A Day Trip to Valle Nevado from Santiago City

A Day Trip to Valle Nevado from Santiago City. Photo: Valle Nevado on a beautiful night.

A Day Trip to Valle Nevado from Santiago City

HURRAY!!!!! Finally the wait for winter has finished. Valle Nevado is OPEN!

Report by Chino Martinez – Professional Skier

Saturday 29th June, 2019

After weeks of waiting for our best part of the year  – YES! ‘WINTER” has arrived!

As a ski fanatic living during the winter in Santiago City, what I do all day is look up at the mountains and check how much snow accumulation there is on top!

From Santiago you can see the top of all the ski areas, and at this time of the season, we all get nervous about when we are going to start skiing and where, first!.

From the city to the ski areas you can drive up early morning in one hour or less, if you do so before hitting traffic jams. You will need a 4WD car with winter tyres and/or chains onboard.

I received a phone call from Pablo on Friday evening telling me to get ready as we were going to go up the next morning and were all set, 4WD truck, chains, cameras, drone, filmaker- we were ready to go!

6:45 am on the Saturday and we were ready to go.

Ready to depart from Santiago - a ski adventure awaits! Photo: Chino Martinez. A Day Trip to Valle Nevado from Santiago City.
Ready to depart from Santiago – a ski adventure awaits! Photo: Chino Martinez. A Day Trip to Valle Nevado from Santiago City.

We’ve started our trip to Valle Nevado with Pablo, the driver, Xavier, the film-maker, Roberta the TV show presenter and myself – the skier.

The road up was not in good shape as we had a storm the night before during all night and lots of rain came down the city. It was at 1.500 m of altitude that we started to see some snow.

Continue reading “A Day Trip to Valle Nevado from Santiago City”

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere? Photo: Valle de Las Leñas in Mendoza, Argentina.

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

As the snow season is to start in South America, we who are born and bred there – (not necessarilly all living there anymore, but many of my friends are doing double seaason- in Chile or Argentina and then Aspen or Vail usually), always tend to think that the snow in the Northern Hemisphere is correlated with the snow in the Southern Hemisphere, mostly when the season is going to start down under.

Summer what Summer?

In Southamerica, specifically in Chile there is a saying: “Abril lluvias mil” that can be translated as: “in April we will have lots of rain”, but this has changed over the last 10 years or so.

There have been lots of Aprils without any rain in the cities, and no snow up in the mountains.
In the High Andes, due to the rocky formation of the mountains, you need a good month of natural snow to cover well all the mountain. Lately, all ski areas have been proactive and started installing snowmaking cannons and guns as Mother Nature is not reliable.

Valle Nevado picture on 14 June. Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?
Valle Nevado picture on 14 June. Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

Chile had the driest start of the year from January to May so far in the last six decades. If there is no rain, there is no snow. There is a front coming now, not sure how much will leave at the high Andes and how much at the lower ones – Accuweather does not show too much in this respect.

Snow-Forecast is a bit more optimistic! I As per Snow-Forecast, Las Leñas has received 42 cm in the past week and is expecting 19 more cm in the next three days. Others that benefited are Puma Lodge with 59 cm, Nevados de Chillan with 56 cm, Corralco with 55 cm and Villarrica-Pucón with 47 cm. Antillanca also got 32 cm, Volcan Osorno 30 cm, Caviahue, in Argentina got 19 cm, Catedral 16 cm and Valle Nevado 16 cm.

Continue reading “Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?”

The Mountain Collective goes on Sale for the 2019-2020 Season

Aspen Snowmass. The Mountain Collective. The Mountain Collective goes on Sale for the 2019-2020 Season. Valle Nevado, Chile added as first South American

The Mountain Collective goes on Sale for the 2019-2020 Season.

Valle Nevado, Chile added as first South American partner.

Purchase This Spring for Lowest Guaranteed Price of $449 USD,

Bonus Day at Destination of Choice and Kids’ Pass for Just $99

Starting March 7th, a limited number of Mountain Collective passes are on sale for only $449 USD. In addition, spring pass purchasers receive one bonus day at the destination of their choice for a limited time and two additional days at Chamonix Mont Blanc, France. Pricing for the kids pass (ages 12 and under) is just $99 for the 2019-2020 season when purchased with an Adult Pass, offering an incredible value for families.

Valle Nevado - Mountain Collective. The Mountain Collective goes on Sale for the 2019-2020 Season.  Valle Nevado, Chile added as first South American partner.
Valle Nevado – Mountain Collective. The Mountain Collective goes on Sale for the
2019-2020 Season. Valle Nevado, Chile added as first South American partner.

Valle Nevado, Chile will be a full partner resort this season, joining Alta, Aspen Snowmass, Banff Sunshine, Big Sky, Coronet Peak – The Remarkables, Jackson Hole, Lake Louise, Mammoth, Niseko United, Revelstoke, Snowbird, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Sugarbush, Taos, and Thredbo in this alliance of 16 iconic destinations.

