Record-breaking snow is blanketing the Andes this winter, turning South America’s ski resorts into some of the deepest‑powder destinations in recent memory.
Helicopter arrivals continue.
Portillo Leads the Charge with Over 200 Inches
Portillo, the historic resort two hours north of Santiago, has reported a base depth of 213 inches, roughly 17.7 feet, after a series of storms. The resort’s iconic yellow hotel sits beside a sapphire lake, but the road that winds up the mountain – with its 29 hairpin turns – remains closed. Staff are shoveling nonstop, and guests are arriving by helicopter to take advantage of the conditions.
Operations manager Michael Rogan told reporters that “there will be places that people of all abilities will be able to explore that have not been skied in decades.” He added that guide‑rock markers are now hidden beneath the snow, and that the conditions could stay “out of this world” into the spring. Rogan also noted that “the best way to start the Northern Hemisphere season is to finish the Southern season here in early October.”
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Olympic teams from the United States, Canada, Norway and Austria have already scheduled summer training at Portillo, planning to arrive in late October.
Triple‑Resort Blizzard Swells Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado
The so‑called Tres Valles group – Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado – have also been hit hard. Valle Nevado’s general manager Dominique Rudloff described the recent storms as “the biggest we’ve seen in decades,” adding that more snow is expected. The resort, perched at about 10,000 feet, has already accumulated 145 inches this season, including a single‑week surge of 102 inches.
La Parva, situated roughly 1,000 feet lower, reported 86 inches of snowfall. Both resorts were recently acquired by Mountain Capital Partners, which linked them with a single lift pass, creating the largest interconnected skiable terrain in the Southern Hemisphere. The combined skiable area exceeds 4,200 acres, accessible to guests staying at any of Valle Nevado’s three hotels or the new Aconcagua Ski Residences.
All three resorts intend to keep the season open into October, and they accept Ikon Pass, Mountain Collective Pass and Power Pass holders for reciprocal access.
Challenges and Opportunities for Powder Hunters
Powder enthusiast and meteorologist Luke Stone is enjoying the deep snow in South America right now. He warned that “all the logistical challenges when it’s snowing a lot regarding road closures, mountain operations, avalanche control, terrain availability and stuff like that” make the Andes more complex than ski areas in North America, the Alps or Japan.
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Avalanche control crews are prioritizing stability checks before opening roads.
For many North American skiers, the allure of deep powder comes at a time when their home resorts are battling heat. The Southern Hemisphere season, which traditionally runs from mid‑June to the end of September, may stretch into mid‑ or late‑October this year, offering a rare window for a winter getaway during the Northern summer.
Travelers can fly directly to Santiago from major U.S. hubs such as Miami, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. Portillo and Valle Nevado market all‑inclusive packages that bundle lodging, meals and lift tickets, while the Tres Valles resorts are reachable from Santiago’s eastern neighborhoods, including Las Condes and Vitacura. Rental and transfer services are available through local providers.
Price comparisons suggest lift tickets may be up to half the cost of those at marquee North American resorts, with rates typically dropping in the season’s latter half, except around mid‑September when Chile celebrates its Independence Day.
