• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

Why Ski South America?

April 17, 2013 by braveskimom

ski portillo chile
Portillo, Chile. Photographer: Jonathan Selkowitz. Photo courtesy Ski Portillo.

brave ski mom logoAre you ready to hang up your skis? I’m not.

With the end of the Northern winter, I’m thinking about an endless ski season, one that seemlessly moves from winter to winter, from north to south and lands me high in the Andes. Today, I ask: Why Ski South America? 

Ask the Experts

To get answers, I turned to four experts with extensive South American experience.

Robin Barnes is the Director of the Portillo Ski School in Chile. You may remember her from my article on the benefits of women taking lessons from female instructors and skiing with other women.

John Clendenin is a world champion freestyle skier and the creator of the Clendenin Ski Method. I went to one of his camps in Aspen this season. This September will mark CSM’s 12th year at Portillo.

Scotty McGee is the Nordic Team Coach for PSIA and an instructor at a big mountain telemark camp in Patagonia. Scotty has helped me with several articles, including “Take Your Tele Skills to the Next Level.” Most recently, I reviewed his new guidebook to Nordic skiing. 

Diego Allolio is a honest-to-goodness Argentinian, a long time NOLS instructor and the founder of Magellenica, an outdoor adventure travel company. 

Okay, So WHY Ski South America? 

1. Bragging Rights.

Let’s face it. We skiers are not humble. We are passionate about our sport, we talk about it, read about it and, yes, post about it.  Skiing is a sport that inspires emotions ranging to from pure joy to pure jealousy.

And while it’s fun to make your friends and family jealous, it’s even more fun to be skiing when you would ordinarily be lying on the beach or sweating over your mountain bike.

As John Clendenin put it, “It feels great to say ‘It’s September and I’m skiing!'”

ski and swim portillo chile
You can still work on your tan…and ski. Portillo. Photo: Adam Clark. Photo courtesy Ski Portillo.

2. Good Snow. Outstanding Terrain. Natural Beauty.

That said, you can ski in North America during the summer, most notably at Mount Hood. But unless you’re there for race camp, the experience is limited. Thus, if you’re looking for powder and a wide variety of terrain you need to go where it’s winter.

As for terrain, the Andes have a reputation for being steep, but this shouldn’t discourage anyone. South American resorts have terrain for skiers of all abilities and ages. There is something for everyone.

The Andes also have a reputation for being high. Portillo’s base is at 8,360 feet, with the summit at 10,860. While these are high elevations, they are no higher than most Colorado resorts. The difference is in what surrounds the resort.

“There’s no place on earth (I know of) where you can have an authentic meal at 10,000 feet and be surrounded by peaks that rise an additional 7,000 feet,” explains John Clendenin.

portillo dining
Photographer: Diego Munita. Photo Courtesy Ski Portillo.

Summing it up, Diego Allolio puts it this way,

Skiing in South America is different. The terrain is big and high at the central Andes. In the Lake District, you ski amidst lakes, broad leaf trees and araucarias (a South American evergreen) all in close proximity to hot springs. The snow isn’t the driest on the planet, but the whole experience makes it once in a lifetime.

villarrica volcano descent
Villarrica Volcano Descent, Argentina. Photo: Diego Allolio.

3. ¿Necesito hablar en Español?

No, you don’t have to speak Spanish. English is spoken at South American ski resorts and all resorts have English-speaking instructors. But everyone suggests that you try.  As with travel in any country, the locals appreciate it when you recognize their culture and try to speak their language.

ski day meal argentina
How to end the ski day in Argentina. Photo: Diego Allolio.

But just because you can speak and hear English in South America, don’t expect a North American-style experience. Chile and Argentina are known for warm hospitality, fantastic local food and wine and a slower pace of service and life. As with skiing in the Alps, take time to slow down, enjoy the vistas, the snow and the long meals. Skiing in South America is a holiday, not an endurance contest. “Slow down, smell the flowers, learn a couple of new words and it’ll all work out just fine,” advises Robin Barnes.

4. It’s Surprisingly Close.

If you’re looking for summer skiing, South America is the easiest and closest destination from North America. Jet lag is minimal. For example, Santiago, Chile is three hours ahead of Denver, Colorado. Compare that to Queenstown, New Zealand which is 18 hours ahead!

When, Where and How?

Perfect Timing.

According to Robin Barnes, the best conditions at Portillo are in August and September. August, which is the equivalent of our February, can see a lot of big storms, while September can go either way with lots of powder or spring corn snow.

Pick A Resort.

As you might guess, Portillo is near the top of most everyone’s list. A world-famous resort, Portillo hosts the U.S. Ski Team, and other national teams, for summer training.

Because Portillo has only one hotel that holds about 400 people, you’ll be rubbing shoulders, and sharing the slopes, with international skiing champions, as well as other skiers from across the world. Day traffic is limited, so its like you’re at a private resort.

portillo hotel diego munita
The Hotel at Portillo. Photo: Diego Munita. Photo courtesy Ski Portillo.

