After what felt like an eternity, the much-anticipated ski season has finally arrived in Chile 🏂🏻! All the major ski resorts are now open, ready to welcome snow enthusiasts. In this post, I’ll give you a quick rundown of the top ski spots in Chile and how you can enjoy them by either driving yourself or joining a guided tour (everyone, remember to save some cash [wink][smirk]).
Chile boasts around 20 ski resorts 🤩, primarily nestled in the central and southern parts of the country. The northernmost, Portillo Ski Resort, sits near the Chile-Argentina border and holds the title of being the first ski resort in Chile. In the bustling capital, Santiago, the main skiing area is known as the Three Valleys: Valle Nevado, La Parva, and El Colorado.
There’s also a smaller, more affordable option called Farellones 😂, which is perfect for beginners due to its gentle slopes and budget-friendly prices ❗
🚌【Transportation】🚌
Public transportation to these ski resorts is non-existent, so your best bets are self-driving or joining a day tour. If you’re planning to drive, safety is key—make sure to equip your vehicle with snow chains, which you can purchase from Decathlon or any outdoor store. Otherwise, you might find yourself slipping and sliding, making a guided tour a highly recommended alternative.
⭐【Tours and Buses】⭐
I booked a one-day tour to Valle Nevado and Farellones through 【Getyourtrip】, which cost around 20,000 pesos. The tour picks you up at a designated spot, but it only allows for a brief one-hour stop at Valle Nevado before heading to Farellones for 3-4 hours of fun. Personally, I found Farellones to be incredibly beginner-friendly [laughing], and the resort itself is quite impressive (see P4).
The ticket price is around 30,000 pesos, which is just half the cost of Valle Nevado.
If you’re set on visiting Valle Nevado independently, you can book a specific tour on the app, or check out the 【Turistik website】 for bus + ski equipment group tickets. Additionally, the 【Skitotal website】 offers minibus tickets for a more flexible experience.
🏂🏻【Equipment Costs and Tickets】💵
When it comes to gear, here’s a rough breakdown: clothing and pants typically cost around 18,000 pesos, goggles are about 8,000-9,000 pesos, gloves come in at around 9,000 pesos, and skis will set you back approximately 38,000 pesos. If you see prices higher than these, they’re likely overcharging. Don’t hesitate to haggle, or consider renting your gear at the base of the mountain to save some money.
Ticket prices vary: Valle Nevado costs around 73,000 pesos, Farellones is 38,000 pesos, and El Colorado is 67,000 pesos.
Finally, all the above prices are for reference [laughing]. Overall, skiing in Chile is a sport that leans towards the luxurious side. To keep costs down, try to bring as much of your own equipment as possible [laughing].
