Chile offers some of the best ski resorts in the southern hemisphere. The sight onto the impressive mountain and volcano summits which are up to 6,000 meters (19,685 ft) high is always worth the journey. In central Chile as well as in Patagonia you will find ski resorts worth your while.
In the vicinity of only 100 kilometers around the Chilean capital of Santiago you will find lots of ski resorts such as La Parva or Valle Nevado which form together with El Colorado the skiing association Tres Valles. With more than 175 kilometers of trails it is the largest skiing region in the southern hemisphere. One of the most famous areas for winter sport activities is Portillo which lies north of Santiago. Its history reaches all the way back to the 1930s and is known to be the oldest ski resort in South America.
In the South of Chile, in Patagonia, there are numerous other ski resorts – most of which now lie on ancient volcanoes. There you might witness a very special nature spectacle. Sometimes the ash and lava form very cool and very natural half pipes.
Reaching Chile is easiest by plane. You will have to make a stopover in either Amsterdam or in the US before continuing to Chile.