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Brought to you by Valle Nevado, Chile
After two seasons of Covid-related pandemic events, the best skiing and riding in the southern hemisphere is again open to skiers from all over the globe from June 17th until September 18th. Here is why Chile’s ski and snowboard capital is THE place to be this summer.
The Endless Winter lives in the beautiful Andes Mountains at Valle Nevado. Valle Nevado is South America’s most modern resort, located just 90 minutes east of Santiago at 10,000 feet and spread along the spine of a dramatic mountain ridge, offering spectacular 360-degree views. The resort is known for its wide-open terrain, world-class heli-skiing, and snow quality, which is the best of any Chilean resort due to its altitude, southern orientation, and extensive snowmaking system. An interconnect ticket, when purchased separately, opens access to two neighboring resorts for a staggering 7,000 total acres of terrain.
The resort is entirely above treeline and is a mix of expertly groomed runs and natural, rolling terrain and gullies, with a dedicated beginner’s learning area. The terrain is almost evenly divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced, with a vast side country that is easily hiked and a terrain park and boardercross run. As a whole, the mountain skis bigger than its 2,200 acres might imply. In the resort’s back bowl area, the highest lift, Ancla, hits 12,040 feet in altitude, dropping into a spectacular valley that makes skiers and riders truly feel as if they are in the heart of the Andes. This area of the resort, the “Inca Valley,” was given its name due to a 1,000-year-old Incan mummy found here in the 1950s, and certainly, a mystical aura is very perceptible when out doing runs in the area.
Valle Nevado: A Full-Service Ski Destination. A friendly, relaxed ambiance, delicious global cuisine, outstanding Chilean wine, entertaining après ski scene, and parties that last well into the night at the Tres Puntas Pub keep guests happy off the slopes. When lifts close at 5 pm, it’s off to the heated pool where visitors experience Valle’s legendary sunsets with a frosty pisco sour cocktail and DJ music. Other off-slope activities include a fitness center and spa, kid’s entertainment center, cinema, live music, and daily planned activities such as the resort’s weekly torchlight parade.
The Valle Nevado complex includes three modern hotels sold as a package that includes breakfast and dinner and lift tickets, and private condominiums rentals booked as lodging only. The deluxe Hotel Valle Nevado is ski-in/ski-out, the Hotel Puerta del Sol is great for families, groups, and mid-range budgets, and the Tres Puntas hotel is ideal for budget travelers. Each hotel is packed with amenities and an on-site restaurant, lounges, and bars.
Valle Nevado is in many ways like a ‘summer camp’ for big names in skiing and snowboarding. Each year the resort hosts national and Olympic teams from Austria, the USA, Canada, Norway, Italy, etc. It’s not uncommon to hop on a chairlift with one of the most famous faces in skiing and snowboarding because every well-known name pays a visit in late July and August.
Heli-skiing in Valle Nevado Ski Resort – Chile
Adventure, adrenaline, and spectacular views are part of the Valle Nevado heli-ski experience. An AS 350 B3 helicopter leaves directly from the resort and takes skiers to elevations of up to 14,500 feet, where pristine snow awaits, offering vertical drops of 5,000 to 7,000 feet – unusually long for a helicopter ski operation but common in the Andes Mountains. Depending on conditions, participants can book 2, 3, or 4 runs per day.
Tickets & Passes (Ikon and Mountain Collective)
Ikon Pass: Ikon Pass holders receive seven days of lift tickets, five days of tickets with the Base Pass, and four days with the 4-day pass. Because Valle Nevado’s hotel packages include lift tickets, guests receive a 10% discount on the total package price for the number of nights that correspond with each pass category. The discount can be combined with any other promotional offer or discount. There are no blackout dates with any Ikon Pass at Valle Nevado. The Ikon Pass may be used at Valle Nevado within one calendar year of purchase.
Mountain Collective Pass: Passholders of The Mountain Collective receive two free lift tickets per season or 15% off hotel packages that include lift tickets. Premium pass holders (unrestricted passes) at participating Mountain Collective resorts receive a 50% discount on lift tickets at Valle Nevado. The Mountain Collective pass may be used at Valle Nevado within one calendar year of purchase.