For a different feel, try Valle Nevado near Santiago. With many hotels and restaurants, Valle Nevado has a Chilean clientele, many of whom come from Santiago.

side country skiing at La Hoya.
Side country skiing at La Hoya, Argentina. Photo: Diego Allolio.

Las Leñas, Argentina is recommended for its challenging terrain, while other resorts mentioned by my experts include La Parva, Vilarrica, Termas del Chillán, Las Araucarias, Antillanca, Osorno, Chapelco, Cerro Bayo, Catedral Alta Patagonia, La Hoya and Cerro Castor in Tierra del Fuego.

Oh yes, and Diego Allolio also mentioned extensive backcountry terrain. There is clearly no shortage of South American skiing.

Solo or Group? 

Once you’ve decided to ski in South America, you’ve got to decide if you’re going with a group or camp or if you’re traveling independently.

If you’re a confident, experienced traveler, independent travel is said to be quite easy.

Traveling with kids? Check out Portillo’s Kids Ski Free Weeks and Family Weeks.

If you want someone to help take care of all the details or you’re looking for a week of instruction, a group or camp might be your best option.

“Either way you go, you’ll make new friends,” shares Scotty McGee, “and hopefully have fun with them ripping around at new area, in a different country, on another continent.”

Camp Shout Outs

There are many options, but I know the leaders for both of these camps and give them high marks.

Patagonia telemark camp
Bariloche area, Argentina. Photo: Diego Allolio.

Magellenica Patagonia Telemark Camp at Cerro Bayo and Catedral Alta Patagonia, Argentina. Led by Scotty McGee, the camp is for intermediate to expert tele skiers who aspire to move from resort to backcountry terrain. Depending upon the size of your group, Scotty will work with you to design the perfect schedule combining top-notch instruction and skiing, with time for visiting other parts of Argentina.

 

Clendenin ski method camp
Photo courtesy John Clendenin.

Clendenin Ski Method Camp at Portillo. I’ve got first-hand experience with John’s Aspen camp: Good people, great instruction with the Clendenin Ski Method, and tons of fun. Throw in some pisco sours, Portillo’s awe-inspiring terrain, and some fine Chilean seafood and you’ve got yourself the alpine skiing adventure of a lifetime.

Who wouldn’t want to ski South America?

© 2013 – 2017, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Argentina, Chile, Learn to Ski, Ski Resort Reviews, Ski School Tagged With: ski, skiing, travel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dave Johnson says

    April 19, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Spending the summer and skiing/ snowboarding South America is an awesome experience. There are many options for all types of snow traveler. Portillo is the easiest if you want to ski 1 place and ski in ski out. The lifts are a bit of a challenge for snowboarders, but they do have excellent steep hike to terrain, especially if the lake is frozen. You must book a weeklong package at Portillo to stay there.
    Road tripping around is a great way to ski a variety of resorts and combine skiing with an authentic travel experience. The Andes, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego offer tons of skiing opportunities for all levels and interests. The scenery throughout is absolutely spectacular. From the high Andes of the Aconcagua region to the north (Portillo, La Parva, El Colorado, Valle Nevado & Ski Arpa); to the volcanoes of Chile’s ring of fire (Chillan, Corralco, Pucon); pushing further south into the vast expanse and wildness of Patagonia (Cerro Bayo, Chapelco, Bariloche-Catedral, La Hoya); all the way to the end of the world and the land of fire: Tierra del Fuego (Cerro Castor) there is an adventure awaiting.
    Along the way you will find delicious meals, stellar wines, lively atmosphere, and cozy accommodations. South America is an adventure paradise where you can travel in style and explore the Andes on skis & snowboards. It is a great summer getaway from the heat and humidity, is an overnight flight from the US with little time zone difference, and is the gateway to some of the most spectacular mountains on the planet.
    We’ve been running ski and snowboard adventures throughout the Andes since 1998. I am looking forward to our 16th season in South America and returning to our friends and the mountains I love so much.

    • braveskimom says

      April 19, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Dave, thank you so much for sharing your first hand experience! This is great information.

      CasaTours.com sounds quite experienced in South America. I look forward to visiting your website.

      Thanks again!

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • Bravery 101: Chairlift Safety for Parents and Kids
    Bravery 101: Chairlift Safety for Parents and Kids
  • Pick Ups Made Easy: The Kinderlift Ski Vest for Kids
    Pick Ups Made Easy: The Kinderlift Ski Vest for Kids
  • Catching Up with US Ski Team Legend Ted Ligety
    Catching Up with US Ski Team Legend Ted Ligety
  • Ski Fashion Preview: Women's Ski Jackets, Sorel Boots and More (Obermeyer Giveaway)
    Ski Fashion Preview: Women's Ski Jackets, Sorel Boots and More (Obermeyer Giveaway)
  • Ski Vacation 101: Feeding the Family
    Ski Vacation 101: Feeding the Family

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...