Our most popular skiing/snowboarding tour takes you to two of South America’s best ski resorts and includes two exhilarating days of cat skiing. Accompanied by comfortable accommodations, great food, and the best of South American hospitality, this is sure to be the ski trip of a lifetime.
Friends skiing at Portillo
Days 1 – 3: Santiago/Tres Valles
Your Santiago Adventures representative will meet you upon arrival at Santiago’s airport to transfer you to Farellones, part of the “Tres Valles” of the central Andes. The Tres Valles includes the largest skiable area in Chile, with over 6,180 acres of in-bound terrain. The slopes are suited to all levels of skiers, and advanced-level skiers and boarders can use an inter-valley lift pass to access all three valleys, more complicated runs, and backcountry bowls. After checking in at the hotel*, you can head right out to the slopes where you’ll spend the next three days shredding powder. Most international flights arrive in the morning, so you can usually be skiing by noon.
Meals Included: Breakfast (Days 2-3), Dinner (Days 1-2)
*Note: Early check in is not guaranteed and is dependent on availability in the hotel.
Day 4: Tres Valles to Los Andes
After a few hours of skiing in the morning, we will make our way to our north base in Los Andes where we will be spending the next three nights. Along the way, we’ll stop at San Esteban Winery, one of the Aconcagua Valley’s best local wineries, to experience excellent Chilean wine. In the late afternoon, we’ll check in to the Casa San Regis hacienda for an authentic South American experience.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Unloading the Snow Cat at Arpa
Day 5: Ski Portillo
Today you’ll visit Portillo,South America’s oldest and most famous ski resort, first opened in 1948. Portillo has the ambience of a “boutique” ski resort, with limited hotel capacity, no lift lines and open slopes. There are slopes to fit any level of skiing expertise, and for the more advanced skiers and boarders there is an abundance of back country bowls.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Days 6 – 7: Ski Arpa
Experience two full days Snowcat Skiing at the incredible Ski Arpa. A place unlike any other in the world, Valle el Arpa is sweet music to the skier’s soul. Unparalleled vertical snow conditions and views of both Mt. Aconcagua and the Pacific Ocean are sure to make for an unforgettable adventure. In an anything-but-typical day, you’ll ski over 13,000 vertical feet of some of the best untracked powder in the world. Intermediate or advanced level of skiing experience required.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Box Lunch at Arpa, Dinner
Recommended trip combinations:
View to Mt. Aconcagua from Ski Arpa
This program is available to begin every day from June/July thru September, while ski resorts are open.
Price per person (US$): at $2,904.00 based on a minimum of 2 travelers and stay at Chalet Valluga and Casa San Regis
*Prices valid through August 2015.
Custom and private departure available upon request. for details.
Backcountry skiing at Valle El Arpa
Price Includes:
Note: Lift tickets are not included in package price. This is to avoid inconveniences and allow flexibility to change a day’s skiing resort in case of inclement weather, road closures, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Tres Valles:
Challet Valluga hotel with hot tu
Chalet Valluga: Located within the village of Farallones, at only a few minutes distance from all four major ski resorts, Chalet Valluga is a cozy, inviting escape. The Chalet was designed to provide its guests with personalized attention and a comfortable stay. The hotel has 12 rooms and two apartments, all with their own bathroom and housekeeping service. More importantly, the guests have views of the gorgeous valley and glacier “La Paloma” from the outside terrace. Valluga is attended by its owners, who organize special activities like barbecues and cheese & wine hour for its guests.
Options in Los Andes:
A triple at Casa San Regis
Casa San Regis: A beautifully maintained 18th-century hacienda, Casa San Regis provides an authentic Chilean experience which is hard to find at the main ski resorts. This bed & breakfast style hotel is the closest to Ski Arpa Cat Skiing (about 1 hour away). The staff is warm and welcoming, embodying the best of Chilean hospitality. Large, comfortable dining and lounging areas showcase the original architecture. Both breakfast and dinner are included in the room rate.
Inca Hotel
Inca Hotel: The Inca Hotel (not to be confused with the Inca Lodge at Ski Portillo) opened in late 2009. The 47-room hotel is conveniently located on the international highway in Los Andes making for easy access to Ski Arpa and Portillo as well as downtown Los Andes. The rooms are tastefully decorated in a rustic minimalist style. They also have the hippest lounge in Los Andes.
Map of ski areas which comprise the Tres Valles
El Colorado/La Parva: El Colorado, La Parva, and Valle Nevado form the Tres Valles of the Andes, which includes the largest area of skiable terrain in Chile (over 6,180 acres of in-bounds terrain). The area is best suited to beginners, intermediates, and racers, but advanced skiers and boarders can use an inter-valley lift pass to access all three valleys and more complicated runs and backcountry bowls including the infamous La Chimenea. One of the biggest advantages of the Tres Valles area is its proximity to Santiago. Skiers and boarders can get from the city to the slopes in just over an hour’s time.
Valle Nevado
Valle Nevado: Modeled after the style of European resorts, the Valle Nevado complex straddles the imposing peak El Plomo and has the largest skiable domain in Chile. The quality and size of the terrain, good chair lifts, and service make the resort a very worthwhile destination. At an altitude of 3,670m/12,040 ft and with average snowfall of 7m/276 inches, Valle Nevado has some of the most consistently great snow conditions among the major resorts in the region. The resort is about a 90 minute drive from Santiago.
Ski Day at Portillo
Portillo: One of Chile’s most internationally known ski destinations, Portillo is embodies a “boutique” ski resort culture. Since lodging capacity is relatively small, lift lines are minimal and there are more fresh tracks to ski. Most days the snow quality is incredible, and with views to match – jagged Andean peaks, the crystal clear waters of Laguna del Inca, and steep white slopes. There are slopes to fit any level of skiing expertise, though for the more advanced skiers and boarders there is an abundance of back country bowls. Portillo is located about two hours from Santiago, near the border with Argentina, and offers some of Chile’s best skiing.
