If you ever wished summer was more like winter, there’s a simple solution: fly south to the Andes where the seasons are flipped and an endless winter is truly possible. Most North American powderhounds are at least aware of South America as a potential summer ski destination, but if you’re not sure where to go, consider Valle Nevado—Chile’s largest ski resort— as an introduction.
Valle Nevado is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest ski resort, making it an attractive option for North American tourists looking for a “summer” ski destination. Partnerships with megapasses such as Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective have also put it on passholders’ radar since they can get free or discounted lift tickets and lodging to help tamp down the cost of a Southern Hemisphere ski vacation. Valle Nevado’s proximity to Chile’s capital, Santiago, simplifies travel with direct flights from the US and Canada landing in Santiago, just an hour and a half drive away.
Another benefit for first-timers skiing in Chile is that skiing at Valle Nevado offers an experience closer to a North American Ski Trip than most other Chilean resorts. While the 2,400 acres of Valle Nevado alone won’t wow Whistler Blackcomb (8,000 plus acres) or Vail (5,000 plus acres) regulars, it won’t feel cramped or as mom-and-pop as some smaller Chilean ski areas. While surface lifts dominate, there’s a gondola and high-speed quad—uncommon at most Chilean ski resorts.
The recent purchase of both Valle Nevado and the adjacent La Parva ski resort by a U.S.-based company means visitors can ski between the two with a reasonably priced combo ticket. That pass grants access to a combined 4,000 plus inbounds acres and an additional 200,000 acres of backcountry and sidecountry terrain. Heli-skiing departs daily from the base area as well, meaning you can build a week of diverse skiing experiences from a Valle Nevado base camp without having to change locations.
Valle Nevado – Mountain Basics
Skiable Acres: 2,400 (additional 1,700 at La Parva)
Runs: 44
Lifts: 11 surface lifts, 1 gondola, 5 chairlifts
Elevation: 9,925 feet (Base) to 12,041 feet (Tres Puntas Summit)
Average Annual Snowfall: 240 inches
Opening and Closing Dates: late June through September
Lift Ticket Cost: About $90 for a combination Valle Nevado/La Parva pass (included with hotel stays)
The Terrain and Conditions
Chile has a roughly 9,000-foot-elevation treeline that’s far below what it is in most of North America (Colorado is around 11,500 feet, for example). This means the entirety of the skiable acreage in the Tres Valles area — Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado — consists of wide-open, treeless bowls and ridges.
On the positive side, this means that almost all the skiable acreage is, in fact, skiable. Like Europe, most people stick to groomed runs, which leaves plenty of fresh, soft snow for off-piste, pow-hungry North Americans, even days after a storm. Descents as big as almost 3,000 vertical feet are possible at both Valle Nevado and La Parva. Weekdays after a storm, especially, can deliver uncrowded slopes and seemingly unlimited fresh tracks.
The downsides include the lack of tree runs, poor visibility on stormy days, and exposure to the elements. Without trees, wind can have an outsized effect on snow quality and visibility, and it pays to be able to quickly learn to read the snow and terrain to find areas where snow deposits rather than blows away. Skiing on storm days can be nearly impossible and vertigo-inducing, though during my stay there were at least a few hours on stormy days when the sun broke through.
Valle Nevado’s lift infrastructure is modern by South American standards, with a high-speed detachable quad chair in the center of the slopes. There’s also a gondola, but it functions primarily as a transfer from the parking lot to the base area. Surface lifts and fixed chairs dominate, which gives it old-school charm, but can feel slow to North Americans.
Sidecountry and Backcountry Access
While Valle Nevado says 60% of its runs are advanced or expert, North American skiers will find much of the terrain fun but mellow, and there’s little that would qualify as a double black diamond run without stepping outside of the marked and named runs. The Tres Puntas surface lift is the resort’s highest point and serves most of the nearby sidecountry terrain such as Cerro Amarillo and Apu, though there are options for expert skiers from all the upper elevation lifts. You can hire a guide from the resort to help you explore sidecountry and backcountry, but I found locals in the lift line more than willing to play tour guide for a few runs. Just look for fatter skis or touring setups to profile the right candidates.
