South American Ski Resorts - More Snow

A number of the South American ski resorts are still getting snow even though the 2009 season is long since finished. Please stop snowing and get in with the summer. The sooner the summer starts and subsequently finishes ... it'll be winter time again and the start of the 2010 ski season in South America!

Snow Falls In South America

There have been several snow storms in the last couple of weeks in the Andes. Most ski resorts have great snow conditions. All the main resorts in Chile & Argentina have sufficiently good snow conditions and good snow bases.
Termas de Chillán got half a metre of fresh powder this last weekend.
Valle Nevado with it's higher altitude slopes is the main resort for skiing or snowboarding near to Santiago making up the 3 Valleys of Chile with La Parva & El Colorado. Portillo has also benefited from the recent snow storms and Snoventures still have a few spaces available.
Argentina and particularly Catedral Bariloche has had significant snow falls and is now fully stocked for the next few weeks.

Powder in the Andes

August could turn out to be the best month of the ski season yet again! Recent heavy snowfalls have left a good accumulation of powder in several of the ski resorts in Chile & Argentina including Bariloche and Termas de Chillán

Limited Space to Ski in 2009

Options are becoming limited for some weeks in the South American ski centres. There is still some space most weeks (although not for all room choices) in the Chilean ski resorts and space in most ski resorts in Argentina.

Valle Nevado - 20% off in August

Extra discounts off the regular season prices in August during the following weeks: -

August 7th to 14th
August 14th to 21st
August 21st to 28th

Valid for single and double occupancy rates.
Subject to limited availability.

Portillo and Valle Nevado to Open this Weekend

Portillo & Valle Nevado ski resorts will be open for the season as of this weekend. Snow has been falling in the Andes since in the last week. There is now a sufficient base at most of the Andean resorts so get waxing!!!

Valle Nevado 2 Free Nights - NEW OFFER!

NEW ... 2 FREE NIGHTS at Valle Nevado during the following weeks: -

All Guests
July 3rd to 10th

US & Canada Guests Only
July 3rd to 10th
August 7th to 14th
August 14th to 21st
August 21st to 28th

Valid for all bookings confirmed by June 25th 2009.
Valid for single and double occupancy rates.
Subject to limited availability.

Guided Ski Tour Discounts $200 / £125 pp

We are currently offering discounts of up to £200 (£125) per person on many of the guided ski tours. All guided resort, off-piste & backcountry tours have a minimum of $120 (£75) per person discount, ask for further details Guided Ski Tour Discount. Further group discounts available.

(Does not apply to Instructional Tours or Hut to Hut)

Valle Nevado 2 Free Nights

We currently have a special offer at Valle Nevado with 2 free nights during the following weeks: -

July 17th to 24th
July 24th to 31st
August 7th to 14th
August 14th to 21st
August 21st to 28th

Valid for skiers and snowboarders from UK, South Africa, Japan & Canada for all bookings confirmed by June 19th 2009.
Valid for single and double occupancy rates.
Subject to limited availability.

2009 Guided Ski Tours Updated

Dates and prices for the 2009 guided resort, off-piste and backcountry ski tours have been added at Snoventures Guided South American Ski Tours.
Instructional tour updates will follow shortly.

Valle Nevado 2009 Ski Season Dates

The ski season at Valle Nevado will run from Friday June 12th to Sunday October 4th for the 2009 Season

Portillo 2009 Ski Season Dates

The ski season at Portillo will run from Saturday June 20th to Saturday October 3rd for the 2009 Season

Termas de Chillan 2009 Ski Season Dates

The ski season at Termas de Chillan will run from Saturday June 13th to Monday October 12th for the 2009 Season

Pucon Villarrica 2009 Ski Season Dates

The ski season at Pucon Villarrica will run from mid June to mid October for the 209 Season.

Valle Nevado Closes Today

Today marks the end of the 2008 ski season at Valle Nevado Chile. Valle Nevado this year saw excellent levels of snow with spring conditions being the norm in the last few weeks.

2008 Ski Season Nearly Finished

The South American ski season is drawing to a close. Portillo have announced they will shut this weekend with Saturday 4th October being their last ski day for 2008.
It has been a bumper snow season in the Andes. The snow is now disappearing fast with warm spring conditions throughout the South American ski resorts.

The Santa Rosa Hits the Andes

Numerous resorts in the Andes of South America have benefited from the Santa Rosa who has delivered fresh powder to ski resorts in both the Chilean & Argentinean Andes.
It has been snowing all weekend in Bariloche and is still snowing today.
Termas de Chillán has had fresh powder with lots of fresh tracks to be had.

