Industry News
If you ever wanted to take a trip to South America and hit Argentinian or Chilean ski resorts now might be the best time to go. You could not ask for a better way to start off the ski season in South America! Three weeks into the season, the Chilean Resort of Valle Nevado is over halfway to its average winter snowfall. So far the ski resort has gotten 130 inches of snow. Its average annual snowfall is 240 inches.
Valle Nevado opened three weeks early on May 31 and benefited from a massive storm that dumped almost six feet of snow. Another storm blew in earlier this week, dropping another two feet on the slopes. The mountain is reporting seven of 12 chairlifts spinning, with more trails and lifts opening daily.
- Related Article: Winter Storm Warning Issued With Up to 14″ of Snow Forecast for Montana and Idaho Mountain Passes and Peaks
Founded in 1988, Valle Nevado Heliski is the first operation in South America to specialize in personalized services, emphasizing safety and quality of the experience, organized through the National Heli-Ski Association (ANH) of Chile. The service offers full-day excursions with four to six heli-drops and half-day packages with two to three runs, each averaging 4,000-5,000 feet of vertical drop. Valle Nevado has the largest terrain in South America, has excellent snow, and offers many options other than skiing; its association with other season pass options makes it a travel destination not to be missed.
The resort is located just 90 minutes east of Santiago at 10,000 feet and spread along the spine of a dramatic mountain ridge, offering spectacular 360-degree views. The resort is known for its wide-open terrain, world-class heli-skiing, and snow quality. The snow is the best of any Chilean resort due to its altitude, southern orientation, and extensive snowmaking system. An interconnect ticket, when purchased separately, opens access to two neighboring resorts, El Colorado and La Parva, for a total of 7,000 acres of terrain.
If you are considering a South American ski trip this summer, the conditions are looking excellent right now. The ski season typically runs from June to October and many of the ski areas are easily accessible from the city of Santiago via shuttle. The daily lift tickets in South America are also not nearly as expensive as in the U.S., and Valle Nevado along with the connected resort of La Parva can be accessed via the Power Pass. Valle Nevado is also on the Ikon Pass and the Mountain Collective for the 2024 ski season.
