Ski Portillo Opens With More Than 12 Feet of Snow

Portillo is the most popular ski resort in South America and is located in the Valparaiso Region of the Andes Mountains of Chile, near the border of Argentina. Depending on the weather and traffic, it takes about two and a half hours to get there from Santiago Airport. Usually, the Ski Portillo resort is open from late June through early October. However, early-season monster dumps allowed Portillo to start spinning its lifts on June 1. Hotel Portillo will open for guest stays on June 26.

Portillo Snow Report

By the end of May, Portillo had been blanketed by nearly six feet of fresh snow, giving it a good head start. Getting accurate snow reports for this region can be challenging, but based on the current data we’ve been able to cull, the base depth is at roughly five feet and growing. According to OpenSnow , 61 inches have fallen in the last five days. A third major snowstorm is expected this week and forecasters are predicting more than 110 inches of new snow will fall on Portillo’s slopes during the storm cycle. Portillo’s base sits at an elevation of 9,350 feet, and it’s entirely above treeline, so when it snows, it sticks around for a long while (read: powder for days). During periods of low snowfall, there’s still plenty of snow to swoosh around.

Portillo Ski Resort Stats

Portillo is known for its world-class beginner-to-expert terrain and intimate vibe with seldom a lift line. There are 13 lifts spread across 1,253 acres of skiable terrain. It has three quads, one triple, one double, three Pomas, four Va-et-vients (aka slingshots), and one magic carpet. 15 percent of Portillo’s terrain is beginner-friendly, 30 percent is intermediate, 30 percent is advanced, and 25 percent is expert-only. It offers a vertical drop of 2,745 feet and 35 runs. The average snowfall at Portillo ranges from 59 to 64 inches from June to September. Historically, the snowiest week in Portillo is the second week of July. Temperatures swing from 23 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Lift tickets are included in lodging packages for guests of Hotel Portillo, but visitors can come for the day and purchase an adult day ticket for $47 to $62, depending on high or low-season pricing.

Va-et-Vients Slingshot Lifts

From the French for come-and-go, the Va-et-Vient lifts, colloquially called slingshots are an adventure in their own right and are unique to Chile. These steep rope tows were designed by the French chairlift engineering company Poma and are made to carry skiers and snowboarders via pulley cables up steep avalanche terrain using four or five-person side-by-side disc seats attached to steel bars. Avalanche terrain makes ski towers and unloading stations too risky so this innovation is a workaround that enables skiers and riders to access advanced terrain. Portillo has four slingshot lifts: CaraCara (2,283 feet), Roca Jack (2,162 feet), Condor (1,184 feet), and Las Vizcachas (1,179 feet). These contraptions move at 10 feet per second, have a carrying capacity of 150 people per hour, and take from 2 to 4 minutes to complete. It feels a bit cumbersome, akin to waterskiing alongside three or four other people. You have to steer as a group up steep, bumpy snow while simultaneously keeping the disc between your legs with your arms slightly bent, yet firmly gripping the bar. It’s not for everyone, however, taking the slingshots is the best way to access the steep and deep terrain available from the top of these lifts. For expert-level skiers and snowboarders, there’s plenty of side-country skiing with or without bootpacking, and the slingshots make lapping these areas much more reasonable.

Portillo Heli-Skiing

While staying at Portillo, you can take advantage of the heli-skiing program. Like everywhere else, heli-skiing is subject to daily conditions and the number of guests who have booked a spot. You won’t be skiing down nearby Aconcagua, but you might get to see its peak from the helicopter. The trips are priced per run so you can heli-ski all day or just for one run. The first run starts at $480 and each subsequent run costs $240.

Lessons and Rentals

Both group and private lessons are available every day for all ages and levels. Guests can choose lessons from one hour to a full day. Portillo also offers weekly ski camps, that allow skiers to improve their techniques by staying with the same group and instructor for the entire week. Led by ski school director and all-around ace Katie White, the talented instructors hail from North America, South America, Asia, and Europe and speak many languages. Guests can also hire a ski guide to show them around the mountains and share the secrets of the slopes.

Daily and weekly ski and snowboard rentals for adults and kids are available through the ski rental shop in the hotel. They have skis, boots, poles, snowboards, and other basics, but if you’re picky about your gear, you should plan to bring your own. You can expect to pay $35 per day or $226 per week for basic skis, boots, and poles, or boards and boots.

In our next article, we’ll cover all the details you need to know about Portillo lodging, dining, flights, special weeks, and deals.

Related: What It's Like to Ski in Portillo Right Now