The line between sidecountry and backcountry at Valle Nevado and La Parva is fuzzy, as boundaries aren’t aggressively roped or signed. The amount of terrain available for those willing to hike or skin is staggering. Prominent 13,000-foot summits, including Cerro La Parva and Cerro Pintor, sit temptingly close to upper lifts and can be skied down to the highway for roughly 7,000-foot descents. You’ll need to drop a shuttle vehicle or hitchhike back.
The sidecountry and backcountry access in Tres Valles feels like an open secret that would get trampled in an hour on a powder day if it were at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Tight chokes and cliff-outs abound, so proceed with caution and consider hiring a guide or at least befriending an unofficial one in the lift line. The usual caveats for stepping out of the patrolled zone apply: bring safety equipment, know how to use it, and don’t ski alone.
Heli-Skiing at Valle Nevado
On clear mornings, helicopters lift off from the base area, offering private, guided skiing in adjacent valleys for about $2,000 per day. The operation has access to roughly 310,000 acres of privately held land and millions more acres of skiable terrain in surrounding Andean valleys. Expect three to six long runs of 2,000 to 5,000 vertical feet and the best snow available within flying distance. On our heli-ski day, a small overnight refresh became snorkel-deep powder in untouched, south-facing terrain. Helicopter access isn’t a guarantee of perfect conditions, but the operation emphasizes safety and quality. Costs are refundable if weather prevents flying. Because the terrain lies immediately adjacent to the resort, little time and fuel are spent in transit, and skiers can expect 10,000 to 20,000 vertical feet in a day. While soft-snow and off-piste experience help maximize the day, terrain options can accommodate strong intermediates as well as experts.
While there are other heli-ski operations in the greater Santiago area, I was impressed with the experience and local knowledge of both the guides and pilots. Lead Guide Claudio Iglesias is Chilean but lives in Germany and guides around the world for Eleven and others, and knows the heli-served terrain inside and out. He’s spent 20 years guiding for Valle’s heli-ski operation— continuously operating since 1989, a year after the resort first opened. Other guides have been there even longer and the American guide, Mike Barney has been around for over 10 years. The pilots are almost all ex-Air Force and meet global standards. Of course, helicopter access isn’t a guarantee of perfect conditions, but Iglesias explained that unlike some other outfits, Valle Nevado Heli-ski “is a service to provide once-in-a-lifetime skiing, not a product. We won’t take people out just to burn fuel and collect a check,” he said. The cost is fully refundable if weather or conditions prevent you from getting out.
Valle Nevado Heli-ski ranks among my top five skiing experiences, and our 4,000-foot descent of Soñadora now sits on my personal ski-run Mount Rushmore. While soft-snow and off-piste skiing experience is a good prerequisite to get your money’s worth, there’s plenty of mellow terrain for intermediates.
“We don’t jump out of the heli and we don’t jump off cliffs,” explained Iglesias, dispelling a common heli-skiing myth. Our fairly expert group stepped out into some steeper terrain and smaller couloirs (“gargantas” in Spanish), but each group is paired on abilities and goals as much as possible and the terrain choices are tailored accordingly.
If you’re planning to include a heli-ski day on your trip, fill out the webform on the Valle Nevado Heliski site to begin the reservation process. Booking well in advance guarantees you a spot, but Iglesias said that with two helicopters, it’s often possible to get last-minute slots even in high season. Private week-long heli-ski packages are also available for those seeking a fully custom experience.
Booking and Trip Planning
While Chile is very much a first-world nation, their ski tourism industry isn’t quite the well-oiled machine it is in North America and Europe. This can present challenges for ski travelers accustomed to booking a straightforward ski vacation on their smartphones.
