The best places to ski in Chile are in two areas: the resorts in the Andes above Santiago (Valle Nevado, La Parva, El Colorado, Portillo and Lagunillas), less than two hours from the airport, and the volcano resorts of the south (Nevados de Chillán, Corralco and Antillanca), surrounded by forests and hot springs. The largest by slope length is El Colorado, with 54 km, and the one with the highest summit is Valle Nevado, at 3,670 meters, according to Skiresort.info. In 2026 an adult day ticket ranged from CLP 35,000 at Lagunillas to CLP 93,000 at Valle Nevado.
*Updated October 20, 2026.* The season runs from June to September, but this year Valle Nevado is staying open into November thanks to the October snowfall.
The 8 best places to ski in Chile
- 1. Valle Nevado (Santiago Metropolitan Region): the highest summit (3,670 m), hotels on the mountain and the most international atmosphere.
- 2. Portillo (Valparaíso): the most historic resort, next to Laguna del Inca and 3 km from the Argentine border. A single hotel and uncrowded slopes.
- 3. La Parva (Santiago Metropolitan Region): 38 km of slopes and a more family-oriented feel, on the same road as Valle Nevado.
- 4. El Colorado and Farellones (Santiago Metropolitan Region): the ski area with the most kilometers in Chile (54 km) and the quickest to reach from Santiago.
- 5. Nevados de Chillán (Ñuble): skiing on the slopes of an active volcano, with hot springs and native forest in the Las Trancas valley.
- 6. Corralco (La Araucanía): you ski among monkey puzzle trees, facing the Lonquimay volcano, in the Malalcahuello National Reserve.
- 7. Antillanca (Los Lagos): inside Puyehue National Park, with views of lakes and volcanoes; a CLP 55,000 day ticket in high season.
- 8. Lagunillas (San José de Maipo): the cheapest (CLP 35,000) and the only one you can reach by public transport from Santiago.
Chile's ski resorts by the numbers
| Resort | Km of slopes | Base-summit elevation (m) | Lifts |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Colorado / Farellones | 54 | 2,350-3,460 | 23 |
| Valle Nevado | 40 | 2,860-3,670 | 17 |
| La Parva | 38 | 2,653-3,574 | 15 |
| Nevados de Chillán | 35 | 1,530-2,400 | 16 |
| Antillanca | 32 | 1,045-1,525 | 7 |
| Corralco | 28.5 | 1,550-2,400 | 8 |
| Portillo | 20 | 2,580-3,310 | 13 |
| Lagunillas | 13 | 2,200-2,550 | 3 |
Source: Skiresort.info, checked on October 20, 2026. El Colorado includes the Farellones slopes. Altitude makes the difference: the Santiago resorts start above 2,300 meters and have dry snow, while the southern ones are lower, among forests and volcanoes.
Prices to ski in Chile in 2026
| Resort | 2026 adult day ticket (Chilean pesos) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Valle Nevado | CLP 93,000 (from about CLP 74,000 depending on the package) | Avalancha Sport, El Dínamo |
| La Parva | CLP 83,000 | Avalancha Sport |
| El Colorado / Farellones | CLP 74,000 to 75,000 (CLP 61,000 buying online in advance) | Avalancha Sport, El Dínamo |
| Portillo | CLP 67,000 to 70,000, plus the CLP 5,000 Portillo Card | El Dínamo, Turismocity |
| Corralco | About CLP 69,000 to 72,000 in high season | Betasnow, PowderQuest |
| Antillanca | CLP 55,000 in high season and CLP 48,000 in mid season | Antillanca |
| Lagunillas | CLP 35,000 (CLP 20,000 for half a day) | El Dínamo |
| Nevados de Chillán | No day rate we could verify was published | — |
At Valle Nevado and La Parva, children under 12 and people over 75 ski free, and at El Colorado children up to 12, according to Avalancha Sport. Equipment rental and lessons are extra; the details are in how much it costs to ski in Chile.
Does your ski resort, mountain hotel or transfer service want to reach travelers looking to ski in Chile?
