Pack in 4 of Chile's best ski resorts in just 1 week! Whilst most of the terrain you will ski/ride is lift-accessed there will be some opportunities for ski touring & boot packing to get to the steep, deep and untracked powder. Join a tour as a solo or small group or create your own custom tour.
If you are limited with time and want to pack in as much skiing as possible at all of Santiago's major ski resorts, this tour might be what you are looking for.
This 7-day / 6-night tour starts in the Tres Valles where you will ski at the resorts of El Colorado, La Parva & Valle Nevado and then heads to the iconic ski resort of Portillo.
You will ski/ride with a local multi-lingual certified UIAGM-IFMGA Mountain Guide in groups of up to 6 guests per guide.
Ski some of Chile's famous lines like Chimenea en la Parva, Falsa Parva, Santa Teresa, El Tambo and the backcountry of La Parva towards Cerro el Plomo and the chutes of Cerro Pintor.
Your guide will be available to you 24/7 for the duration of the tour and in addition to the awesome skiing and riding, they will introduce you to the local culture, incredible local restaurants & bars.
The package includes moderate budget accommodations, all meals & transport to/from Santiago airport and to the resorts and/or other activities.
If you are interested, there are also opportunities for a day of heli skiing from either Valle Nevado or Portillo (subject to availability at the time of booking).
You can join a fixed-date tour as a solo traveller or small group looking to join a group, or you can book as a private custom group trip any time during the custom date period. Fixed-date tours require a minimum of 3 participants to run. Please get in contact if you have any questions.
It should be noted that whilst Esnativa Backcountry will do all they can to match abilities in the mixed group tours, there may be some variability between abilities which may influence some of the terrain choices. If this is of concern you are better off getting your own private group together of similar abilities.
This tour visits the best 4 ski resorts in the Santiago, Chile area being La Parva, El Colorado & Valle Nevado (whilst staying in Farellones) and Portillo (staying on-mountain).
The resorts all have good lift infrastructure and good on-mountain services.
Whilst the majority of this tour is lift-access piste, off-piste and sidecountry, there will be plenty of opportunities for ski touring / splitboarding to access some of Chile's best backcountry areas.
Each of the ski areas offers open bowls, chutes and couloirs with slopes between 25 and 45 degrees. There is no tree skiing at these resorts.
This tour requires a medium to high level of physical fitness and strong intermediate to advanced level of skiing/riding ability to access the sidecountry/backcountry and some of the challenging steep and variable snow conditions.
If you have a friend or partner who is an intermediate skier/rider, they could potentially join this tour and ski/ride around the resorts each day.
You will require basic backcountry equipment including ski touring/splitboarding gear, backpack, shovel, probe & beacon. This equipment can be rented if required with advanced notice.
You will have an experienced local guide/host for the duration of the tour who will be available 24/7. The guide ratio is 1:4 guests. The minimum number of skiers/boarders for a tour to go is 3 and the maximum is 6.
For your safety, all guides are certified and qualified and you will be guided by someone who lives and spends most of his time in this area.
Whilst this itinerary generally outlines the aims of this tour, adverse weather may require slight variations. In any case the focus will be on maximizing skiing and the adventure.
Upon arrival at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago, your ski adventure in South America begins.
Your guide will pick you up from the airport and transfer you (approx 1:30) to Farellones, which will be basecamp for the next 3 nights.
Farellones is located in the heart of the renowned Tres Valles ski terrain.
After a hearty breakfast at your lodge, you will set off to ski the resorts of La Parva and El Colorado, known for offering some of the best on and off-piste resort terrain in South America.
Here you will delve into the backcountry (mostly accessible by lifts), exploring untracked slopes and capturing unforgettable moments on camera.
Today you will head to the ski resort of Valle Nevado (another of the Tres Valles resorts), where you will experience breathtaking views and a diverse and impressive variety of terrain.
Making the most of the excellent ski resort lift infrastructure you will be offered a mix of in-bounds off-piste & backcountry skiing with 2800-3200 ft of vertical and slope angles of between 25 and 40 degrees.
Today after an early breakfast you will travel to the legendary ski resort of Portillo located in the heart of the Andes with a base elevation of 10,000 feet.
In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to cruise around the piste at the resort and/or conquer one or more of the technically demanding lines on offer.
No matter where you are in Portillo, the views of the spectacular mountains and lagoon are astonishing and mesmerizing.
Today is the day to venture into the Portillo backcountry, discovering the less traveled trails and immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the area. Downhills between 30 and 35 degrees, 3.500 ft of vertical drop and an apres ski at the base of the descent await you at the end of the day.
You'll revel in a full day at Portillo's exceptional ski resort, relishing in the top-notch facilities it provides. Indulge in the finest cuisine, savor delightful drinks, and engage with the incredible people who make Portillo a unique gem in the world of skiing South America.
This is the epitome of Chile ski packages - an experience that combines the thrill of ski touring with the luxury of world-class amenities.
As the ski trip in South America draws to a close, you'll bid farewell to the stunning slopes of Portillo. Take in the morning views, reliving the unforgettable moments, before making your way to the airport for your return flight. This Chile ski tour has been an adventure of a lifetime, an experience that will forever be etched in your memory.
The first 3 nights of this itinerary stays in the lovely little village of Farellones at 2,340 metres (7,874 feet) above sea level.
You will stay in Powder Lodge.
A buffet breakfast and dinner is served in the hotel restaurant each day.
The second part of the tour you will stay on-mountain at Portillo at 2,880 metres (9,450 feet) above sea level in the Inca. These rooms are based on quad-share however if you really want your own space there may be an option (subject to availability at time of booking) to upgrade to a room in the hotel. This will increase the price of the tour quite a bit, but ask for rates if this is of interest.
You will spend little time in your room as you will access to all of the Portillo facilities including: