Downhill in Chile 2010
Hotel based Snowsport holidays in Chile
For dates and prices please return to the Downhill holidays in Chile 'front page'
SummaryThe Chilean resorts are ideal for those who want to experience far-flung pistes and good food and wine, or if you just want to ski or board on the best pistes available anywhere in the world in August! The resorts of Chile have un-crowded slopes, great snow and generally good weather. They are better than alternatives for August skiing such as New Zealand or summer Alpine glaciers. |
ITINERARY |
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Day 1-2 |
Flight and day in Santiago |
| Day 3-8 | Tres Valles resorts near Santiago (Valle Nevado - 2 days, La Parva - 2 days, Colorado - 2 days) |
| Day 9 | Travel to Portillo |
| Day 10-11 | Portillo resort (2 days) |
| Day 12-13 | Santiago and fly home |
| EXTENDED ITINERARY | |
| Day 12 | Travel to Chillan |
| Day 13-14 | Chillan resort (2 days) |
| Day 15 | Travel to Pucon |
| Day 16-17 | Pucon resort (1 or 2 days) and optional Villarrica ski descent |
| Day 18-20 | Santiago and travel home |
'Andes' have been running a program of downhill snowsport holidays in South America for seven years now. The resorts in Chile have good powder at high altitude, with plenty of clear sunny days and they are very much quieter than Alpine or US resorts - you will probably never have to queue. The snow is at its best in August and September, the tail-end of the southern hemisphere winter. Our downhill holidays are quite different from our main trek and expedition program in that they are entirely hotel and restaurant based. Although very good, the Chilean resorts are fairly small, so rather than just ski one resort we will visit four of the best resorts in Chile - Colorado, Valle Nevado, La Parva and Portillo. We will ski or board in each area for two days. With almost all other tour operators you will ski just one resort and if you are a good skier you will probably, after 7-10 days, be getting more than a little bit bored.....
For 2010 we again have an optional extended 20 day itinerary visiting two resorts further south in Chile, called Chillan and Villarrica-Pucon. This longer itinerary will run from 1-20th August 2010, with a land price of £2195. We will have two days at each of these southern resorts. Weather permitting we will arrange a day trip to make a ski-mountaineering ascent of Volcan Villarrica for those who are interested. This involves climbing up on skis, having a quick look at the lava lake then flying back down off-piste. Walking up and boarding back down is also possible. Quite a high standard of fitness is required for this day but no previous experience is necessary other than a good level of skiing ability. The only extra cost is to hire some specialist mountaineering equipment for the day in Chile, about £20 per person.
Off-piste snowboarding at La Parva, August 2007.
CHILEAN RESORTS
Chile has some fine winter resorts, used by national ski teams from the US and Europe for ?summer? training camps. There has been considerable investment in the resorts in the 1990's and the general standard of the resorts is very good; almost all of the tows and lifts are relatively modern pomas or 3-4 person chairs. The resorts are generally the size of mid-sized Alpine resorts. However pistes can be less well groomed than they are in Europe or the USA. New snow may lie un-groomed for longer, obstacles may be less well marked and there are sometimes rocky sections on the pistes. There are also more likely to be problems with access or closures due to poor weather than in Europe, please expect not to ski on one or two days.
The price of lift tickets is not included in our price. These vary between resorts and depend on the day of the week you're skiing, but are around $35-$45 per day. You'' have eight days in resorts on the short itinerary 12 on the long itinerary, although weather and/or access problems are likely to reduce this by one or two days.
SANTIAGO
These holidays will fly out to Santiago and we will be based in our hotel here for a night at either end of the trip. There will be some time to explore this fascinating city at the beginning and end of the holiday as well as between trips to the pistes. Santiago, the capital of Chile, is a large city of some five million people but is one of the most pleasant and relaxing cities in South America. The people are friendly and there are many parks and wide avenues. There are also plenty of good restaurants which will give us an opportunity to load up with calories and wine before the skiing.