Many Chilean ski resorts operate under an all-inclusive vacation model. Visitors buy packages that include most meals, lift tickets, and accommodations and nearly everything is owned and operated by the resorts themselves. This can be confusing for North Americans accustomed to doing meals, transportation, lift tickets, and hotels a la carte, but there’s also an element of convenience for ski tripping on another continent.
During peak season, there are also minimum night stays which happen on fixed days, so you may want to book your resort lodging before flights. Then, build any other activities around that as availability and date restrictions may force you to adjust your dates. The Valle Nevado half-week packages run Tuesday-Friday or Friday-Tuesday and full weeks run Friday-Friday. If booking a half-week stay, I recommend Tuesday-Friday as the weekends can be busy with Santiago locals coming up for day trips.
For those planning far in advance, locals suggested August as the most reliable month for snow coverage and quality. However, snowfall patterns can vary significantly from season to season. Flexible travelers who monitor long-range forecasts may be able to powder-chase with shorter booking windows, though hotels do reach full occupancy at times.
Lodging
Because La Parva has no hotels and limited dining options, Valle Nevado is the logical base camp for a ski trip to the two ski areas. There are three hotels at the Valle Nevado base area, each with their own restaurants and personalities, though apartment rentals are available as well.
Hotel Tres Puntas, Hotel Puerta del Sol, and Hotel Valle Nevado
The three Valle Nevado hotels are walking distance from each other with a similar vibe and some shared facilities so I’m lumping them together here. Tres Puntas is the most budget-friendly option with some hostel-style bunk rooms and Hotel Valle Nevado is the more upscale option. The three each have on-premises restaurants and your meals and lift tickets are included in the rate, so they’re steeper than you’d expect for a room.
The rooms in Hotel Puerta del Sol, where I stayed, will feel dated to North Americans used to higher-end ski lodging and are ready for updating. The beds are plenty comfortable and water pressure and temperature are great. Tap water is good quality though there’s bottled water and all the usual minibar temptations. The other major downside is the thin walls which will make it obvious if the guests on either side of you are fans of jam bands or athletic copulation. Fellow tourists gave me similar feedback on Hotel Tres Puntas.
Hotel Valle Nevado is the upscale offering and the pricing reflects that, though I heard from Canadians and Americans staying there that they expected more for the price. If you’re hoping for a luxury retreat, you’ll likely be disappointed in the rooms, Wi-Fi speeds, and the lack of hot tubs (there’s a tepid heated pool). Still, the convenience of the location and the all-inclusive packages make them one of the best options for international visitors. It’s not currently possible to book a hotel room outside of the package offerings, though I’m not sure you’d want to, considering the included restaurants are excellent and the only convenient dining options.
Aconcaugua Ski Residences
New for 2026, Valle Nevado is adding a fourth lodging option that can be booked on its own or paired with meals and other hotel services. These 39 apartment-style rooms look to be a luxury alternative to the existing hotels and are expected to be available for booking soon for the 2026 season.
Other Apartment Rentals
Private residences at Valle Nevado, La Parva, and Farellones are available via Airbnb, VRBO, or local operators such as HOM Rentals. Inventory is limited, particularly during peak season, so booking early is recommended. Staying outside the all-inclusive hotel system means arranging your own groceries, transportation, and logistics. Infrastructure outside the hotel zone is limited, so plan accordingly.
Farellones
This is a budget option for staying nearby and building a more a la carte ski vacation to the Tres Valles resorts that was recommended to me by several locals. You can ski El Colorado from Farellones, but for Valle Nevado and La Parva access, you’ll need to get a rental car as there’s no bus, shuttle, or lift connection. It’ll also help if you have at least a basic command of spoken Spanish.
