In Chile and Argentina, dramatic slopes, lots of snow and an unusual après ski scene await.
For avid skiers from the north, it can feel like cheating to get first tracks through boot-deep powder in South America while those at home are sweltering through another August. Heading to Chile and Argentina, which have the most ski areas in South America, all in the Andes, is a perfectly legit way to revisit winter.
Much of the terrain lies above tree line, making the slopes resemble the Alps. The massive vertical relief between the valley bottoms and soaring peaks offers dramatic views and a landscape that seems remote and wild. Condors circling overhead only add to the feel.
But it isn’t all about chasing powder. “The cultural aspect is attractive, including the food,” said David Owen, an American skier who lives in Chile and runs PowderQuest, a guided ski-trip outfitter. Après ski may involve pisco sours, Argentine and Chilean wine, and dancing until late.
Here are some options, from relatively low cost to extravagantly high end, that can satisfy the yearning to ski from June to early October.
Chile
Portillo
Steeped in tradition, this family-owned ski area, about 100 miles northeast of Santiago, has welcomed an international clientele since 1949, as Chile’s oldest winter resort. Just 35 runs weave down 1,235 above-treeline acres, from beginner-friendly groomers to vertigo-inducing steeps off the Roca Jack, a surface lift that’s a challenge just to ride.
