SOUTH AMERICA SKI - TAILOR MADE
Zekeseven Adventure design exclusive and amazing tailor-made ski trips across the Andes: Heliskiing, skiing at Portillo, Valle Nevado, Las Leñas, Ushuaia with our without guide. Freeriding, ski touring. Our expert guides will plan the best trip for you. Feel free to contact us to live your dreams!!
The resorts:
Portillo
Portillo Ski Resort is located in the heart of the Chilean Central Andes a bit less than 2 hours from the Santiago airport and minutes away from the Argentinean border. The road climbing the mountains is an international connection between the two contries an it is kept open almost all the time. Even when big storms hit the Andes the road will be cleared in only a few hours. Based on its altitude and location the snow here is among the best in the world. Powder is deep, dry and light and there is an average of 80% of sunny days. Portillo is a high resort with its lowest skiable point located at 8,234 ft. and its summit at 10,898 ft. One of the main highlights of this area is the nearby Monte Aconcagua – the highest peak in the Americas - reaching 22,841 ft. The views from the road and from a helicopter are just breathtaking.
La Parva
La Parva is one the Three Valleys of the Andes resorts. Located only 50 km away from Santiago airport the access to this ski area is almost the same as the one to Valle Nevado and El Colorado. The road splits at the small town of Farellones and after a couple of miles you first get to El Colorado and finally to the small village of La Parva. The resort is usually related to wealthy Santiago families that own their condos and spend many weekends and holidays here. This is the main reason why weekends at La Parva may get a bit crowded – only a bit as when there are lines waiting time may go to 5-10 minutes at the most. This really special ski area is located high in the Andes setting its base at 2,670 meters and reaching its highest lift-accessed point at 3,630 meters. As it faces west the views of the mountains and Santiago on a clear day are fantastic.
2/3 of the mountain is intermediate-advanced featuring long and wide groomed trails. No wonder why many local ski racing teams train here. Regarding off-piste terrain La Parva offers great fun options right next to the marked trails. Hikes to the classic La Chimenea chute – narrow rocky couloir – or La Parva and Falsa Parva peaks are right there too. If you are willing to earn your turns La Parva will deliver. Keep in mind La Parva is connected to the ski resorts of Valle Nevado and El Colorado through a lift link system. Check operation schedules for connecting lifts.
Termas de Chillan
lying in the southern Andes on the slopes of the Chillán volcano, this resort offers a good variety of ski terrain and beautiful views. Travelers arrive from Santiago via train or plane. The unique feature of this resort is its natural outdoor thermal pools, a luxurious spa, and a casino; the resort is also the only ski center in Chile that has a neighboring town, Las Trancas. Termas shines for its fantastic backcountry terrain for advanced and intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
Las Leñas
Las Lenas is definitely the most important ski resort in Argentina. It is located in the province of Mendoza and the scenery here in amazing. Surrounded by the Central Andes high peaks – easily reaching 16,000 ft. – Las Lenas is a real desert area where skiing and snowboarding happens all above tree line. Based on location and altitude the snow conditions here are excellent. As it is a pretty high resort – base is located at 11,200 ft. – the snow remains dry for days.
When it comes to terrain Las Lenas features the best and most challenging one in all South America. The combination of on-piste, inbounds off-piste and backcountry areas make this resort a world class destination. For those looking for deep powder and advanced-expert – hardcore too – terrain Las Lenas features the largest lift-accesses off-piste terrain in the Andes with more than 200,000 acres. From wide open bowls to crazy-narrow chutes the options are endless.
Cerro Cathedral
Cerro Catedral Ski Resort is the most traditional ski area in the Andes. As the first ski resort in operation – it was founded in 1939 – this place set the standard for skiing in South America being today the most developed resort with 40 lifts and 120 km of groomed trails. It is located in northern Patagonia only minutes away from the beautiful city of Bariloche. Known as the Argentinean Switzerland Bariloche and the Lake District are unforgettable featuring lakes, forests, volcanoes and a trully unique arquitecture. Also several flights a day connect this city with Buenos Aires. As the resort base altitude is not really high for the area – 1,030 mts. – snowmaking facilities have been installed in recent years and several new lifts are serving more efficiently the upper part of the mountain. As a lower resort than the ones located at the Central Andes the snow here is sometimes a bit more humid and heavy but the skiing is fantastic as well. The views of the Gutierrez and Nahuel Huapi lakes from the slopes are nothing but amazing.
Cerro Castor
Cerro Castor is the southernmost ski resort in the world. Located in the province of Tierra del Fuego and 26 km away from the city of Ushuaia this 10-year old resort offers excellent snow conditions, brand new lifts, superb on-mountain services and incredible vistas of the Patagonian Andes. For a mid-size ski resort Cerro Castor features a really good vertical drop of almost 2,500 vertical feet. This is even more than Alta in Utah. The runs here are carefully groomed and thanks to a dry snow and modern equipment the grooming here is sometimes better than many other ski areas in South America.
BOOKING
To book this trip, please fill the booking request form or simply contact us by e-mail booking@zekeseven.com
