The Best South America Ski Resorts

Here are our choices for the Best South America Ski Resorts.

In South America you will experience summer skiing for mid-June to the first of October. The major ski areas are situated along the eastern slopes of the Andes mountains and the further south you go, the longer the season will be. 

Our criteria for the Best South America Resorts gives greater consideration to: annual snow fall, vertical rise, facilities/amenities, and scenery.

Las Lenas, Argentina
Trails: Beginner 10%: Intermediate 23%; Expert 67%
Adult daily lift ticket: $61 (July-August 2008), Annual snow fall: 250 inches, Vertical drop: 3,897ft.
Las Lenas is the largest ski area in Argentina with 16 ski lifts and 40 miles of ski trails that are as high as 11,250 feet above sea level. It is also home to the best steep skiing in South America, and has a variety wide beginner and low intermediate runs, awesome scenery, and a lively nightlife. There are plenty of groomed runs for low intermediates and below. There are no trees and you will be unable to ski most of the area, especially at the top, while it is snowing. The season runs from mid-June to the end of September. The language spoken is mostly Spanish and little English.

Portillo, Chile
Trails: Beginner 15%: Intermediate 35%; Expert 50%
Adult daily lift ticket: $CP28,500, US$58.71 (July-August 2008), Annual snow fall: 255 inches, Vertical drop: 2,664ft., Ski able acres: 1235 acres
Skiing at this world class area begins above the tree line at a base elevation of over 9,400 feet and with 400 inches of snow, you will find some of the best dry powder skiing in the world. They have skiing for all levels of skiers over 30 ski trails served by 14 lifts. This area is known for it's desolate moon-like landscape of rock and snow, low humidity and the some of the driest powder in the world. The season runs from mid-June to the end of September.

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