The 6 Best Ski Resorts in Chile

Yahoo

26-05-2025

It's hot, your AC's working overtime, and you can't remember the last time you saw snow. For diehard skiers in the northern hemisphere, the summertime can be a unique form of torture. But it doesn't have to be this way. As our ski season starts to wind down, mountain destinations across Chile are just getting started. And unlike some ski resorts you might visit in the southern hemisphere, Chile's mountain offerings aren't a diluted version of the Rockies or Alps. Instead, they're truly unique—both in terms of terrain and culture—serving up a distinct skiing experience that, as you might guess, can't be experienced anywhere else in the world. From tight chutes to wild backcountry terrain and deep snow, the Chilean ski experience should, if it isn't already, be on your bucket list.If you've ever dreamed of booking a flight south to sip pisco sours and ski powder, here's where you should start.Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates.
A sprawling major ski destination located in Chile's famed Tres Valles area, Valle Nevado is highly accessible for international visitors, with numerous major multi-passes, including the Power Pass and the Mountain Collective pass, providing days on its slopes. Valle Nevado is also the only South American ski resort included in the Ikon Pass program. It makes sense that the companies behind these passes wanted to work with Valle Nevado. The ski resort has modern amenities, luxury hotels and an expansive heli-skiing program that spans 125,000 hectares—all above treeline. The opportunity to connect with and hopefully befriend international visitors, who often crowd the slopes of Valle Nevado, adds to the appeal.
Ever wanted to ski on the flanks of an active volcano? Add Nevados de Chillán to the bucket list. This ski resort is perched on the flanks of the Nevados de Chillán stratovolcano group, so skiers who moonlight as geologists can scope rock formations while they shred powder. Hot springs available at three hotels—Hotel Nevados, Valle Hermoso and Parque de Agua Termal—are another form of geothermal activity at the ski resort, serving as the ideal place to recover from a day spent skiing hard. Like many other Chilean ski resorts, Nevados de Chillán has a reputation for housing world-class backcountry terrain. One area above the ski resort is reserved for catskiing, so visitors can hitch a ride before schussing downhill. Guiding services, like Powder Quest, offer trips to Nevados de Chillán, too, making it easier and safer to experience the surrounding mountains beyond the rope lines.Portillo stands out with its iconic bright yellow hotel. Here, the ski resort offers all-inclusive packages that include lift tickets, lodging and meals for one price. The terrain, of course, is the most important part of the experience at any given ski resort, though, and in that department Portillo doesn't disappoint. Its slopes are steep and technical, with numerous backcountry lines nearby perfect for skiers willing and equipped to venture out of bounds.
These lines have made Portillo a frequent stop for North American pro skiers, like Connery Lundin, who during the austral winter have dropped clips of themselves shredding at the ski resort. Another draw for skiers seeking unique experiences is the Roca Jack—one of the funkier lifts you'll ever encounter. This unique surface ropeway functions like a giant slingshot, pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill.
La Parva, another Tres Valles ski resort, shares a border and an owner with Valle Nevado. Over the past few years, both ski resorts have come under the umbrella of the Durango, Colorado-based Mountain Capital Partners. For skiers who want to enjoy La Parva and Valle Nevado as one, that's a boon—MCP's Power Pass now offers 10 interconnected days at both ski resorts.
On its own, La Parva is worth visiting, too. The ski resort operates more than 10 lifts and spans over 3,000 feet of vertical. In-bounds, beginner to expert skiers will find plenty of trails worth checking out, but La Parva also shines with its backcountry offerings, which include a line named after the late, great Shane McConkey.
Visitors to the ski resort can unwind in La Parva's Bavarian-style village, which houses a grocery store, three restaurants and, if you're in need of some post-skiing dance therapy, a bar-slash-disco.Freestyle fans, this one's for you—El Colorado features South America's largest terrain park, with a vast array of features. Outside of the jumps and jibs, the ski resort's slopes mainly skew towards the beginner and intermediate crowd, making it a solid stop for those who don't need the toughest and steepest terrain. However, skiers craving a challenge will still find some harder runs at El Colorado on the eastern side of its cone-shaped peak.
A trip to El Colorado can, depending on your plans, also include checking out La Parva and Valle Nevado. El Colorado is the third Tres Valles area ski resort, although MCP doesn't own it, so you can't access the mountain's lifts using the Power Pass.
The lesser-known Corralco ski resort was added to the independent ski area-focused Indy Pass in March 2025, becoming the first South American destination to join the program. It doesn't have the acreage or amenities of, say, Valle Nevado, but Corralco's off-the-beaten-path status could make for a unique trip, particularly for those craving backcountry adventure. The ski resort stands on the flanks of the picturesque Lonquimay Volcano, featuring 500 acres of skiable terrain and eight lifts, plus easy access to loads of out-of-bounds terrain.The 6 Best Ski Resorts in Chile first appeared on Powder on May 26, 2025