The best ski resorts in South America

South America: 12 countries, 433 million people, and boat-loads of summer shredding. Yep, you might not associate that last fact with South America, but trust us: once the snow melts above the equator, this place is a gold mine for fresh pow.

The skiing and snowboarding on offer is next-level. After all, it’s home to the Andes (the world’s longest mountain range), bottomless pow, wild vistas, and insane ski resorts. So, we’ve rounded up the six best ski resorts in South America – from Chile’s capital to Argentina’s most southern point. And after checking them out, you’ll question why South America hasn’t been on your bucket list until now.

Score freshies in June, sip Chilean wine in July, take on Andean descents in August, and salivate over Argentine steaks in September. Oh, and pay way less for a lift ticket than most North American resorts. Win! And, speaking of winning, why not suit up with our new collection of ski pants for men and ski pants for women? Just prepare for South America to charm them off you …

The top 6 ski resorts in South America

Ski Portillo, Chile

Ah, Portillo. South America's oldest ski resort is legendary for its riding and its bright yellow hotel (aptly named the Hotel Portillo!). Okay, the fact it’s known as the ‘cruise ship of the Andes’ might confuse you. But that’s only because the ski-in, ski-out Hotel Portillo has everything you could need like a cruise ship does. This includes a cinema, gym, disco, restaurants, and bars. Oh, and an out-of-this-world view.

The mountain has everything you could need, too. We’re talking about hair-raising steeps and deeps for freeriders and pow hounds, thigh-burning groomers for World Cup racers, and stunning slopes for riders wanting to take things a little easier. You’ll have over 1,200 acres of skiable terrain to play with, in total. And, man, is Portillo awesome on a pow day. You’ll regularly have 25 feet of snow to snorkel in – with zero lift lines or crowds. In fact, you’re only racing for freshies against the other 449 guests of Hotel Portillo. No wonder Warren Miller listed it as one of his favorite ski resorts in the world.

Off-piste and avalanche-savvy riders will call Portillo paradise, too. That’s because there’s ample advanced and expert terrain here. Your mind will boggle at the endless chutes and bowls bursting with that deep pow. Tackle the Super C Couloir, one of the most infamous backcountry lines on the planet, with a 4,331 feet/1,320 meter descent. After that, you’ll want a well-deserved Pisco Sour, right? There’s nowhere better to sup one than in Portillo’s outdoor hot tub and pool, all while basking in one of Chile’s famous fiery sunsets. Don’t forget to swap stories with other riders – they could be regular visitors, such as Chris Davenport or Ingrid Backstrom!

Top tip: Refuel at Tio Bob’s. This is the place for lunch and beer in the sunshine, just off the Plateau chair. And when we say lunch, Tio Bob’s means it. Expect classic Chilean food, such as steaks, sausages, salmon, and burgers. Drooling yet?

Catedral Alta Patagonia, Argentina

Aim for Bariloche in Argentina’s Northern Patagonia region. Here, you’ll discover Catedral Alta Patagonia – also known as Cerro Catedral. And, wow … what a place. It flexes some serious muscle with legendary steeps, such as the Zona La Laguna, insane tree skiing in the Zona Second Lomo, and fun, wide-open groomers (15% beginner, 60% intermediate, 20% advanced, and 5% expert). Don’t forget to check out Panorama, a Red trail from the Nubes chair. It offers stunning views of Lago Nahuel Huapi and the Andes peaks. Oh, and park rats? They can knock themselves out (well, not literally, we hope) in the Triple Park. 

If you’re more into scenery over shredding, you won’t be disappointed. You’ll fill your camera roll with the incredible church-like granite spires on top of the mountain. This gothic touch gives Catedral its name (translating to ‘cathedral’). And if you worship backcountry, Catedral Alta Patagonia also delivers. That’s because over 50% of its 3,000 acres is proper backcountry terrain, full of ungroomed, unpatrolled bliss via short hikes from the chairs. Our fave area is La Laguna (also known as Zona La Laguna and Laguinta). Expect chutes, bowls, and endless pow. You can access the granite towers from here – and take a selfie with the spires. 

