your buck. It’s the opposite, with La Parva being known as one of the more exclusive ski destinations in Chile…with a price tag to match.

You’ll certainly find a more authentic Chilean experience in La Parva, so if you’d prefer to be surrounded by locals, this ski resort is a great choice. Much like its neighbors, the terrain is treeless, so it’s fraught with wide open snow fields and long descents. However, there’s a slightly easier layout and more on-site accommodation than at Valle Nevado. So, if you’re after convenience, score one more for La Parva. 

The terrain is predominantly graded red and black, so La Parva caters to advanced riders – especially those looking for the best freeriding. Long, modern lifts whisk confident skiers up the mountain to enjoy the kind of snow that only an 11,909, feet peak could deliver. However, if you’re just starting out, there’s a dedicated beginner zone at the base and a handful of blue runs that connect the tops of the lifts back to the resort. If you’re looking to progress your skills, though, you’ll find much of the riding here is likely beyond your level.

El Colorado/Farellones

The last of the Tres Valleys/Tres Valles resort is El Colorado/Farellones. This is another lofty destination but is less developed and quieter than its neighbors. It’s very popular with locals, and there’s a much less glamorous feel here, with the buildings and architecture seeming wholly Chilean in design and the vibe lively and friendly. It’s especially popular with the young, local crowd, who have come to love the bouncing nightlife that flies under the radar in Farellones village. Plus, it’s considered the most affordable of the three, making it the ideal choice if budget is a concern for a Chilean ski trip.

You’ll have two options to tackle, though. That’s because El Colorado and Farellones were once independent yet neighboring resorts. Now, they’re interconnected. El Colorado is the more developed, newer resort center above the older, more traditional Farellones, a little further down the hill. And El Colorado is most suited to beginners. It’s spread across a single, large mountain face that features a lot of varied terrain – including a great selection of green trails that link the lifts. However, that’s not to say there’s nothing for those looking to test themselves, as you’ll find dedicated off-piste zones with plenty of steeps and chutes. Plus, you’ll find a terrain park that’s a favorite among locals.  

Enjoying the same great transport links from Santiago as the other Tres Valleys/Tres Valles resorts, El Colorado is also a great choice for families and mixed abilities groups and brands itself as the most accessible. As such, it has an array of rental and tuition options, along with a selection of dining and après picks right in resort. 

Nevados de Chillán

While Nevados de Chillán gets less attention than the Santiago-adjacent resorts, it should definitely not be overlooked. Located some 310 miles south of the city, it’ll take more than five hours by bus to reach, or you’ll need to catch a connecting flight to the local airport to get here. As such, it’s not that popular with tourists, which is a shame once you start reeling off the stats. For example, there is over 30 feet of snow a year, over 3,000 feet of vertical, cat-skiing from the peak and across the rest of the range, thermal hot springs and ski-in, ski-out accommodation. Plus, there’s the best beginner terrain in Chile, the best freeriding in Chile, and … it’s also located on a volcano. All pretty spectacular!

Nevados de Chillán is relatively sizable, with a host of hotel and self-catering options and many restaurants and bars. Still, if you’d prefer to stay in Chillán, you can. Just utilize their shuttle service up to the resort. It’s an hour and 15 minutes away, but lively and bustling. However, the mountain is the big attraction, so let’s focus on that! 

Low down, you’ll find a huge dedicated beginner area with winding green trails through the forest. These direct you past the resort to a high-speed quad chair, which takes you right back to the top, making Chillán a perfect choice for beginner riders. Higher up, there’s a dedicated freeride zone with double-black graded terrain and unmarked trails that lead through a sheltered bowl, home to the deepest snow on the mountain. If that doesn’t appeal, you can head up higher to discover the intermediate network and the epic Tres Marias Bajas blue trail that loops around the outer edge of the resort and is an insane eight miles long! If that’s still not enough, check out the cat skiing operation that runs on the upper slopes of Chillán itself and allows you to ski from the very peak down to the resort — truly an incredible experience and a powder skiing adventure unlike any other.

Hanne

Montec crew

Nevados de Chillán is playful and has lots of fun tree skiing, which otherwise is quite rare in Chile, as well as volcanos to which you can tour from the resort if the weather (and volcanic activity) allows.

