Valle Nevado, Farellones, El Colorado, La Parva or Portillo: which to pick (kids, beginners or just seeing snow)
Five resorts near Santiago and a simple rule to pick yours: who is going, what level they are and whether they will ski or just see snow.
The prices on this page are the ones on the cards, which show the live value. The values loaded today are for the 2026 season; the 2027 season will be confirmed, and the card always wins.
The five resorts are 36 to 50 km from Santiago (El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado) or more than 150 km (Portillo), and the choice changes with <strong>who is going</strong>. Short answer: <strong>kids and first-timers</strong>, El Colorado and Farellones; <strong>intermediate level</strong>, La Parva; <strong>more technical skiing and a hotel on the mountain</strong>, Valle Nevado; <strong>just seeing snow</strong>, Farellones or the Panoramic trip; <strong>high-mountain scenery in a day</strong>, Portillo. One fact almost nobody writes: the lift ticket is not in any of the brand's packs and is bought at the resort itself.
Rule: kid or first time, El Colorado. Middle ground, La Parva. Harder runs and a hotel at the foot of the slopes, Valle Nevado. Just looking, Farellones, the Panoramic or Portillo.
The five resorts side by side
- El Colorado — 36 km from Santiago; almost half of the piste kilometres are easy; ski and snowboard school for kids aged 4 to 8
- Farellones — on the same mountain as El Colorado; has a snow park for people who do not ski
- La Parva — 50 km from Santiago; elevations between about 2,650 and 3,570 m; school with private and group lessons plus a mini school
- