Written on July 9, 2021

If you have a U.S. passport, ski season in South America likely won’t happen for you this year. This will mark two southern winters in a row where skiing & snowboarding will be off-limits for foreigners in South America.

In 2020, the ski season in Argentina and Chile didn’t happen for foreign visitors due to strict COVID-19 lockdowns. A similar picture has been painted by the national governments again this year.

CHILE:

• According to the US Chilean Embassy, Chile’s borders are closed until at least July 14, 2021.
• Chile is not currently allowing US tourists to visit and that policy will be updated on July 14, 2021 when we expect them to continue their ban of US tourism.
• Chile currently has a 10-day quarantine in place for anyone entering the country and there is currently no expiration date for this quarantine order.
• Chile has a curfew in place from 10pm to 5am daily.
• Chile has extended its state of emergency through September 30, 2021.
• Chile = 7 day average of 2,919 COVID cases, 33,514 COVID deaths to date, 1.58 million COVID cases to date, & 1.53 million COVID recoveries to date.
• “Chile has administered at least 23,545,029 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 62.1% f the country’s population” – Reuters

ARGENTINA:

• According to the US Argentine Embassy, Argentina is closed to US tourists until at least July 9, 2021.
• Argentina is not currently allowing US tourists to visit and that policy will be updated on July 9, 2021 when we expect them to continue their ban of US tourism.
• Argentina currently has a 10-day quarantine in place for anyone entering the country until at least August 31, 2021
• Argentina has a curfew in place from midnight to 6am daily.
• Argentina = 7 day average of 17,353 COVID cases, 97,904 COVID deaths to date, 4.61 million COVID cases to date, & 4.23 million COVID recoveries to date.
• “Argentina has administered at least 23,722,105 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 26.4% of the country’s population.” – Reuters

• Related: Argentina Enters Another COVID-19 Lockdown, Threatening the 2021 Ski Season

Even if you’re from Chile or Argentina, home to the best skiing in South America, it’ll be hard for you to reenter your homeland.

Ski season in South America usually goes from June to October. As of right now, there are six ski areas open in Chile and one open in Argentina—all open only to each country’s citizens.

 

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A post shared by Valle Nevado Ski Resort (@valle_nevado)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)has issued a Level 4 “Avoid All Travel” Notice for Argentina and Chile. U.S. Citizens are currently barred from entering both nations.

Chilean and Argentinian citizens entering their home countries are required to quarantine for at least 10 days upon arrival. If they don’t, they could be subject to criminal charges, according to the U.S. Embassy.

In Chile, all passengers (including Chileans and residents) must complete an obligatory 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Chile. The U.S. Embassy in Chile reports that the first five days of quarantine will be conducted at a “transit hotel” designated by the Chilean Ministry of Health. During this five-day period, all passengers will be required to take a second PCR test. If the test returns negative, passengers will be allowed to spend the second five-day period of quarantine in their residence or a hotel of their choice. Passengers who test positive will be taken to a “sanitary residence” to complete their quarantine there. Passengers are responsible for the cost of the initial five-day stay in the “transit hotel”.

Traveling abroad? Plan ahead. Check the current #COVID19 situation in your destination: https://t.co/SBxTlr2uJa

Also, check the @TravelGov Country Information page for details about entry requirements & restrictions for arriving travelers: https://t.co/F9je7JszrP pic.twitter.com/LaO38Gv0qX

— CDC Travel Health (@CDCtravel) June 25, 2021

Meanwhile, Argentina is only allowing 600 residents to renter the country per day, according to the U.S. Embassy in Argentina. They are required to produce a negative PCR test result taken in the previous 72-hours upon arrival. All arriving travelers, including those who present a negative PCR test, will also be required to self-isolate for a minimum of seven days. The quarantine period must total 10 days from the date of the traveler’s COVID-19 PCR test. Information about this requirement can be found in Spanish at https://www.argentina.gov.ar/noticias/el-gobierno-nacional-adoptara-nuevas-medidas-y-requisitos-para-el-ingreso-al-pais.

In Argentina and Chile, failure to adhere to quarantine, social distancing, movement restrictions, and other health guidance may result in fines and/or criminal penalties, up to and including arrest and jail time.

The mandatory 10-day quarantine in Argentina for anyone entering the country is in place until at least August 31, according to the U.S. Argentine Embassy.

Chile has not yet made it clear when their mandatory 10-quarantine for anyone entering the country will end, but they have extended their state of emergency through September 30, 2021.

American skiers & snowboarders hoping to ski in South America this season will most likely have to postpone winter plans until 2022.

Prior to the pandemic, SnowBrains has spent the past 11 winters in South America. We love Argentina and are patiently waiting until the COVID-19 situation there eases, allowing us to return to one of our favorite winter playgrounds on earth.

More information & the latest updates about travel to and from Chile and Argentina can be found below. 

Chile: https://cl.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

Argentina: https://ar.usembassy.gov/covid-19/