  Skiing in Chile began with the building of the Trans-Andean railway from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires around the turn of the century. As no roads accessed Uspallata pass, near the present-day resort of Portillo, the Norwegian and British engineers and workers contracted to build the railway were forced to ascend (and descend!) on skis. Since then skiing spread quickly and today's Chilean ski resorts have enhanced their services and infrastructure to world-class levels. Storms and clearing high-pressure systems are large and powerful, producing periods of heavy snow followed by perfectly blue skies. As always in Chile, conditions from north to south vary dramatically. The ski areas in Central Chile are the highest and best equipped, and though their seasons are normally shorter than areas in the south, the snow is lighter and the skies more consistently sunny. The ski areas listed here offer a wide range of skier services, including a range of accommodations and dining, ski rentals and lessons, snowboard parks, childcare, ice skating, and so on. As a general rule, the season here lasts from late June to early October, though conditions vary greatly from year to year. All inclusive ski weeks are excellent options for foreign visitors. |
