Chile Skiing – in the Andes Mountains

In a good snow season, the best skiing in South America is to be found at the Portillo ski resort in Chile. Whether you are new to skiing or are an expert skier, we invite you to discover the unique skiing experience at Ski Portillo.

Learning to ski powder is a rite of passage for skiers. A unique experience marked by transitioning from groomed, compacted slopes to exploring the soft and fluffy snow that dreams are made of. The variety of terrain available at Portillo makes this first experience of Chile skiing an unforgettable one. Uncrowded runs provide laps and laps of soft snow while wide open tree-less terrain guarantees freedom and endless possibilities. An overall mind-blowing day on skis that you will chase again and again.

Portillo’s Ski and Snowboard school attracts top instructors from the Northern Hemisphere to teach during their summer. Lessons are a great opportunity to improve skiing skills as well as a great opportunity to make new friends to ski and socialize with during the ski week. Another reason to take a lesson - Portillo’s ski pros have the insider’s insight on everything from which run to ski and when, what to wear, and even which band is playing at the bar. Portillo’s ski pros love to share their secrets and take guests under their wing.

After a day on the mountain, restore your ski legs with a sunset soak in the Portillo pool and hot tub. Named by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the best après-ski pools in the world, the pool deck is one of the top places to hangout with friends new-and-old after a day on the slopes. And gazing at the Chile mountains at sunset is hard to beat.

After a week of skiing and socializing, guests are invited to watch the closing night torchlight parade. Ski pros ski down the Plateau run at night with fire torches creating a beautiful spectacle that guests can view from the hotel balcony. The Torchlight Parade is the perfect way to kick-off the last night of the ski-week and your Chile skiing experience.

A rotating lineup of bands provides entertainment in the hotel bar every night beginning 9 p.m. Some bands are rowdier than others, and depending on the energy of the crowd will lead to singing and dancing until midnight. Once the spark is lit, some choose to continue with late night dancing South America-Style at the Discoteque. A late-night club scene with a mix of international guests guarantees a good time and maybe a few new Latin dance moves are learned.

The Portillo skies are perfect for getting acquainted with the Southern hemisphere stars. With the nearest city far away, the unpolluted clear skies at Portillo are perfect for stargazing, providing a clear and vivid Milky Way and the chance to find the Southern Cross and other constellations. Full moon nights at Portillo are also wonderful, lighting up the surrounding chile mountains and lake for breathtaking views.

Chile’s unique geography creates the ideal conditions for a wide-variety of mind-blowing wines. The country’s diverse geography and climate have made Chile a leading wine-producing country with vineyards recognized internationally. The dining room wine list features wines from dozens of vineyards, both larger, renowned vineyards and smaller boutique labels. During Wine Week, Portillo invites six different vineyards for complimentary après-ski wine tastings. Several vineyards are nearby and guests can visit if they want a half-day or day off from skiing. Portillo Tours can arrange vineyard visits for guests during the ski-week as well as visits before or after the ski week.