Introduction
Skiing can be enjoyed throughout much of southern Chile. Some of South America's best ski resorts are to be found within a few hours' drive of Santiago, making them an easy inclusion to a Chile tour. The ski season in this part of the Andes runs from June to October, and professional skiers and snowboarders from around world come to Chile to keep in practice during the northern hemisphere summer.
Portillo is one of Chile's best known ski resorts, 150 km north of the capital and close to the Argentina border. It's at an altitude of 2,855 metres and has more than 20 pistes, plus plenty of accessible off-piste areas. Closer to Santiago is Farellones, Chile's first ski resort and a popular weekend getaway from the city. From here can be accessed a further three nearby ski resorts - El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado - with a range of slopes suitable for beginners, intermediates and experienced skiers. The Chilean ski resorts are also popular during the summer months, primarily for hiking in the hills.
