Endless Winter at Ski Portillo in Chile

There’s no need to yearn for winter snow after the ski season is over when you can spend all summer in the Southern Hemisphere at Ski Portillo in Chile. Just a couple hours’ drive into the Andes from Santiago, the historic ski resort can keep your winter dreams alive until it’s time for the fat flakes to start piling up near your home mountain.

The resort’s variety of accommodations includes the hotel (with doubles, suites and family apartments), the Octagon Lodge (bunk-bed rooms with private baths for groups of four) and the Inca Lodge (hostel-style living). All hotel rooms have private bathrooms and views of either Laguna del Inca or the mountains and valley below Portillo. Reservations run Saturday to Saturday, and a ski week at Portillo includes seven nights’ lodging, four meals per day (breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner), and lift tickets.

Rates for the week at Portillo begin at $800 at the Inca Lodge, $1,190 at the Octagon Lodge and $1,790 at the hotel. Aside from the style of accommodation, the main difference between the three is that Inca Lodge guests eat in the self-service cafeteria, while hotel and Octagon Lodge guests eat in the hotel’s main dining room.

For those who can’t completely unplug when they travel, the hotel has Wi-Fi in common areas, such as the living room and various seating areas on each floor’s landing.

Portillo’s all-inclusive complimentary offerings also include use of the pool and hot tubs (perfect for après ski), the fitness center, gymnasium, yoga classes, cinema, game room, children’s activities, daycare center (complimentary for children 3 to 7 years old), disco bar, as well as ski and boot check.

While skilled skiers will appreciate the expert runs, off-piste terrain and heli-skiing opportunities, you don’t need to be an expert to appreciate skiing or snowboarding at Portillo. After a long break of 15 years, I skied all the Intermediate and Intermediate/Advanced runs during my stay. There are also a handful of options for beginners, and the Portillo Ski & Snowboard School instructors are ready to help skiers and boarders of all levels.

When the ski day is over, enjoy a leisurely meal in the dining room, spend some down time enjoying a pisco sour in the bar, or hang out with friends and family in the living room. Truly an old-school ski resort, Ski Portillo ensures that you can’t help but unwind during your time in the Andes.

See more at the official website for Ski Portillo.

Article and photos by Jill K. Robinson of Danger Jill Robinson.

I was a guest of Ski Portillo during my stay in Portillo.