Industry News
The best part about the end of the North American ski season is the start of the South American winter. The ideal year for any skier is splitting time between hemispheres to get as much snow as possible.
The most expensive part is getting onto the continent–flights are notoriously pricy. Once you’re down there, quality cheap buses, plentiful hostels, and affordable lift tickets make South American skiing doable. The Andes, the mountains sandwiched between Argentina and Chile, are the best options.
Santiago, Chile, is the best bet. A bustling city that is full of affordable hostels, bus terminals, nightclubs, and ski shuttles. Good news and bad news: The good news is that four incredible resorts —La Parva, Valle Nevado, El Colorado, and Portillo —lie about 70 minutes (90 minutes for Portillo) from the city. The bad news is that accommodations near the resorts are quite pricey. Fortunately, there are several shuttle services, my favorite being SkiTotal, that serve the ski areas daily.
Lift tickets are affordable, too. Up to 25% off at Valle Nevado just for using a Visa card to pay, student discounts at the rest if you can prove it, and Valle Nevado is a part of the Ikon Pass. From Santiago, it is also very easy (and cheap) to catch buses south for more skiing. Stay and ski near several lush hot springs at Nevados de Chillan, shred on an active volcano at Ski Pucón, or head just over the border to Bariloche to ski Cerro Catedral, Argentina.
Bariloche, Argentina, a town named one of the world’s top ski destinations, boasts numerous craft breweries, traditional Argentinian parrillas, and stunning Patagonian views. Many affordable hostels, the town’s favorite being Hospedaje Penthouse, and a US$3 bus to the ski resort make it a must-visit destination. Additionally, inflation in Argentina makes many things relatively affordable.
Bottom line: if you can catch a cheap flight, the cost of living is relatively low, and the terrain is fantastic.