THE RESORTS NEAR SANTIAGO
The main part of your holiday will be based in the three winter resorts closest to Santiago, known as the Tres Valles and consisting of Colorado, Valle Nevado and La Parva. These three resorts are now linked by a system of lifts, though each resort provides more than enough skiing or boarding for a day or two. The resorts are on open slopes well above the tree-line (actually it's a cactus line in this part of the Andes!). Each of these resorts is of an international standard, with plenty of long runs and a good percentage of advanced pistes. The skiing is generally between 2800 and 3700m above sea level and we're expecting lots of good dry powder. Highlights include some steep couloirs, long off-piste runs at all the resorts and virtually empty pistes.
We will be based in chalet style accommodation in La Parva or Farellones while here. Both evening meals and breakfasts here are included in the price.
CHILEAN SNOW CONDITIONS
The very cold dry conditions and the high altitude of the Chilean resorts produce a lot of good powder snow. Portillo receives an average of 3m in a season. With generally cold temperatures the snow rarely deteriorates through the day, even on the sunniest days. In the lower resort of Chillan the climate is a bit damper and the snow can be heavier and occasionally crusty or slabby to ski or board.
Chairlift at Colorado, August 2007, note the empty pistes on a beautiful day...!
VALLE NEVADO
The newest resort in Chile, Valle Nevado is a purpose built resort developed in the early 1990's which has become very popular with visiting Brazilian and Argentine skiers. The resort is very open with large snowy bowls served by only a few lifts, so there is plenty of scope for exploratory skiing or boarding. There are some great views of the high peaks of the Andes. Our favourite runs here are off the 3700m Tres Puntas peak at the far end of the resort. View Piste Plan
LA PARVA
La Parva is the nearest of the Tres Valle resorts to Santiago. It has been much improved with several new chairs giving access to steep double-black couloirs. At over 3500m above sea level these couloirs give exhilarating and breathtaking descents! Our favourite run here is a long off-piste outing on the left of the resort, linking the highest and lowest points with 900m of snow View Piste Plan
Steep skiing in the high couloirs at La Parva, September 2001
EL COLORADO
An unusual resort occupying the slopes of a distinctive conical hill, Colorado is Chile's oldest ski resort. There are good steep runs off the back of the hill. View Piste Plan
PORTILLO
Portillo is one of Chile's oldest resorts, probably the most famous and certainly the most unusual. Our favourite run here is the steep black couloir known as La Garganta. Other highlights of the resort include magnificent views of the 6,000m (20,000ft) peak of Juncal and the strange five person poma tows, known as a Va y Vient, that go uphill at an incredible speed. We never though skiing uphill could be more exciting than coming back down until we tried one of these tows! View Piste Plan
James Fox boarding the steep Garganta couloir at Portillo, a double black.
CHILLAN
Based on the south slopes of Volcan Chillan, this resort is included only in the long itinerary and is a five hour drive south from Santiago. Chillan has a noticeably snowier climate and skiing at much lower altitudes than the resorts around Santiago. Our favourite run here is the long Tres Marias piste which sweeps down from 2700m to 1600m, starting through weird lava flows and finishing in the coigue forests at the foot of the resort. For snowboarders there are some excellent runs in the narrow and steep sided valleys formed by the lava flows. Natural half-pipes! View Piste Plan
Snowboarding at Chillan, winter 2007.
VILLARRICA-PUCON
Based on the north slopes of the highly active Volcan Villarrica, this resort is also included in the long itinerary, and is an eight hour drive south from Santiago, or about four hours from Chillan. The town of Pucon has a noticeably wetter and snowier climate and skiing at much lower altitudes than the resorts around Santiago. For snowboarders there are some excellent runs in the narrow and steep sided valleys formed by the volcanoes historic lava flows. Natural half-pipes! Weather permitting we will arrange a day trip to make a ski-mountaineering ascent of Volcan Villarrica for those who are interested. This involves climbing up on skis, having a quick look at the lava lake then flying back down off-piste. Quite a high standard of fitness is required for this day but no previous experience is necessary other than a good level of skiing ability. All technical equipment necessary can be hired. View Piste Plan
Skiing the summit slopes of Volcan Villarrica, way above the resort and even above the clouds.
