[Sponsored by Valle Nevado]
Is there anything better than skiing cold, dry powder in the middle of summer? Honestly, we don’t think there is. It feels wrong, right, and completely surreal all at the same damn time… The stoke after a summer powder day is even higher than a normal powder day. If you’re looking for an exciting vacation this summer – Valle Nevado, Chile, has got your back. This summer ski destination was once considered to be “under the radar”, but is now the summer home for some of the best pro skiers and Olympic teams. The best of the best come to Valle Nevado for the amazing skiing, terrain, and powder during the hot summer months.
Open from June until September, Valle Nevado delivers world-class, high-alpine skiing (up to 12,000’) in the Chilean Andes of South America. Conditions are best in late July through early September, which is the perfect time to escape the searing heat of the Northern Hemisphere. Skiing Valle Nevado is a killer summer vacation for kids on summer holiday and a great carrot to dangle in front of kids to keep them focused in summer.
Travel from North America to Santiago, Chile, is easy and simple. Nearly all airlines fly directly to Santiago, Chile, and the trip from the Santiago airport to Valle Nevado is only a 90-minute drive. Heck, you can even take an Uber to Valle Nevado from the airport and it’s less than $100 (we did it last year and it was great).
Valle Nevado is located in the Eastern Time Zone (same time as New York) so if you still need to work or make a business call, you’re all good.
Make your friends back home sickeningly jealous by skiing unreal terrain and amazing snow conditions in the middle of summer. Valle Nevado rises as high as 12,000’ and holds all kinds of terrain accessed by chairlifts, rope tows, a gondola, and access to ridiculously impressive backcountry terrain including a 17,000’ peaks and glaciers. Powder can last for days at Valle Nevado because there are not many skiers, the terrain is vast, and its high elevation holds onto powder snow for days after a storm. Bottom line, all the skiing is above treeline, so options are limitless in the big terrain.
Valle Nevado has great lodging packages and many ticket options work at the ski resort. Valle Nevado is a part of the larger “Tres Valles” or “Three Valleys” and is close in proximity to La Parva and El Colorado. Valle Nevado is the largest and more modern resort of the three. Guests that stay at the resort for 7 nights get 1 ticket to each of the other resorts. Hotels packages are the best option and include lodging, lift tickets, and breakfast and dinner. Independent condos are also available, but you must purchase meals and lift tickets separately. However, if you have an Ikon Pass or a Mountain Collective pass, you can use the pass to ski Valle Nevado (as long as it’s an 2018/19 Ikon Pass; Mountain Collective passes are good within one calendar year of purchase). If you ultimately decide on a hotel stay, Valle Nevado offers Ikon Pass holders a 10% discount and Mountain Collective pass holders a 15% discount. Even better, book by April 1 and you can save up to 50% on hotel packages.
Big developments have happened! The Mountain Collective just released a press statement about the sale of the 19/20 season pass. They announced that Valle Nevado is now a full member as opposed to an affiliate (nothing changes, really, with the offer for pass holders, it’s just now a formal relationship). Ikon Pass holders of the 18/19 pass can use it at Valle, but the new one for 19/20 cannot be used, which is a moot point b/c the new Ikon pass won’t be delivered to buyers until September anyway even though it is on sale starting March 5.
Valle Nevado has great lodging packages and many ticket options work at the ski resort. Valle Nevado is a part of the larger “Tres Valles” or “Three Valleys” and is close in proximity to La Parva and El Colorado. Valle Nevado is the largest and more modern resort of the three. Guests that stay at the resort for 7 nights get 1 ticket to each of the other resorts. Hotels packages are the best option and include lodging, lift tickets, and breakfast and dinner. Independent condos are also available, but you must purchase meals and lift tickets separately. However, if you have an Ikon Pass or a Mountain Collective pass, you can use the pass to ski Valle Nevado (as long as it’s an 2018/19 Ikon Pass; Mountain Collective passes are good within one calendar year of purchase). If you ultimately decide on a hotel stay, Valle Nevado offers Ikon Pass holders a 10% discount and Mountain Collective pass holders a 15% discount. Even better, book by April 1 and you can save up to 50% on hotel packages.
Valle Nevado is THE summer training the elite skiers and snowboarders around the world as well as most national ski teams. The list is extensive… just search out your favorite pro skier or snowboarder on Instagram and there is a 90% chance that they have skied at Valle Nevado. Most all the pros get down to the Southern Hemisphere during the doldrums of summer when August and early September old heatwaves are rolling in. Imagine yourself at Valle Nevado, dumping snow, sitting on the chairlift with a world class skier or snowboarder. Sounds like something out of a dream!