Ski Portillo

Where to start with Ski Portillo? World-renowned and yet virtually unknown, Ski Portillo claims some pretty hectic stats! Let’s start with its claims to fame when it became the first South American resort to host the World Skiing Championships in 1966. Then, in 1978, a skier broke the 124-mile-an-hour speed barrier there. These two things are enough to give a sense of what Ski Portillo offers — steep and fast groomers fit for expert skiers to feel the wind in the … holes in their helmets? Set in the heart of the Andes, the surrounding scenery is spectacular, and the resort itself, while small, is charming and well-equipped. 

Ski Portillo is off the beaten path and three hours outside Santiago to the northeast. So, getting here isn’t especially straightforward. However, it’s definitely worth the trip if you’re picking up what Ski Portillo is putting down. Visitors don’t come for the nightlife or bustling resort (because neither exists here!), so let’s focus on the mountain. Split into two halves on either side of Laguna del Inca, learners can find their feet off the Las Lomas lift and enjoy the green and blue runs. You’ll also find some longer intermediate runs off the La Laguna lift. These take riders down the long Juncalillo, running well below the resort center. But once you’re all warmed up on the long, cruisey blues, choose from the short, steep lifts that transport you into the chutes and steeps this resort is famous for.

On the south side, the Roca Jack and El CaraCara lifts take riders up the face of the Ojos de Agua, a 13,852-feet peak fraught with uber-steep groomers and freeride lines to get the heart pumping. On the north side, the Condor lift shifts you to the most challenging powder fields. And, if you’re feeling really ambitious, you can thread the needle through the steep chutes around Garganta. Or, hit the Lake run down to the water’s edge, and cruise on the green home run. Whatever you choose, prepare – Portillo is known for being steep and epic.

Pillán

Not all of Chile’s ski resorts are located on volcanoes. But a lot of them seem to be! Pillán ski resort is situated on the slopes of the Villarrica Volcano, while compact, it offers some truly amazing riding. Official area stats aren’t available, but that’s likely because most of the volcano’s upper slopes are filled with bottomless powder during winter, making Pillán a very popular location for ski touring. Park at the base, get the lift to near 7,000 feet and then skin up the rest. The reward is one of the most mind-blowing descents in the southern hemisphere.

Pillán is located pretty far to the south of Santiago, so you’ll need to fly into Temuco and then drive 1.5 hours to Pucón, the local town. The resort has no accommodation, so staying in Pucón is the only option. But that’s no problem because it’s a pretty town set on Lake Villarrica’s shore with great, affordable accommodation. Luckily it’s a short drive to the resort, too. We’d recommend hiring a car to make transfers easier! The resorts has a small base with the necessities, but it’s what you’d call ‘no frills’. Instead, it’s all about the riding here! 

Parking at the base, you’ll hop on a long chair lift to the mid-station and have a selection of T-bars and chairs to take you up higher. This middle section of the mountain is where you’ll find a mix of terrain, mostly geared towards intermediate riders, with a dedicated beginner section below. The Andarivel lift will transport you to the highest point and open up the more challenging terrain, including the in-bounds freeriding. However, heavy snow and high winds mean it’s often closed in winter. So, if you want to get higher to experience the true freeriding on offer, you’ll need to have touring gear. Luckily, you won’t be alone, and there are many skin tracks and routes to follow. Local backcountry guides are also available to make it a really special trip!

Corralco

Corralco is around an hour northeast of Temuco and is less developed than Pillán. There’s not much of a ‘resort’ here, so it’s best to stay in Temuco and drive in daily to access things like bars and restaurants. Alternatively, stay at the Valle Corralco Hotel & Spa. This beautiful and exclusive hotel offers ski-in, ski-out access right at the foot of the lifts. If you’re surprised to find a four-star-plus hotel this far out … Well, so are we! But if you’re in the mood for a once-in-a-lifetime freeride vacation with fine dining, plush beds, and sumptuous surroundings, then Corralco is the place for you!

Corralco has a decent base station with everything you need, including rentals and ski school for those looking to learn. But with just two chairlifts and four surface lifts, infrastructure isn’t the name of the game. In terms of trails, 25 are mostly geared toward beginner and intermediate skiers. But don’t let that worry you, as they’re long, using more than half a mile of vertical which means you’ll be surfing powder all day long at Corralco. It’s pretty spectacular! Though what you’re coming to Corralco for is the freeriding. So let’s talk about that.

