Skiing into November: Valle Nevado extends its 2026 season

The snowfall of recent weeks has given Chile's ski season a second life. Valle Nevado announced that it will stay open into November, which is unusual in central Chile, and La Parva is considering adding a few days. Valle Nevado opened on June 19, is celebrating 38 years and has about 7 meters of accumulated snow this season, plus 1.20 meters that fell in recent days.

There is a small discrepancy between sources on the exact closing date: Lugares de Nieve and Nevasport report Sunday, November 8, while Diario Financiero reports November 9. Before traveling, confirm the date on the resort's website.

"We are looking at a record season," Dominique Rudloff, general manager of Valle Nevado, told Diario Financiero. The resort receives more than 3,000 visitors a day, its hotels are at 95% occupancy, and it expected more than 310,000 visits this season. With a November closing, the season would reach about 143 days.

At La Parva, manager Juan Agustín Rodríguez explained that closing is set for October 18, but that they could add a few days if conditions allow, according to Nevasport. At El Colorado, José Ignacio Morales of Andacor, the company that runs it, confirmed closing on the same date.

Portillo already closed on October 11, with 1,254 centimeters of snowfall this season, more than double its average of about 5 meters, according to Lugares de Nieve.

October and November snow is different from July snow. With longer, warmer days, the snow is usually hard in the morning and softens in the afternoon, what Chileans call spring snow. These are the basic tips:

• Get there early: the best hours are usually between opening and midday, before the snow gets heavy.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses: radiation at altitude is very strong in spring.
• Light layers: the afternoon can be warm; a thin jacket and a breathable base layer work better than full winter gear. Our guide to what to bring to ski has the full list.
• Check which lifts are running: at the end of the season some sectors close before others.

The season also had a setback: in September, a fire destroyed the Hotel Alto Nevados at Nevados de Chillán. The ski area kept operating and closes on October 18. To learn about the rest of the area, see our guide to Nevados de Chillán.

Valle Nevado is in the mountains above Santiago and is reached by the Farellones road, the same one that leads to La Parva and El Colorado. On weekends there are lines on the way up, so it pays to leave early. Lift ticket and rental prices are in our guide to how much it costs to ski in Chile, and resort information in the Valle Nevado guide.

In central Chile the ski season usually runs from mid-June to late September or early October, as we explain in when is ski season in Chile. This year, late snowfall in October recharged the slopes just as snow was running low, and resorts with more altitude and more lifts in the high areas can make use of it for longer. Valle Nevado is one of the highest resorts near Santiago, which is why it is the one staying open into November.

If you haven't been to the snow this year, October is usually cheaper and less crowded than the July winter holidays. If you are coming from abroad, our guide to where to ski in Chile compares every resort in the country.

Until when is Valle Nevado open in 2026?

Until November. Lugares de Nieve and Nevasport report November 8, and Diario Financiero, November 9.

When do La Parva and El Colorado close?

Both announced closing on October 18. La Parva is considering opening a few more days.

How much snow fell at Portillo in 2026?

1,254 centimeters this season, according to Lugares de Nieve. Portillo closed on October 11.