Down at the base area, you’ll find tons going on. We’re talking about a proper village with lots of ski-in, ski-out accommodation, restaurants, and super fun après-ski spots (or after-ski as they call it in Argentina!). Plus, the pumping town of Bariloche is only a 25-minute drive away. Here is where the party’s really at. Duck into iconic places, such as Antares (a lively microbrewery) and Roket (a 2,000-person nightclub). Then, bed down for the night (or early morning) at one of Bariloche’s hostels, 5-star hotels, or somewhere in between. 

Top tip: Fork out for a fast pass! It’s well worth it, as Catedral’s lift lines can be monstrous. And, thanks to the Argentine Peso against the US dollar, the pass is often awesome value.

Valle Nevado, Chile

If you’re looking for the ultimate family vacay, take them to Valle Nevado. It’s super convenient to get to, just 35 miles from Santiago, Chile’s capital. It has abundant wide-open trails across 2,300 acres – perfect for all riders. The snow quality is incredible, too. And that’s thanks to Valle Nevado’s high altitude – an eye-watering 12,041 feet/3,670 meters above sea level – southern position, and rad snowmaking facilities. Oh, and 23 feet of snowfall per year!

You have more to play with than just Valle Nevado, though, because it borders La Parva and El Colorado, too. These two ski areas connect with Valle Nevado to form the Tres Valles (Three Valleys). Buy a multi-resort ticket, and you’ll suddenly have a whopping 7,000 acres to ride! You can also use your Mountain Collective or Ikon Pass. Not bad, right? Yep, intermediates and beginners will have their pick of the groomers while off-piste connoisseurs will ‘yew!’ to their heart’s content at the overload of steep chutes, gullies, and bowls. 

Valle Nevado’s ready to impress international riders with its solid infrastructure. That means you’ll find fast lifts alongside a decent choice of accommodation options, bars, six restaurants, a spa and fitness center, and more. Head to the Valle Lounge’s outdoor deck for alfresco après-ski – it’s the style here. You’ll sip on Chilean wine and beer surrounded by one of Valle Nevado’s epic sunsets. That’s our kind of sundowner…

Top tip: More of a park rat than a powderhound? Lock in Valle Nevado! It’s home to the only FIS-approved terrain park in South America! So, you can take flight from its multitude of kickers, rails, boxes, and quarter pipe.

Las Leñas, Argentina

Can you hear that? That’s Las Leñas, the freeskiing mecca, beckoning you to its mountains. This is where you’ll choose your line and charge big 3,000-foot faces, narrow chutes, stomach-churning cliffs, and thigh-quivering terrain – straight from the chair. Yep, 14 lifts whisk you to tons of out-of-bounds, above-the-treeline terrain. 

Legendary Las Leñas is too tempting for advanced, expert, and pro riders (and their film crews) to ignore. It offers the steepest resort riding in the Southern Hemisphere – and makes the likes of Telluride and Jackson Hole look tame. When it’s not super gusty, jump on the famous Marte chair and access acres upon acres of jaw-dropping Andean scenery (39,000 acres, to be exact!) alongside mega freeride lines. If the weather closes in (which can happen regularly), aim for Cenidor off the Caris lift for dreamy 15-mile runs. Alternatively, hit Mercurio and Paraiso, both skier’s left off the Vulcano lift. Not all of Las Leñas is hardcore, though. Intermediates will have their fill with 45% of the terrain marked as Blue and 35% as Red. And powder pups and beginners? They’ll find a multi-lingual ski school and plenty of gentle groomers and learner zones at the base area. 

Las Leñas’s base area is typical of South American ski resorts. For example, there are a few essentials rather than a bustling ‘village’. It’s mellow here, with several hotels, a few restaurants, and two nightlife options. However, who needs unlimited nightlife when you have UFO Point? This institution beams lasers and music from midnight (so, maybe get those naps in) until 4 am! And don’t worry, a morning mate (an Argentine hot drink) will sort out any hangovers…

Top tip: Go with the flow – Argentina style! Yep, you need a certain level of laid-backness to handle Las Leñas. That’s because lifts and amenities within the resort sometimes run on their own schedule, and the power might cut out occasionally. However, that’s just part of the adventure, right? Plus, you don’t travel to Las Leñas for the cookie-cutter US experience. It comes with its own charm – that’s why we 100% rate it. 

