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Advanced skiing at Ski Portillo in Chile
Portillo’s terrain is a playground of endless possibilities for advanced and expert skiers. With some of the steepest ski slopes in the Andes Mountains as well as chutes and bowls that fill with powder snow during storms, advanced skiers will fall in love with the variety of options and quality of terrain available to them.
Endless Possibilities
The terrain at Portillo can be as big as your imagination, opening up by traversing from either the Roca Jack, Condor, Vizcachas or Cara Cara lifts, skiers and snowboarders can access – weather and avalanche risks permitting – to renowned off-piste terrain such as the Primavera and Kilometro Lanzado runs. We strongly recommend first hiring a Portillo guide to show you the terrain.
The Legendary Lines of Ski Portillo
The expert terrain at Portillo is renowned worldwide for its accessibility, variety and snow quality. It’s no surprise professional skiers and film crews return year after year to document the experience. See the Behind the scenes of the Warren Miller 2019 film, Face of Winter filmed at Portillo:Unmissable adventures at Ski Portillo
Plateau and Condor
Plateau and Condor offer the best terrain for skiers who are new to advanced runs. Groomed terrain steeper than intermediate runs on soft snow offers the perfect setting for skiers starting to explore the thrills of the black diamond runs. Condor features a Va-et-Vient lift and should be the first Va-et-vient experts use before riding the longer ones. See guide to using the Va-et-Vient lift.
Roca Jack and the Traverse
The Roca Jack lift opens a wide area of terrain for advanced skiers. A short ride on the Va-et-Vient lift leads to the Roca Jack run, known for wide open descents on soft snow and breathtaking views. At the top, skiers will also find access to the Traverse, recommended for expert skiers only, which opens up a variety of steep chutes and descents that are unforgettable. Go with a guide for the best experience to discover secret lines.
Lake Run
Aceing powder turns above the mirrored waters of the lake is a must. The famous Lake Run is a long run from the Condor lift that goes all the way down to the edge of the lake. It’s known for its soft snow, views and the routes back to the hotel. When the lake is frozen, skiers can traverse back to the hotel by gliding over the frozen ice. Otherwise, the Inca Trail, an iconic journey is a traverse cut through the rocks that leads skiers back to the lifts.
Ski To Lunch
Lunch at Tio Bob’s - renowned as one of the most stunning dining spots in the world, is the perfect break from lapping the expert terrain at Portillo. Enjoy lunch al fresco with panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains or inside the cozy dining room with a roaring fireplace. Tio Bob’s deck is a great place to plan future descents and watch other advanced skiers make their way down some of the nearby slopes. If you pay attention, you might be lucky to spot a skier making their way down Chimenea, a popular sidecountry chute just above Tio Bob’s near Condor.
Advanced and Backcountry Terrain
Portillo has descents that can be accessed by touring or hiking out of the ski area boundaries. We recommend these are only accessed by expert skiers with backcountry experience and equipment. For safety reasons please always speak with the snow safety director or operations manager before leaving the ski area to access this terrain.
Ski classes and Guiding
Explore the mountain with Portillo Guides
Portillo ski pros can teach you the technical skills needed to conquer some of the advanced terrain at Portillo like a professional. If you are an expert who only wants a guide to explore Portillo’s slopes instead of instruction, the ski school also has guides that can take you to some of the secret snow stashes and challenging runs that Portillo has to offer.
Red and Black runs are for Advanced Skiers
Advanced Skiers enjoy the Plateau, David’s Run and Roca Jack.
Advanced skier Abilities
Advanced skiers have mastered parallel curves, exploring varied terrain, including off-piste and mounds. They are comfortable with speed and make turns of different sizes and shapes to adapt to changes in the terrain.
Plateau
A great introduction to the steepest slopes. Plateau is a favorite of advanced intermediates who start skiing on black level slopes and expert skiers looking for fast laps. Prepared nightly, this track receives mid-morning sunlight and is a great option for those looking for turns on steep, smooth terrain.
Great Skiing for all levels