If the temperatures stay low it looks like the season could be more certain to continue into October.

Portillo and Valle Nevado Roads Now Open

The road between Santiago and Portillo Ski resort is again open to traffic heading for the resort. The road however remains shut at the border with Argentina meaning there is no road access to Mendoza.
The road between Santiago and Valle Nevado & the Three Valleys if now fully open.

Massive Storm Hits the Andes

Over the last few days the Andes of Chile & Argentina have been pounded by a huge snow storm. The roads to Portillo and Valle Nevado near to Santiago have both been closed preventing access to these key Chilean ski resorts.
The road to Portillo was shut at the normal holding point near to Los Andes where as Valle Nevado was shut a few miles short of the resort where the road forks from the main Farellones road. Access to La Parva & El Colorado has been possible.
With clearer weather forecast until at least the weekend all access are expected to be open again today.
Portillo are currently reporting on their website the road being closed.
Valle Nevado report the access road as being open.
(at 4.50 am Santiago time)

27cm New Snow Portillo

Portillo has just received a top up of 27cm (10.6 inches) of new snow in the last 24 hours.
New base depth at low level = 221cm (87 inches)
New base depth on the Plateau = 260cm (120 inches)

Chile Powder

Portillo, Valle Nevado and Termas de Chillan all got new snow this weekend with up to 70cm (27 inches) reported.
The road to Portillo was closed temporarily to wait for the snow to be cleared. Termas de Chillan had to shut the top lifts on Sunday.

Snowing in Valle Nevado Now

It is snowing in Valle Nevado right now. Over 40cm (approx 16 inches) has been forcast for today.

Snow in Portillo, Chile

Portillo ski resort has received some new snow in the last week to add to the significant amount of accumulated snow they have.
We have just been advised by the resort that is again snowing on the mountain right now. (1658 hrs GMT)

Recent Snow in South America

In the last few days there has been new snow at Portillo, Valle Nevado, El Colorado & La Parva in Chile and Chapelco & Cerro Catedral (Bariloche) in Argentina.
More snow is forecast intermittently over the next 9 days.

Chile Snow Update

All the main resorts in Chile including Termas de Chillán, Portillo, Valle Nevado and La Parva have received recent snow falls with the majority of pistes and lifts open.
More light snow is forecast which should help keep the favourable conditions.

Termas de Chillan - Snow!

Heavy snow is forecast to hit Termas de Chillán on Tuesday night (22nd)

Chile and Argentina - Latest Ski Conditions

Snow Conditions in the South American Andes
Chile & Argentina Ski Resorts Recent Data

Country / Resort	Lower Slopes	Upper Slopes	Last Snowed	Snow Forecast	On Piste	Off Piste	Lifts Open
Argentina
Cerro Catedral	5cm	60cm	13 Jul (5cm)	19cm	Wet	Heavy	19 out of 25
Chapelco	8cm	24cm	13 Jul	16cm	Packed	Limited	6 out of 10
Las Lenas	185cm	371cm	12 Jul (5cm)	27cm	Packed	Varied	13 out of 1
Chile
Chapa Verde	20cm	60cm	21 Jun (10cm)	20cm	Closed		0 out of 6
El Colorado	80cm	120cm	13 Jul (10cm)	11cm	Powder	Tracked	13 out of 18
La Parva	185cm	300cm	13 Jul (10cm)	6cm	Powder	Tracked	13 out of 14
Portillo	163cm	175cm	13 Jul (30cm)	4cm	Powder	Powder	6 out of 13
Termas de Chillan	10cm	80cm	12 Jul (2cm)	49cm	Hard	Limited	8 out of 11
Valle Nevado	80cm	80cm	13 Jul (10cm)	12cm	Powder	Tracked	12 out of 12

Las Araucarias Shuts as Volcan Llaima Erupts

Llaima Volcano has erupted and for safety reasons closed Las Araucarias ski resort in central Chile. The resort is famous for it's Araucaria trees and spectacular setting on the slopes of 'Volcan Llaima' in Conguillío National Park.
Not an immediate threat to residents of the area the lava flow is heading towards the direction of the Calbuco River.
The lava flow stretched over 2km and was 50 metres wide.
The last eruption was at the start of 2008 and there has been no significant activity between then and now.
There is no threat to other ski resorts although if the ash cloud increases it could affect air travel into Concepcion or Temuco airports.