See advertising optionsHow to get there from Santiago airport
Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) is the gateway for almost every foreign skier. You can drive up to the Santiago resorts on the day you land; for the southern ones, it is best to take a domestic flight.
| Resort | Route from SCL airport | Reference time and cost |
|---|---|---|
| Valle Nevado | 81 km via Las Condes and the Farellones road | 1 h 40 min by private transfer (Daytrip); shared, about CLP 50,000 per person (El Dínamo) |
| La Parva and El Colorado | The same Farellones road, a few kilometers before Valle Nevado | Shared transfer, about CLP 40,000 per person (El Dínamo) |
| Portillo | Route 57 to Los Andes and Route 60 toward the Los Libertadores pass | About 2 hours from Santiago (Portillo); shared, from CLP 100,000 per person (El Dínamo) |
| Lagunillas | Metro to Las Mercedes, bus MB-72 to San José de Maipo, then a shared taxi or taxi | Final shared taxi or taxi CLP 5,000 to 10,000 (El Dínamo) |
| Nevados de Chillán | Bus or train to Chillán, then Route N-55 to Las Trancas | About one hour from Chillán (Chile Travel) |
| Corralco | Flight to Temuco, then 120 km east on Route CH-181 to Malalcahuello | Chile Travel |
| Antillanca | Flight to Osorno, then 98 km on Route 215; the last 18 km are gravel | 1 h 30 min from Osorno; chains mandatory for 2WD cars (Antillanca) |
Farellones, Valle Nevado and Portillo have no direct public transport: you go up by car, shared transfer or tour. If you rent a car, carry chains, because the police can require them on the road when it snows.
Why Chile's ski resorts are so beautiful
The Andes. In central Chile you ski above 3,000 meters, surrounded by the Andes and, on clear days, with views of the Santiago valley. Portillo adds the deep-blue Laguna del Inca at the foot of its slopes, as we describe in our Portillo guide.
Volcanoes and forests in the south. At Corralco you ski down among monkey puzzle trees, the ancient tree of La Araucanía, facing the cone of Lonquimay. At Nevados de Chillán and Antillanca you ski on volcanoes and end the day in hot springs. Another advantage is the reverse season: you ski in July and August, when it is summer in Europe and the United States.
Who comes to ski in Chile: Brazilians, Argentines and Europeans
Brazil is the main foreign market for Chilean snow. According to a study by Duoc UC, the Federation of Tourism Companies (Fedetur) and the Ski Resorts Association, based on more than 800 surveys in July and August 2025, 37% of foreign visitors at ski resorts were Brazilian and 25% Argentine, reported Diario Financiero. About 40% of foreigners spent more than US$600 a day.
| Country of origin | % of foreign visitors at ski resorts (2025 season) |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 37% |
| Argentina | 25% |
| Venezuela | 6% |
| United States | 5% |
| Colombia | 4% |
Source: study by Duoc UC, Fedetur and the Ski Resorts Association, via Diario Financiero.
The trend continued in 2026: 152,265 Brazilian tourists arrived in July, 7.2% more than in July 2025, and 116,709 in August (+10.2%), according to the Sernatur series with PDI data. Europeans are also growing: 291,375 arrived between January and August, up 7.5%, and Germany is the country's eighth market, with 39,289 tourists between January and July (+5.3%), ahead of France. Fedetur projected 97,057 European visitors for July, reported El Mostrador. The full ranking is in foreign tourists in Chile by country.
Do you sell snow packages to Brazilians or Europeans? Advertise on Viajando Chile, in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.
See advertising optionsWhen to go skiing in Chile
The central Chile resorts open between the first and second week of June, according to Avalancha Sport. Antillanca operated from June 20 to September 30, 2026 (Antillanca) and Portillo until September 26 (Turismocity). July is the busiest and most expensive month, because of winter school holidays in Chile and Brazil; August and September are usually less crowded. More details in when is ski season in Chile.
Before traveling to Ñuble, check the volcano's status: Nevados de Chillán is on yellow technical alert, with a 2 km safety perimeter around the crater.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best place to ski in Chile?
It depends on your trip. Valle Nevado is the most complete and closest to the airport; Portillo, the most classic, with the best scenery; El Colorado, the one with the most kilometers of slopes; and Corralco, the most unusual, among monkey puzzle trees and volcanoes.
How much does it cost to ski in Chile?
In 2026 an adult day ticket ranged from CLP 35,000 at Lagunillas to CLP 93,000 at Valle Nevado, not counting equipment rental or transfers.
How do I get to Valle Nevado from Santiago airport?
By private or shared transfer: it is 81 km and takes about 1 h 40 min. There is no direct public transport.
Can you ski in Chile in November?
Usually not, but in 2026 Valle Nevado extended its season into November thanks to the October snowfall.