CLIMATE
Chile generally has very stable winter weather more like the continental USA than the European Alps, but there is obviously a chance of some bad weather and snowstorms while we're there. Windy days can also be a problem in the Andes. In the resorts near Santiago sunny days are very common, further south the weather is a bit more unpredictable, but we should still get our fair share of sunny days.
FLIGHTS
Flights from London to Santiago, cost from about £800-£1000 but are currently rising sharply. We normally arrange these for you through our travel agents, Journey Latin America (ATOL 2828) at very competitive prices. We make no charge for this service and many customers find it convenient as we then all fly out on the same plane. If you prefer you can arrange your own flights to fit in with the expedition itinerary. Please note that if booking flights yourself it is better to pay only a deposit in the short term in case we do not have sufficient fully paid customers to run the expedition.
VISAS
Visas are not necessary for British citizens, but you should have a full passport valid for at least six months from the date of travel. If you will not be using a British passport please make this clear when booking.
INSURANCE
All clients must be insured for medical costs and repatriation in an emergency. We recommend having insurance for baggage, personal liability and cancellation as well. If you would like advice on insurance please ask. Please bring an extra copy of your insurance certificate on holiday for the tour leader to keep.
Lava in the crater of Volcan Villarrica, October 2003
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
While we are staying in Santiago, and near Portillo accommodation will be in clean and secure hotels with hot showers. We normally use small family run hotels with a friendly atmosphere. Continental breakfast is included with this accommodation. Evening meals during these phases of the holiday will be eaten in local restaurants at your expense (about £10 or US$20 for a meal with wine). This also applies to our nights at Pucon in the extended itinerary.
When based in the Tres Valles resorts above Santiago we use a hotel on half-board located between the resorts. Breakfast and good quality three course evening meal are included with this accommodation and are part of our price. This also applies to the nights at Chillan in the extended itinerary.
Lunches throughout the holiday are at customer expense. There are good cafes on or near the pistes at all the resorts in Chile, or our leader can help you to buy and organise pack lunches.
HEALTH, HYGIENE AND SECURITY
Chile is one of the most well developed countries in South America and the standard of hygiene is generally as good as at home. You would be unlucky to get an upset stomach or diarrhoea. Vaccinations for tetanus, typhoid and polio are recommended. The country is very safe and relaxing to travel in; theft and muggings are as unlikely as they are in most British cities. Everyone who visits Chile is surprised by how much like a part of Europe the country is.
SAFETY AND RISK
This is an adventure holiday and all clients will be exposed to an element of risk by taking part in this itinerary. It is important that you understand the risks involved before signing our booking form. We have identified the following areas as the principal additional risks of this itinerary. This is not a fully inclusive list - please ask if you would like to see a more detailed risk assessment before booking.
Driving, hotels and general safety : In Chile driving, fire safety standards and general safety standards are not as high as in Europe.
Mountain Hazards : There is a considerable risk of injury while skiing and using lift machinery. Pistes are not as well marked as in the USA or Europe. There is a slight risk of avalanche on the optional Villarrica ascent, and there is no piste patrol on these slopes so any rescue will take a long time.
Blue skies and no crowds, Valle Nevado on a busy Saturday..!
LEADER
We will provide a European (normally British) leader with suitable skiing or snowboarding experience and good knowledge fo the resorts to co-ordinate and lead the group throughout.
SKI AND SNOWBOARD HIRE
It is possible to hire skis and boards out in Chile, at prices similar to those in European resorts, but we recommend taking your own equipment from home. Waxing, edging and other servicing can be done overnight at most resorts. For the ascent of Villarrica volcano all technical climbing equipment necessary can be hired.
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