Portillo
Portillo Ski Resort ChileThe Portillo ski resort in Chile is world renowned. It was put on the map in 1966 when it became the first South American resort to host the World Skiing Championships. The notoriety further increased when the 200km per hour speed barrier was broken in 1978 at Portillo. The ski resort continues to be famous amongst expert skiers who visit Portillo for the amazingly steep slopes.
Most skiers have seen photos of the bright yellow
Hotel Portillo with the magnificent backdrop of the snow covered Andes. Or if they haven’t seen a photo, they’ve at least seen the Warren Miller movie “Journey” (2003) where some crazy dudes practice their ski jumping into the hotel swimming pool. Warren Miller loved Portillo so much that the resort has been included in his list of the top 10 ski resorts in the world. So Portillo must be pretty special!
It’s not just the historic yellow hotel that makes Portillo unique, although this is the centre of the culture of this boutique ski resort. With limited
Portillo accommodation on-mountain, it feels like a private club and this exclusivity provides benefits such as no lift lines and more fresh tracks. The spectacular setting of Portillo is also a major draw card. Stunning views are afforded by the combination of the craggy peaks of the towering Andes Mountains, the emerald waters of Laguna del Inca, and the steep snow-covered slopes. The views definitely transcend anything you’d see at
Lake Louise.
Portillo Ski and Snowboard Terrain
The treeless
Portillo ski terrain is a combination of long groomed runs and big mountain skiing. There are trails for all ability levels, but it caters particularly well to the advanced rider with plenty of steep slopes. In-bounds there are only 500 hectares of terrain, but for experts, Portillo also has an abundance of backcountry areas that can be traversed or hiked to. As a result of the traversing and flat spots, skiing is more popular than snowboarding.
Some of the expert runs are so steep and avalanche prone that they are serviced by the unique “va et vient” lifts (aka slingshot), which are like 4 to 5 person poma lifts, but much more efficient. They also have standard chair lifts and other surface tows.
Portillo Snow Conditions
The average annual snowfall at Portillo is 7.4 metres (about 25 feet). The snow storms are typically short and intense, and are followed by bluebird days when the spectacular vistas can be fully appreciated.
As a result of the location and elevation, the quality of the powder is sometimes dry and the riding is unbelievably fantastic. At other times the snow quality is second-rate, and various runs are either undesirable or closed.
Where is Portillo?
Portillo sits amidst the high Andes peaks including the nearby Aconcagua, the highest mountain on the continent. It’s really close to the border of Argentina, and 164km (about 100 miles) northeast of
Santiago (about 2 hours drive). From the Santiago airport, there are shuttles that operate on Saturdays and other private transport operators for other days. Alternatively you can hire a car and self-drive. The road to Portillo is sometimes closed during and after storms, so you might need to have contingency plans.
See our
getting to Portillo page for more information.
Portillo Accommodation
Portillo has the ultimate ski in ski out accommodation at almost 10,000 feet. Lodging is limited to only 450 beds across three standards of accommodations. This includes shared dorms at the Inca backpackers lodge, Octagon Lodge shared rooms, or hotel rooms at the yellow
Portillo Hotel.
Typically the accommodation arrangements consist of stays from Saturday to Saturday, and are full board which includes four meals a day and lift tickets.
There are a few day trippers who stay in Los Andes, but most visitors make the most of the full Portillo holiday experience.
Facilities
There is no town at Portillo and the ski resort facilities are mainly contained within the hotel building. As such, it is self-contained and has been likened to a cruise ship. Guests eat together in the dining room, and other facilities include a bar, a disco, gym, cinema and the infamous outdoor pool and jacuzzi. There are about as many staff as guests, so the service feels very personalised and attentive, particularly in the dining room.
Culture and Language
Portillo caters incredibly well to the international tourist, and as such it’s very popular with gringoes (ie the North Americans). Owned by the Purcell family who are originally from New York, the ski runs are even rated according to the US and Canada system, as opposed to other Chile ski resorts that have the European rating system that has red runs.
Communication at Portillo is much easier for Anglophones than at any other ski resort in South America. English is spoken very widely amongst the guests and some of the staff speak English. Signage around the resort is in both English and Spanish, and dining menus are also in English and Spanish.
The downside of Portillo being “little North America” is that it loses some of the real culture of Chile. To make up ground, they ensure that dining hours align with South American culture. For those not used to the tradition of eating late, starting dinner at 9:30pm can be a killer. You might need a siesta and pre-dinner snacks.
Any reduction in Chilean culture is more than made up for with the great service and communication, and the incredibly social culture present in Portillo. This is definitely the place to meet new amigos (and amigas).
Why Ski or Snowboard at Portillo Chile?
Portillo is a great place to get away from it all. You can meet new ski friends, enjoy the challenging slopes, and party hard. And if the resort isn’t spectacular and breathtaking enough for you, you can take it even higher by going heli skiing or heli boarding.
And considering Warren Miller is a fan of Portillo, he would say something like "if you don't do it this year, you'll just be one year older when you do."
Portillo potentially offers the
best skiing in Chile. Portillo has won multiple Powderhounds.com awards for the best South America skiing for:
- Ski resort for powderhounds
- Overall quality of resort
- Steeps
- Backcountry
- Best uncrowded slopes
- Nightlife
- Best evening dining on-mountain
Portillo Tour Operators, Packages & Tours
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Santiago Adventures - 5 resorts in 7 days
Thsi has to be the cheapest ski tour in Chile considering what is on offer. Includes 2 days of aat skiing at Arpa. Transfers, accommodation, nearly all meals & more...
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Ski, Wine Tasting & San Pedro - 10 Days
Combine skiing at 3 of Chile's top ski destinations including a day of cat skiing with a tour of Chile's central & northern region. Wine, natural wonders and unforgettable vistas.
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Arpa Express - Portillo Extension
The great way to finish off a week at Portillo and maximise your ski time in Chile. Stay an extra night en-route to Santiago Airport and ski 10,000+ vertical feet with Arpa Cat Skiing.
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Travel Agents
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Santiago Adventures - Request a Quote
SA is an English speaking travel company based in Santiago with a particular passion for skiing. They can customise a package for you to all of Chile's top ski resorts as well as cat skiing & heli skiing tours.
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