Thanks to a couple of legendary snowstorms down in the Andes over the last few seasons, Chile is solidly on the map as a ski destination for core skiers who want to escape the heat of the Northern Hemisphere. Powder7 staffer Alex is fresh off a summer excursion from down south and is here to share some tips and tricks for skiing in Chile and how to maximize an adventure of a lifetime.
Don’t be afraid to venture away from the Tres Valles area
If you look at a map, it’s easy to recognize that while she may not be very wide, Chile is a very large country as the border runs along the Andes. That said, most people concentrate their time around the Tres Valles area just outside of Santiago.
It’s easy to cluster around Valle Nevado, El Colorado, and La Parva—they offer massive high-alpine terrain, reliable high-altitude snow, and English-speaking conveniences right outside Santiago. But restricting yourself to the big three means missing the real soul of Chilean skiing. Head south into the Lakes District to ski smoking volcanoes like Nevados de Chillán or Pucón, where you’ll swap crowded groomed faces for old-growth monkey puzzle trees, natural hot springs, and uncrowded terrain.
Do be okay with getting skunked on snow (or visibility)
This is true for any ski trip, but it seems especially true for skiing in Chile. Snow levels can be fickle, and you might find yourself in the middle of a rain event despite epic precipitation. Warm temps throw you into spring conditions quickly, and strong winds can create some serious wind-affected snow.
Especially since the ski zones can be so far apart from each other, it could be easy to get bummed out for not being in the right place at the right time. Try to enjoy the snow for what it is where you’re at, even if it might not be what you dreamed of.
On top of that, we had cloud cover come in every afternoon at El Colorado, creating some of the worst visibility I’ve skied in (and I’ve skied in a lot of bad vis). Lock in your turns in the morning to ensure you get as much skiing as you can.
Don’t miss out on hot springs
Skiing down an active volcano like Nevados de Chillán or Villarrica and stepping straight into natural thermal pools heated by subterranean magma is the ultimate aprés upgrade. Skip the cramped, over-chlorinated hotel tubs; soaking in mineral-rich pools surrounded by snowbanks and native rainforest resets your body for another 15,000 vertical feet tomorrow.
At the base of Nevados de Chillán is their commercial hot springs setup, complete with showers and a swim-up bar. If you ask us, that is the ultimate apres. Wild hot springs can also be found, if you know where to look and ask locals.
If you backcountry ski, do bring the touring gear
While the resorts have plenty of terrain for you to soak up and enjoy, going for a few backcountry outings will make your trip that much more special. It adds precious pounds to those big ski bags, but well worth it, even if you only get out for a couple of tours.
We got to ski a volcano and go on some seriously cool adventures with our touring gear. Additionally, at Nevados de Chillán, if you find yourself with a snowstorm and no lifts spinning, having your touring gear to skin up the resort and take a few laps comes in handy.
Do expect lots, and we mean lots, of surface lifts
T-bars galore! Thanks to high winds and expensive shipping for big lift parts to South America, you’ll find lots of surface lifts scattered around many of the resorts. To this skier, who finds a T-bar ride to be novel and exciting when I travel to ski areas that might have one or two, got quite sick of these T-bars after a few days. Many of them go over surprisingly steep pitches and over long distances, which can actually be a bit of a workout.
Pro tip: if you’re a skier and riding solo, try putting the T-bar between your legs so you’re balanced between the two bars. This may be obvious to some, but it took this T-bar rookie a few tries to figure out.
Do make some time to explore Santiago
Skiers often get tunnel vision rushing from the airport straight up the mountain switchbacks. Give yourself time to take in Santiago’s vibrant food scene, plethora of museums and parks, and historic neighborhoods. Hike or ride the funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal late in the afternoon to catch the sunset painting the Andes peaks gold.
We threw a couple days at the end of our trip just in Santiago, and it was an ideal capstone to a South American ski trip.
Don’t sleep on pisco sours
The quintessential South American cocktail, a proper pisco sour—tart, frothy, and refreshingly smooth—is the undisputed ruler of Chilean aprés. Pair a couple with fresh empanadas on the sun deck, and you have yourself a perfect snack break. It happens to be everywhere, and quite affordable compared to a $17 margarita that you might find at the mid-mountain bar in the States.
