Industry News
The 2025-26 ski season is a little more than five months away for most people living in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the start of June means skiing south of the equator is just about to begin. Typically, ski resorts in South America open in the first week to the second week of June, depending on the weather. Some ski resorts have already announced their opening date for the season, while others are still waiting or have had to postpone season opening. Recent storms have, however, helped the situation, and many have announced opening dates for this coming week.
Winter is just getting started in South America, and more ski resorts will soon announce opening dates. SnowBrains will update the opening dates and provide the latest ski news for ski resorts in South America. Here’s a list of ski resorts that have announced their opening date or that are already open, sorted by opening date:
Valle Nevado, Chile: Friday, June 13
Just 90 minutes from Santiago, Valle Nevado rises nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, boasting over 2,200 skiable acres, panoramic alpine vistas, and some of the most consistent snowfall in the Southern Hemisphere. Last year, the resort saw a record 23 feet of snow, and with upgraded lift infrastructure, expanded beginner terrain, and elevated on-mountain dining and guest services, 2025 is poised for another exceptional season. Valle Nevado kicked off the season in South America last weekend, with currently 35 inches of snow depth, and is operating 19 runs and 12 lifts.
Cerro Catedral, Argentina: June 14
For 80 years, Cerro Catedral has been an icon of Bariloche, Patagonia, and Argentina. It is located in Huapi National Park, a World Heritage Site since 1981, on the Andes mountain range. It is one of the most visited cities in Patagonia. Cerro offers a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy, with 58 trails serviced by 27 lifts.
Cerro Bayo Ski Boutique, Argentina: June 18
Cerro Bayo is a small resort in Patagonia with 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of ski runs serviced by 11 lifts. The resort opened for pedestrians and snowplay on June 7, while skiers and boarders have to wait until this Wednesday, June 18.
Nevados de Chillán, Chile: June 18
Considered one of Chile’s best ski resorts, it offers 28 trails, totaling 22 miles (35 kilometres), and almost 24,710 acres (10,000 hectares) of skiable terrain (lift-served area is 2,720 acres [1,100 hectares]). The resort has nine lifts (one triple chair, three double chairs, and five drag lifts). The resort announced on June 14 that, thanks to recent snowfall, it will open this coming Wednesday.
El Colorado, Chile: Thursday, June 19
El Colorado is popular for its snow parks and has hosted numerous national and international freestyle circuits. However, it is even more popular for its easy and convenient access to one of the best backcountry playgrounds in South America, Santa Teresa. In 2013, the Freeride World Tour showcased the imposing and steep pitches that the Santa Teresa mountain range offers, featuring incredible chutes to hit and rocks to jump.
Corralco, Chile: June 19
Corralco Mountain & Ski Resort is located 90 minutes from Temuco, in the Malalcahuello National Reserve. It offers a skiable area of over 4,448 acres (1,800 hectares) with 29 groomed runs that span 25 kilometers (16 miles). The ski resort is serviced by six ski lifts: four surface lifts (El Cruce, El Jardín, Cumbre, and Navidad) and two chair lifts (La Cornisa and El Volcán). Towering over the resort is the Lonquimay volcano, which last erupted on Christmas Day 1988, earning it the nickname “Navidad.” It is the place to go for skiers looking for a truly unique experience.
La Parva, Chile: June 20
La Parva is nestled in the heart of the Andes Mountains, at an altitude of 9,022 feet (2,750 meters) and less than an hour from Santiago. This year, La Parva announced it is making improvements to the Alpha, Águilas, and Fabres chairlifts to increase dependability and ensure more consistent operations across key mountain areas. In addition, La Parva is also investing in expanded snowmaking coverage, enabling top-to-bottom skiing on the Alpha chairlift, enhancing early- and late-season conditions at a key access zone for La Parva’s terrain.
Ski Portillo, Chile: June 21
Ski Portillo is renowned for its world-class ski slopes and short or non-existent ski lift lines, giving guests the feeling of skiing at their private resort away from crowds. The ski resort offers a variety of terrain, ranging from beginner to expert slopes. Portillo offers 1,235 acres of skiable terrain. Beginner and intermediate ski slopes are groomed nightly and are the perfect learning ground for skiers to improve their skills. Portillo’s advanced and expert terrain is renowned for its bowls and chutes that can accumulate soft snow, making it the perfect playground for advanced skiers.
Cerro Castor, Argentina: Friday, June 27
Cerro Castor is an outstanding ski resort located on the southern slope of Cerro Krund, 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Ushuaia, in the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego. It stands out for being the southernmost ski center in the world. Cerro Castor is known for its excellent snow quality. It features 32 slopes covering approximately 30 skiable kilometers (19 miles), with slopes ranging from different levels of difficulty: nine green, four blue, nine red, and four black. It also has 12 lifts, including five quad chairlifts, three ski lifts, and four chairlifts, with a transport capacity of up to 9,500 people per hour.
Las Lenas, Argentina: TBD (usually opens the last week in June)
Las Leñas is located in the Andes Mountains, 750 miles (1,200 kilometres) from Buenos Aires. Its base is 7,349 feet (2,240 meters) above sea level, and its summit is 11,253 feet (3,430 meters). Usually, Las Lenas is open mid to late June, but this year the resort had to postpone its season opening, stating that “Valle de Las Leñas S.A. has decided to postpone the start date of the ski/snowboard season.” The resort assured that it will announce a date “as soon as conditions permit.”
