Chile Gets Ready For Ski Season

Chile, the world’s longest country, offers a range of landscapes that make it a top outdoor adventure destination. Being in the Southern Hemisphere it also offers 'summer' skiing in eight ski areas.

Nevados de Chillán

Located a six hour drive south of Santiago, the Nevados de Chillán ski resort area sits atop three active volcanoes - Nevados de Chillán, Chillán Nuevo and Chillán Vejo.

Located at an altitude over 3,000 metres high, skiing is available across the skirt of the volcanoes and the slopes offer panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Nevados de Chillán has 30 slopes including, the 13-kilometre-long ‘La Tres Marias’, which is the longest run in South America Guests can also enjoy healing volcanic thermal springs after a day on the slopes.

Corralco

The Malalcahuello National Reserve, in Southern Chile, is home to the smaller, Spanish-owned Corralco resort .

The reserve has 26 slopes and is best known for its off-piste offerings, making it a favourite with experienced skiers.

The resort enjoys one of the longest ski seasons in Chile, and the surrounding thousand-year-old araucaria forest gives visitors the opportunity to experience both extreme sports and pristine nature in the Malalcahuello National Reserve until mid-November.

Los Arenales

Located eight kilometres from Lonquimay in the Cordillera de Las Raíces region, the Los Arenales ski area is one of Southern Chile’s lesser known resorts.

The centre opened in 2000 and is the newest in the region, with sightings of condors, foxes and hares common.

This ski centre also offers excursions to local Mapuche communities for the opportunity to learn about local art, handicrafts, and culture.

Las Araucarias

The Las Araucarias ski resort is located at the foot of the Llaima

Volcano, in the Conguillío National Park, north-east of Temuco.

The Lliama Volcano stands at an altitude of 3,125 metres and is one of the most active volcanoes in the Andes.

Guests can witness the mountain light up every Saturday during winter, when downhill torch-lit skiing takes place on the slopes. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are also available.

Antuco

The Antuco ski resort is located on the slopes of the Antuco Volcano, within the Laguna del Laja National Park.

A smaller version of southern resorts such as Pucón or Nevados de Chillán, Antuco offers gentle slopes, vistas and a variety of accommodation options from private chalets to traditional lodgings.

Antillanca

The rugged slopes of Antillanca make it a Chilean ski resort for those with an adventurous streak.

Located on the foothills of the Casablanca Volcano in the Puyehue National Park, the resort has 400 hectares of skiable terrain amid the lakes, lagoons and volcanoes of the Chilean Lakes District. It caters to skiers of all ability levels.

Pucón

Located 20 minutes from the town of Pucón, visitors can practice skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of the Villarrica Volcano and get a view of five lakes from the peak.

The resort’s natural canyons and halfpipes attract snowboarders, while advanced skiers can hike to the rim of the volcanoes crater, before skiing down with the smoking crater as a backdrop.

Guests can also explore the Villarrica National Park and discover endemic species that coexist between lakes and volcanoes.