Sled Skiing Chile
Sled Skiing Chile offer multi-day sled skiing packages in a snowy region near Santiago de Chile. Sled skiing ie snowmobile accessed skiing, is an efficient way to gain access to virgin snow in the backcountry so you can score plenty of downhill vertical. With Chile sled skiing you don’t have to earn your turns with ski touring or splitboarding, and you don’t have to pay the hefty price associated with heli skiing.
Highlights
- Flexible trip duration from 3 days
- Your experienced guide will cherry pick the best days for skiing/riding during your trip
- Expert snowmobile drivers to take you up the mountain
- Average about 6 to 10 runs per day which equates to about 10,000 vertical feet of skiing/riding.
- A very snowy area in the Chilean Andes.
- Very small groups so plenty of scope to customize the terrain.
- Flexibility to choose lodging standard.
Trip Dates
The sled skiing packages are flexible in duration from 3 to 7 days or more. The season runs from July 1st to October 1st and the trips don’t have set arrival and departure dates. During your stay the guides can cherry pick the best weather windows to get out there.
The sample pricing is for the flagship multi-day package of 7 nights with 5 full days of sled skiing, staying at mountain lodges twin-share, and based on a minimum of 2 guests. Please get in touch for pricing for your requirements of preferred trip duration and lodging.
Alternatively you can book a pay per day session.
If you want to check availability or have any other questions
please get in touch.
Location
The skiing and riding takes place high in the Andes of Chile in the Cajón del Maipo region in LaEngorda, Carreno, and Parque Arenas. The Chilean mecca of mountaineering Cajon del Maipo is part of the Santiago Metropolitan Region and about 100km southeast of central Santiago. The lodging is within the small village of Lo Valdés.
Airport transfers are provided as part of the package, along with other ground transportation.
Groups
The sled skiing packages can be for your private group or the trips can be mixed group trips. Solo travelers are welcome to apply and Sled Skiing Chile will do their best to match you with others of similar ability level and objectives.
Terrain
Each session averages 6 to 10 runs, delivering 10,000 feet (3,050 metres) of vertical skiing/riding. Whilst the snowmobiles will do all or most of the uphill work, you’ve also got the option to boot up steep couloirs when the conditions are right.
There are different zones that can be selected each day depending on the localized snow stability, the weather, and road access, plus group objectives.
Terrain spans from mellow powder rolling hills to steep couloirs (blue to double-black diamond). The terrain can be customized entirely to your pace and skill level. The minimum ability level is strong intermediate.
Sled Skiing Chile operates in teams of 2 snowmobiles and can take 2 to 4 people per session. The unique structure utilizes multiple snowmobile pilots on a rotating schedule rather than a fixed staff, allowing the team to add more snowmobiles with drivers to meet demand, and split groups effectively if there is a significant disparity in skill, ensuring everyone rides terrain suited to their level without pressure.
Snowmobiles
Your uphill access will be powered by cutting-edge Polaris RMK 850 and Ski-Doo 850 sleds. These are high-performance big mountain sleds setup specifically for customer and equipment transport.
Safety
Sled Skiing Chile have various backcountry safety protocols and enforce strict professional standards. Many of these protocols were pioneered by the team in Valdez Alaska, who are leaders in the industry.
The guides hold active Wilderness First Responder (WFR) medical certifications and American Avalanche Association PRO 1 credentials.
Lodging & Meals
See the lodging tab for more information.
The sample pricing is based on twin-share occupancy in the mountain lodge or you can upgrade to other options for lodging. Lodgings are located in Lo Valdés, a remote mountain area with stunning views of the San José Volcano. Lo Valdés is a small village with local bars that offer authentic mountain atmosphere.
Refugio Alemán is a historic mountain lodge with 12 equipped guest rooms.
The premium Lodge El Morado Lo Valdés includes a spa, heated indoor pool and sauna. Guest rooms have an ensuite bathroom.
For larger groups, cabanas are a good option.
All properties have heating, mountain views, communal lounges, and onsite dining with traditional regional cuisine.
A hearty breakfast is provided to fuel you for a big day in the mountains.
Weather & Down Days
Situated strategically in front of the Pacific Ocean, the Central Andes receives regular snow falls that are often followed by blue sky mornings. Naturally the weather doesn’t always play ball and there is the potential for down days, which is why the flexibility of the package is key.
On down days you may wish to relax at the natural hot springs at Termas Valle de Colina. Wine tasting is another option as the village is just an hour from the Maipo Valley's famous vineyards such as Santa Rita and Concha y Toro. Or other local exploration options include a visit to the Cascada de las Ánimas nature sanctuary, the traditional mountain village of San José de Maipo, or horseback riding.