Destinations > Valle Nevado

Of all of the ski resorts in South America, Valle Nevado most closely resembles its North American counterparts. It is very accessible from downtown Santiago (only 1.5 hours drive), and very modern, boasting relatively new high chairs. It also offers some great off-piste skiing in Valle Olympico, an expansive valley with lots of open terrain.

Santa Teresa, a huge two thousand vertical foot face, contains the most extreme ski-able terrain in the area. It is accessible from the top chair of Valle, with a little hike over the Cono Este chair from El Colorado. If you can get this perfect aspect in good conditions – it is like heli-skiing from the chair, and can easily be a highlight of any ski / snowboard tour in the Andes.

The biggest drawback to Valle Nevado is the crowds. On the weekend, Valle gets pummeled with people coming up from Santiago. However, with a quick traverse, your CASA Tours guides can show you the “secret” off-piste terrain that remains hidden from the crowds...

Photos from Valle Nevado:

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