1. Watch the sunset in the hot tub.
This is truly and amazing experience. The sunsets in Portillo are nothing short of stunning. Pair this with a hot tub full of Chilean women and bearded ski bums; it becomes an experience not to forget.
2. Enjoy free drinks at the beginning of the week cocktail party.
Kick-start your week of incredible skiing at Portillo with 100% free drink service in the hotel common room. Be careful though, I must warn you, the Pisco Sours are STRONG! You don’t want to start your first full day of skiing hungover… or do you?
3. Listen to live music at the bar.
Live cover bands play at the Hotel bar every night and the music is GOOD. Literally every band that plays throughout the week has stunning performances. It is more than impressive.
4. Attend the evening Yoga class.
If you enjoy Yoga and wrapping or stretching your body into numerous knot-like positions, this is for you. The instructor is an extremely flexible, sweet old lady. The class also attracts some very beautiful women.
5. Go swimming in the lake.
Only if it’s not frozen, and you’re out of your mind… Actually, I take that back, it’s the most pleasant experience ever. The whole lake is a natural hot spring.
6. Challenge Chileans in the game room.
Portillo’s game room is full of pool, ping-pong, and Foosball tables. It also has a bouldering wall and places to hook up a slack-line. Friendly competition always ensues.
7. Drink complementary tea whenever you please.
The Hotel common room offers hot tea for those who want it, when they want it. It is a quite pleasing touch before or after dinner, or even between ski sessions.
8. Party at the Disco-tech.
Rage to mainstream Chilean music after the bar closes at 12. It stays open until 4am each night, though, after a hard day of skiing, it’s difficult to make it dancing past 2.
9. Enjoy the magic show in the Hotel common room.
Throughout the week Ski Portillo hosts many different events in the Hotel common room. Some examples are the magic show, and an authentic Chilean caballeros & damas dance. Both are quite entertaining. During the magic show, the magician made doves disappear from thin air. Impressive.
10. Post AWESOME pictures to instagram.
Portillo is a stunning place and thus you are bound to take stunning picture even with the very least photographic skill. Post those grams to your profile and prepare to double your followers. Also something to note: the only wifi to use is accessible in the Hotel common room. If you’re dying for a connection, go find a couch to chill on and get yourself a cup of hot tea.
11. EXTRA: Participate in the end-of-week ritual of synchronized night skiing with giant flaming torches.
This last one is a special experience if you get the opportunity to participate in it. On the last night, about 70-100 ski instructors and others meet at the main lift at 9:45pm. You ride the lift up in complete utter darkness, grab a carosene soaked bamboo torch and awkwardly grope your way to the start of the main groomer. The leader shouts instructions in Spanish (which I struggle with) while people light their torches and begin to ski in a 2 line formation snaking down the slope. Its ridiculously cool to be a part of and I’m sure its nearly as breathtaking to watch (which is what most guests do from the deck).
Now my appetite is really whetted to go!
Ah, the cruise ship.