Nevados de Chillán, Chile

Want to get off the beaten path? Aim for Nevados de Chillán, a few hundred miles south of Santiago, Chile’s capital. Here, you’ll have buckets of pow to yourself, along with your choice of hot springs. Yep, Nevados de Chillán lies at the base of the active Chillan Volcano, meaning serious post-shred soaks are virtually on tap. 

Plus, with a crazy 33 feet of snow per year, you might think someone left the tap running at Nevados de Chillán. Adventurous riders will go gaga here with chest-deep pow, the iconic ‘Area Freeride’, and some of the world’s top tree riding, backcountry, and ski touring routes (many crafted by ancient lava flows!). Want to reach the top of the Chillan Volcano without skinning up? Jump on the local cat service. The runs down are out of this world. And beginners? There’s the ‘Snowy Forest’ area for gentler schussing. Groomer-loving riders have plenty to dabble in, too, with 40% of Nevados de Chillán’s trails marked Intermediate and 30% Advanced. 

Sleeping slope-side is possible in Nevados de Chillán, however, most riders stay down in Las Trancas, about four miles from the ski resort. Las Trancas is where the locals live – and party. Stay at Onai Hostel for insane volcano views (and a hot tub!). Chopo, a local big mountain skier, owns it. And check out Café & Bar de Montaña Petit Club for signature cocktails and Pizzas and Beers del Valle Las Trancas for live music (and pizzas and beers!). 

Top tip: Take on Las Tres Marias, South America’s longest slope. It’s a whopping eight miles long! Hit by thigh-burn while on it? Just picture those natural hot springs. We dare you to find a better remedy for post-shred aches.

Chapelco, Argentina

Pow hounds and Patagonia? They’re a match made in heaven, especially if you head to Chapelco/Cerro Chapelco near the Patagonian village of San Martín de los Andes (12 miles away). Let them off the leash, and those pow hounds will sniff out tons of cruisey and tricky chutes in Chapelco’s back bowls. But the views will also knock them sideways. Just wait for Chapelco’s jaw-dropping scenery of Lanin, an ice-covered volcano, alongside the icy waters of Lake Lácar.

A lot of the resorts we’ve mentioned so far are above the treeline. However, if you’re pining for pines (well, beech, technically), Chapelco is the place. It offers loads of tree riding in the lower section of the mountain, spread throughout its impressive 3,954 acres. And Chapelco doesn’t market itself as an ‘experts-only’ resort either. In fact, it fairly splits its terrain across all abilities, with 25% of the trails marked for beginners, 25% for intermediates, 30% for advanced riders, and 20% for experts. Mini shredders also have magic carpets and a gentle slope for finding their snow legs.

The only downside of Chapelco is that there’s no on-mountain accommodation. So, you need to stay in San Martin de los Andes and travel to the resort each day. But that means you get to experience two places in one trip! And, man, is San Martin fun with its array of lodgings (from luxury hotels to simple cabins), abundance of chocolate shops, and selection of après-ski bars. Don’t leave without heading to Torino Bar & Bistro for sushi and cocktails, Parador Slonjah for lakeside dining, and Piedra Buena Brewery for craft beer and Happy Hour from 6 to 8.30 pm! 

Top tip: Road trip! As Chapelco is part of the Lakes District of Patagonia, it’s the perfect stop on a multi-day Patagonia ski tour. Sample the goods before moving on to Catedral Alta Patagonia (a 3.5-hour drive away) and La Hoya (a further 5-hour drive).

Wrapping up

Woah. South America sounds like an insane experience, right? Who else can’t wait to go? And don’t forget about the high-altitude opportunities to be had in the likes of Peru and Bolivia, too. We haven’t included these on our list as they no longer have functioning ski resorts. However, our picks throughout Chile and Argentina are enough to satisfy the most serious shredders.

And, speaking of shredders, why not join our Dope Snow Community Facebook Group? It’s full of skiers, snowboarders, and like-minded souls, keen to spread the stoke, help where they can, and post about good times on the hill. Join, say hi, and become part of the Dope crew – it’s quite a ride!

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• Ski clothes men / Ski clothes women
• The 15 best ski movies