“We are excited for the eighth season of The Mountain Collective,” says Christian Knapp, Chief Marketing Officer, Aspen Skiing Company. “With the ever-changing pass offerings it is clear there is still strong demand for this product. Consumers have a wide range of needs and the Mountain Collective Pass fits a niche. ”

Continue reading “The Mountain Collective goes on Sale for the 2019-2020 Season”

Valle Nevado is now IKON – IKON Pass announces a partnership with Chile’s Premier ski destination.

A Day Trip to Valle Nevado from Santiago City. Photo: Valle Nevado on a beautiful night.
The IKON Pass Valid for 2019 Winter Season at Valle Nevado

DENVER, CO, November 5, 2018 – Ikon Pass, the new standard in season passes, announces Valle Nevado in Chile as its newest partner, now offering access to nearly 77,000 acres at 37 premier mountain destinations across the planet. The Ikon Pass is available for purchase at www.ikonpass.com and through select travel partners.

In addition to access to winter 2018/2019 at 35 destinations in North America and Japan, Valle Nevado joins Australia’s Thredbo to offer Ikon Pass holders skiing and riding during the Southern Hemisphere’s 2019 winter season. Ikon Pass holders will have seven-day access to Valle Nevado on the Ikon Pass with no blackout dates, and five-day access on the Ikon Base Pass, also with no blackout dates. Valle Nevado’s 2019 winter season will run from June to September.

A lovely balcony to watch the Andes in the afternoon. Valle Nevado is now part of the IKON Pass. Photo: Valle Nevado.
A lovely balcony to watch the Andes in the afternoon. Valle Nevado is now part of the IKON Pass. Photo: Valle Nevado.

Valle Nevado in Chile, located just 90 minutes from the Santiago International Airport, sits at 10,000 feet in the spectacular Andes Mountains, the second highest peaks in the world. It is South America’s foremost mountain destination, offering access to the largest amount of terrain and the most modern lift system on the continent.

“Valle Nevado is an ideal addition to the Ikon Pass community. Now Ikon Pass holders can extend their 2019 season by booking a trip to Chile for the legendary above-treeline terrain in the Andes that Valle Nevado serves up,” said Erik Forsell, Chief Marketing Officer of Alterra Mountain Company. “South America is full of passionate skiers and riders who can also now take advantage of an endless winter with the Ikon Pass as they hit the slopes of North America during the 2018/2019 winter season.”

Continue reading “Valle Nevado is now IKON – IKON Pass announces a partnership with Chile’s Premier ski destination.”

Due to a slow season Las Leñas and Portillo are closing their seasons one month early.

Las Leñas, Cenidor, a black short steep piste in Las Leñas connecting the two sectors of the mountain. .

This winter season in the Southern Hemisphere in Argentina & Chile has been weird. Unfortunately for some of the resorts of the High Andes, the season has not been good. This is the case for Las Leñas in Argentina and Portillo in Chile. Valle Nevado seems to have a better snow base – maybe due to its altitude, as today was having all lifts opened but one, and only 9 pistes and the boarder cross park are closed.

Las Leñas view from the Piramide shopping center - 6th September 2018.
Las Leñas view from the Piramide shopping center – 6th September 2018.

More in the south, Chapelco and Bariloche seemed to have got better luck and got snow.

Continue reading “Due to a slow season Las Leñas and Portillo are closing their seasons one month early.”

Focus on South American Ski Resorts:

Valle Nevado is now part of the IKON Pass. Photo: Valle Nevado Ski Resort.

South American Ski Resorts: High Andes: Valle Nevado, Portillo and Las Leñas – Chile and Argentina

The ski season is about to start in the Southern Hemisphere – In this post I’ll focus on the South American Ski Resorts in the High Andes. Located in Chile and Argentina, all the resorts are in the Andes Mountains, home of the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere – the Aconcagua.

Las Leñas, the biggest terrain ski area in South America - if we count it's off-piste. Host of the South American Ski and Snowboarding Extremes for many years, for a reason. Photo Las Leñas ski resort.
Las Leñas, the biggest terrain ski area in South America – if we count it’s off-piste. Host of the South American Ski and Snowboarding Extremes for many years, for a reason. Photo Las Leñas ski resort.South American Ski Resorts.

At the altitude of Buenos Aires and Santiago, going to the Andes, you have what is called the High Andes – high altitude resorts – what the Brits would called ‘snow sure resorts’ (even though there is nothing like that really in the world – I’ve had some seasons down under with no snow at all, but usually you do get a very good season). A snowstorm can last one week and bring 3 meters of powder snow.



Booking.com


Snow here is very light and dry – amazing really, and the Andes mountains bring you very dramatic landscapes – think Dolomites, with rugged peaks, but no trees – this is above tree-line county.

Continue reading “Focus on South American Ski Resorts:”