Food, Drink, and Nightlife
If you stay at Valle Nevado, food options are straightforward since the six on-site restaurants are part of your half-board, which means breakfast and dinners included in your accommodations package. During my four-day stay I sampled the fare at all six which includes Italian, French, Chilean, and an international buffet and I didn’t have a bad meal. Lunch is available as well but isn’t included in packages.
Perhaps some of the sub-par food at American ski resorts set my expectations too low, but the quality and quantity of the options blew me away. With a grill counter with seared-to-order tuna from Easter Island, Chilean specialties such as chorrillana (steak frites with a fried egg), rich meat and seafood stews, and plenty of fresh veggies and salads, I never felt held hostage to limited or poor-quality fare. Small annoyance: to manage the flow of skier-diners, you have to remember to call in dinner reservations each day.
Nightlife is restricted to a few hotel bars, but regular animation in the form of bands from Santiago offers a chance to kick back with fellow ski travelers for a few pisco sours. Locals tend to go for piscolas, made from Coca-Cola and the ubiquitous brandy-like pisco spirits. Outside alcohol is permitted but isn’t for sale outside of bars, so grab your drinks of choice in Santiago before heading up to the mountains.
Getting There
You’ll fly into Santiago (SCL) and you’ll have the choice to rent a car or grab a private shuttle. Either is a valid option but if you’re only skiing Valle/La Parva, you don’t need a vehicle, as the hotels are ski-in, ski-out and restaurants are on-site. I highly recommend spending at least a couple of days in Santiago, and not just because it’s a charming, welcoming city with a European feel. If you’re flying with your own boots and skis, a Santiago stopover gives you a buffer for delayed luggage.
I stayed in the bustling Lastarria neighborhood which sits adjacent to a number of parks for waking up your ski legs. Cerro Cristobal provides expansive views of both the city and the mountains and some serious vertical gain. Familiar chain hotels are on offer, but the boutique El Singular Santiago sits in the middle of Lastarria and makes a luxury basecamp for exploration at a reasonable nightly rate. They also were able to arrange transport to the mountains at a better price without having to negotiate.
Private Shuttles
Your hotel concierge at Valle Nevado can also arrange airport or hotel transfer, but there are several companies operating out of Santiago if you want to shop around or just manage your own booking. The cost will be from $150-$200 each way, which is defrayed if you’re traveling in a group.
Check out Ski Transporte.
Shared Shuttles
You can save by using a shared shuttle, but these services are mostly for Santiago day-trippers and you’ll spend some time waiting around for other travelers to get their rental gear together. Don’t plan on getting a full ski day in if you use one of these options. You’ll also need to arrange your own transport to their departure locations via taxi or rideshare. Yes, Santiago has Uber which can actually compete with private shuttle pricing at certain times, but confirm your driver can accommodate large ski luggage.
Try Ski Total.
What’s New for Summer 2026
U.S.-based Mountain Capital Partners purchased La Parva and Valle Nevado in spring of 2024 and there weren’t any big changes to operations during my visit aside from the ability to buy an interconnect pass for both La Parva and Valle Nevado. There are also a number of season pass options now that offer combinations of days at both Valle Nevado and La Parva.
I spoke with MCP Managing Partner James Coleman and Valle Nevado General Manager Ricardo Margulis while in Chile and while both said they aren’t planning any big changes in the short-term, they have streamlined the integration between the two adjacent resorts via more combined pass products.
“MCP is not Vail Resorts and they respect what has been built here over the past 30-plus years,” Margulis said, while noting that everyone hopes the new owners can help modernize the resort and attract both more locals and North American visitors. Locals seemed genuinely excited about potential changes, hoping to see the three resorts—La Parva, Valle Nevado, and El Colorado— joined together under one pass of the likes like Les 3 Vallées in the French Alps instead of artificially separated despite being already-connected by ski lifts and geography. The three resorts together would create a ski area of over 7,000 acres, putting it in the category of major North American and European destinations—and certainly worthy of any bucket list destination ski trip.