Valle Nevado Road Schedule

Note: For safety reasons, the Chilean Police department restricts the use of the access road to the Mountains throughout the ski season. Below are outlined the restrictions:
Monday – Friday (except holidays)
Ascent and descent throughout the day.
Saturday, Sundays, and holidays
Only ascents from 8:00 – 14:00
Only descents from 16:00 – 20:00
No restriction from 20:00 until next morning 8:00 AM.

Snow Parks in Chile & Argentina

There seems to be some confusion and misinformation about where the snow parks are in South America. let'stry to correct this with the information we have.
In Chile Valle Nevado has a large snow park and half pipe.
Termas de Chillán does not and will not for this season according to the resort staff. Termas however is a natural snow playground with the extensive and varied terrain they have. They had one about 10 years ago but have not had one since.
El Colorado normally has one.
Portillo doesn't have a snow park.
In Argentina Las Leñas will have if they get enough snow.
Bariloche usually has a good one.
Chapelco normally has 2 small ones, one main one and one for training and camps.
La Hoya in Esquel normally has one.

If you have any further information on snow parks updates from 2008 please leave a comment.

Portillo Announce Ski Pass Prices for 2008

**Please note our hotel and lodge packages at Portillo all include ski lift passes**
Portillo 2008 Ticket Prices - High Season Day Tickets
Adults CP28,500 : USD58.71 : GBP29.92
Children (5 a 12 años) CP18,000 : USD37.08 : GBP18.90
Seniors (65+) CP15,000 : USD30.90 : GBP15.75
Infants (-5 años) Free

Portillo 2008 Ticket Prices - Low Season Day Tickets
Adult CP22,000 : USD45.32 : GBP23.10
Child (5 to 12 yrs) CP14,000 : USD28.84 : GBP14.70
Seniors (65+ yrs) CP12,500 : USD25.75 : GBP13.12
Infants (<5 yrs) Free

Portillo 2008 Ticket Prices - High Season Day Tickets with Lunch
Adults CP32,900 : USD67.77 : GBP34.54
Childrens CP21,900 : USD45.11 : GBP22.99
Seniors CP18,900 : USD38.93 : GBP19.84

Portillo 2008 Ticket Prices - Low Season Day Tickets with Lunch
Adults CP25,900 : USD53.35 : GBP27.19
Childrens CP17,900 : USD36.87 : GBP18.79
Seniors CP16,900 : USD34.81 : GBP17.74

CP = Chilean Pesos with tax included
CP:USD:GBP exchange rate conversion at CP1000 : USD2.06 : GBP1.05
Tickets with lunch include lunch taken in the self service cafeteria e.g. Soup & Salad, Dish of the Day, Dessert & Drink

High Season: Saturday, Sunday, Holidays and between July 5 & August 15 (inclusive)
Low Season: Weekdays outside of high season dates and holidays.

Iberia New Baggage Allowances

Hold Baggage Allowance

Europe to Argentina Economy 2 pieces x 23 kg (each) Business Class 3 pieces x 23 kg (each)
Europe to Chile Economy 23 kg Business Class 30 kg

Each individual item checked in may not exceed 158 cm (calculated by adding length+width+height), with the exception of special items of luggage.
Please note this is only applicable to journeys to which the piece system applies.

Although we can accept no liability, in our experience sports equipment counts as special equipment. Please check with the airline.
Full article here ... Iberia Luggage Allowances

El Colorado Opens June 5th 2008

El Colorado will open their lifts for the 2008 season on Thursday June 5th. So early, a clear indication on the amount of snow that has been falling in the Andes.

Valle Nevado Today #2

Valle Nevado Today #1

Lots of Early Snow in the Andes

For the last 2 weeks there have been a number of good snow storms in the Chilean Andes.
Portillo has received over 6 feet of new snow with Valle Nevado and Termas de Chillan also receiving good snowfalls.

2008 El Niño Season in South America?

The amount of snow that has fallen at Portillo so far this month exceeds normal levels for this time of year. Is it that El Niño year that we've been promised?

According to the experts it could well be ...
Climate Prediction Center

Hotel Pirigallo Remains Closed for 2008

The Hotel Pirigallo at Termas de Chillan will not be available for the 2008 season as the management have a re-shuffle. It is not yet confirmed but it is believed that the hotel will be refurbished before accepting overseas guests again in 2009.
www.snoventures.com are still offering the excellent Gran Hotel and apartments on the mountain and the Hotel Pirimahuida in Las Trancas.