Skiing in the Andes: Chile, Argentina and Patagonia
An Andean ski trip follows the seasons of the Southern Hemisphere. Chile and Argentina’s resorts span huge distances, from the mountains near Santiago to the Patagonian lakes and Tierra del Fuego. Use this guide to choose an area, rather than as a route to complete in a single holiday.
Andes · Chile, Argentina and Patagonia: map of villages and ski resorts
Explore the area’s towns, villages and ski resorts, with forecasts for your chosen day. Pan freely or select a destination for a closer view.
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⌂ Towns and villages · ⛷ Ski resorts. Values are forecasts, not live observations. Ski markers show approximate destination locations.
In Chile and Argentina, winter coincides with the Northern Hemisphere's summer. Santiago's mountains, southern Chile, Bariloche and Ushuaia are separate travel bases. Decide which area you want to explore and account for flights and transfers before adding a second ski destination.
Ski-in / ski-out: specific places to stay
One example in this region is Hotel Portillo, Chile, described as ski-in / ski-out by its official source. This applies to the named property, not every hotel or the whole village. Before booking, confirm that you can both leave and return on skis, check the connecting piste difficulty and ask whether access operates on your dates. Sufficient snow and open pistes are required.
The map shows forecasts at indicative locations. For the ski day, also open the operator’s report linked under each destination to confirm lift and piste operation.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado are mountain options near Santiago, with Farellones offering a separate accommodation base in the area. Portillo needs its own travel plan. Farther south, Nevados de Chillán pairs with the Las Trancas area, while Corralco takes you into another part of the southern Andes. Use the map to distinguish these areas before booking transfers.
Argentina: separate bases along the mountain range
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Las Leñas, in Mendoza province, is a different trip from Patagonia’s resorts. Even within one country, moving between mountain areas takes time and planning. Check which airport and road connection actually serve your base, and leave room in your schedule for the weather.
Patagonia: Bariloche, San Martín de los Andes and Ushuaia
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Bariloche pairs with Cerro Catedral, San Martín de los Andes with Chapelco and Villa La Angostura with Cerro Bayo. Allow days for the lakes and towns as well as skiing. Farther south, Ushuaia and Cerro Castor in Tierra del Fuego form a separate destination. Patagonia spans Chile and Argentina; the map outlines its mountain zone rather than the entire wider region.
Start with one base and add another only if the transfers suit the time you have. Before crossing between Chile and Argentina, check official border and mountain-road updates. Resort opening dates vary with the destination and the season.
Ski resorts and local forecasts
Select a resort for its forecast and official operating information. Map points show approximate destination locations.
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La Parva is a mountain village above Santiago. Staying on the mountain reduces repeated uphill journeys, while a city base leaves more room for urban plans. Compare the options for the whole trip, not just the first ski day.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Nevados de Chillán has volcanic scenery, with Valle Las Trancas and hot springs adding variety beyond skiing. Give a stay here its own time instead of treating it as a quick detour from Santiago. Andean bases are widely spread out.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Las Leñas sits high in the Andes in Mendoza province. Plan accommodation and transport together: reaching the province is not the same as reaching the slopes. On a short trip, fewer changes of base leave more time on the mountain.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Chapelco offers forest skiing above San Martín de los Andes. The town gives the day a different pace after the mountain. If you stay there, allow for the daily transfer and leave time to explore without changing destinations.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Corralco lies on the slopes of Lonquimay volcano in the protected Malalcahuello landscape, among araucaria trees. The scenery of southern Chile is part of the trip in its own right. Compare accommodation with slope access and allow the area more than a single ski day.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Chapa Verde is a ski destination in Chile's O’Higgins region, with Coya among the nearby locations. When visiting from a lower base, confirm mountain access and the services operating that day. The operator's information is useful before arranging transport.
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Cerro Perito Moreno pairs with a base in El Bolsón in Argentine Patagonia. This is the ski area near the town, not the glacier with the same name. Keep the distinction in mind when searching for routes, accommodation and trip photographs.
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Cerro Bayo lies near Villa La Angostura in Patagonia's lake district. A stay in town gives the trip time beyond the slopes. Check mountain access separately rather than treating a Villa La Angostura address as accommodation beside a lift.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Antillanca is among southern Chile's ski destinations, in the Los Lagos region. Give this side of the Andes its own time rather than rushing it into a trip around Santiago's ski areas. The base and mountain approach deserve separate planning.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Caviahue is a mountain destination in Neuquén, with araucaria trees in the landscape around the village. It suits a stay focused on this area. When arranging transport, distinguish arrival in Neuquén city from the onward journey to Caviahue.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
Las Araucarias combines skiing with the volcanic landscape of Llaima and southern Chile's araucaria trees. Distinguish a visit to the wider area from ski-area operation when planning. Mountain photographs show the setting; the daily report tells you what is available on the slopes.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
The Pucón area's ski centre is also known as Centro Pillán. Pucón and the lift base are different locations, so plan accommodation and mountain transport separately. Use the operator's information to arrange the particular day of your visit.
Archival photograph; it does not show current snow or operating conditions.
An Andean ski area above Santiago, with accommodation and mountain facilities around El Colorado.
Compare a mountain stay with a transfer from Santiago. Verify road arrangements and the ticket covering your intended area; neighbouring ski centres should not be assumed to share one pass.
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