So, Chile....

down there? depends bro. what do YOU think is worth it.

searchbar newb.

Do it Rowen.

But seriously, i've heard Portillo is awesome - gotta book early though because of limited spaces

I have heard that it's stunning dude, the most incredible scenery you will ever see. In terms of terrain I think you may be disappointed. I think there is plenty of back country but the runs aren't very long. But I am no expert at all. In terms of park I believe there is nothing.

You wouldn't think about South America for park, and nor is Rowen

go argentina!

don't listen to this weon, go to the triple valley (great terrain), save your money and dont go to portillo, if you want the best terrain, just hop a bus ride over to mendoza (actually stay in a different town where you can get 50% off lift tickets, the name escapes me at the moment) and hit up las leñas then get back down to bariloche to party (and go skinning) (but mostly party) (and as this voludo has equivocated once again, yes there are parks, but who cares really because there's pow)

ask garrett russell. he goes to argentina every year. and he is mustachioed...

Lol, No need to hate dude, I was just telling him what I heard. Like I said, I am no expert, and you have your panties in a twist.

Chile has superior terrain compared to Argentina.

Portillo is incredible, but its expensive unless you stay in the Inca lodge which is just like a 4 person college dorm type deal (communal shower and bathroom). Something like $440 for a week and that includes food and lift tickets. The place doesn't get crowded at all because the only people skiing are the ones who are staying at the hotel. If you get good snowfall while you're there you'll have the best time of your life. Other great places that I really like in Chile are Valle Nevado and La Parva, both are worth considering as well. Haven't gotten the chance to go to Termas de Chillan yet.

Depending on where fortune takes me I may end up living a couple of weeks in that Inca lodge this summer.

no place in chile has better terrain than Las Lenas, but that said, organization, transportation, and lodging are a nightmare and if the Marte is closed L.L. is not that exciting. But if that lift is running it's prob. accesses some of the best expert terrain on the planet. Also the Inca Lodge in Portillo is a hole and is like staying in a closet, and they don't even let you eat in the dining room. haha. If your going to do Chile your best bet (affordably) is to stay in Farellones or LaParva, Valle Nevado is way pricey. Terrmas de Chillan has a pretty sweet hostel, but you have to hitchhike up to ski hill if you don't have a car.

Inca might be a hole but he's going there to ski, not to stay in a 5 star hotel. Plus its where the staff live so its a great place to meet cool people to drink with on the weekend.

so chile...Portillo is sick when it gets snow, amazing backcountry but no park. Also as said before, very expensive if you stay at the hotel and the other lodge, ive never been there but ive hear its pretty precarious.

I guess your best bet would be the resorts that are 1 hour from Santiago, El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado. El Colorado hast the best Park, but not the best bakcountry. La parva great terrain but not very good park. Valle Nevado I'd say is the best, decent park, very good terrain, but its the most expensive and  the furthest one to town (Town of Farellones).  For lodging you would have to stay in Farellones, they have bunch of lodges, hostals that go around 30-40 bucks a night. Great Partying.

Termas de chillan, as said before it has a nice hostal for 30 bucks a night, but you have to hitchhike. Well, I did that all last year and had no problems. people are very friendly and thats how a looot of people move around. It has an amazing backcountry and ok Park. The nearest town is Las trancas, which is like 15 min by car from the resort. Great atmoshphere is this town.

Day passes in all of them are around 50 bucks, yeah pretty expensive. Check websites for season/week passes.


This is the view of resorts in Farellones. Far left is La parva (where the houses are), in the middle is Colorado, its like a cone. And you can see the road to Valle nevado on the right. Big group of houses at the bottom is Farellones.



I have pics of Termas de chillan in my profile.  any other questions, just ask.

Very good info allready in this thread... i will tell you what you should do to have the best time in my opinion.... If you come down here, you´ll arrive in Sanatiago. You should try to come in august, best snow, people are going back to school so its only crowded on weekends, if you cannot come in august or you want to come earlier july is sick to, lil bit more crowded but no big deal, also the best snow.

First you should stay about a week and a half or two weeks in the three valley area. You shuld stay in farellones for lodging but i know that if you get here and try to talk to some of the locals or some of the other foreign people you can get some very cheap lodging by paying some of the rent. Also in the three valleys you´ll have the best parties from 5pm after skiing till 4 am evryday in july, lots of beautiful girls, very nice chill vibe, everybody loves gringos down here so you'll have a great time, and you can pick between the 3 resorts that are here. You have great terrain, some of the best snow, and decent-good park in no more the 15 minutes ride (you can easily hitchhike). In between you can go to portillo for a day or two by taking a bus for 15 dollars, and you can always do it without reservation so you can got there if you see a storm coming so you can get powwww (usually it doesnt snow more than 2 days in a row, and then bluebird sky).

After that i would go to the south of chile, very cheap transportation you can take a bus for 25-30 dollars and you can go to termas de chillan and pucon. Very good spots with sweet terrain, very cool people a lil bit cheaper in terms of food and day passes. not the best snow cause its a lower so they sometimes get rain, but there is always info about the conditions.

It all depends on the time you want to stay here and the money you want to spend but i´m sure youll have a great time know a very different place and culture, it will be well worth it.