As you get higher up the mountain, the terrain gets steeper, opening up the black and red trails from the top of the Cumbre lift. This will also give you access to the two massive freeride zones on either side of the resort and the marked skin trail that takes you to the mountain peak at 7,874 feet. From here, you can pick your favorite route and descend more than 3,018 vertical feet to the hotel at the base. It’s one of the longest verticals anywhere. Plus, it offers some of the best uninterrupted pow skiing in the world, let alone Chile. Come for this and this alone, and you’ll have the best ski trip you’ve ever had.

Chapa Verde

Chapa Verde is a small ski resort approximately 90 minutes south of Santiago. Often overlooked in favor of Valle Nevada and the Tres Valleys, this ski-club-run resort lacks any kind of big infrastructure. However, it does possess the ability to get skiers up to 10,000 feet for over 6,000 feet of vertical – something that’s unheard of pretty much everywhere outside of the Andes. There are just 22 trails but the area gets a decent amount of snow, so freeriding (just like everywhere else) is the order of the day here.

A small base station offers ski services like rentals and repairs, and a little shop has a good selection of ski gear if you’re lacking. Surprisingly, there are two restaurants here: one at the base and the other at the bottom of the La Liebre triple-chair, which are pretty good! Accommodation is plentiful in nearby Rancagua, as are dining and après options. But if you want to stay at the resort, the Hoya Blanca has 59 cabins that sleep up to eight people each. It’s perfect if self-catering is your thing.

A small ski club runs the ski hill, so there’s not much of a built-up atmosphere. Snow isn’t as plentiful as in other resorts, either, so you’ll need to time it right, with late August being the best bet for snowpack. However, up higher, you’ll always find fresh lines. Be aware that this requires some hiking, and it takes a little while to get up there, as five of the six lifts are surface lifts. In terms of terrain variance, closer to the base means easier green and blue trails, with the higher parts of the mountain giving access to steep chutes and powder fields!

Antuco 

Antuco is a small ski resort located around 311 miles south of Santiago (six hours by car) and about 93 miles from Concepción. It’s set on the slopes of the Antuco volcano and is another popular freeride and ski tour destination. Antuco gets decent snow, especially on the upper slopes. However, with just two surface lifts, ‘ski on a volcano’ better be on your bucket list to want to travel to Antuco.

You’ll find a restaurant at the base and two guest rooms, but you can also stay in the town of Antuco, or nearby Los Ángeles, just 55 miles to the west. There’s also a small rental and repair shop. Yes, this resort embodies the minimalist ideal. However, if you’re sizing up Antuco, it’s not for the menu at the base station!

You’ll take two drag lifts to the 6,233-feet mid-point. Then, you can either tackle one of the numerous freeride lines down or skin up one of the trails to the peak at nearly 9,793 feet and enjoy the 5,200 feet descent down to the base. With no trees and a thick snowpack, it’s a case of choosing your perfect line — and conserving enough energy for a second go!

Ski Arpa

If you haven’t had enough freeriding, we wanted to cap off this list with Ski Arpa, the Arpa Snowcats operation around 90 minutes north of Santiago. You only need to check out their website to see that they’re ‘Chile’s only snowcats’, and that visiting is going to be ‘An adventure in Chile you will never forget’. They run in the Valle el Arpa and the Valle la Honda, in the shadow of Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas. Big claims, then!

Ski Arpa is a tailored experience. And with two PistenBully snowcats running, they’ve got the capacity and knowledge to get you to the top of the mountain. From there, they’ll set you up for the freshest lines and the best descents. While this isn’t a resort, if you’re hill-hopping across Chile, why not spend the day getting shuttled to the best terrain and snow in the country? It’s a no-brainer!

Running from June to October, August is the best time to visit. Bear in mind, though, that although ‘easier’ terrain exists, you want to be a pretty experienced rider to make the most of this trip. If that sounds like you and the resorts above haven’t offered enough pow turns, why not hop on a snowcat and check out how the other half live?

Wrapping up

Well, that’s our top choices for a ski trip in Chile. We hope there’s something here no matter your skill level, budget, or wishlist. Just remember, Chile is super sunny, so pack your sunscreen and dark lenses. Otherwise, have fun, practice your Spanish, and tune those edges! Until next time … Adiós!

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• Men's ski clothing / Women's ski clothing
• The snowiest ski resorts in the world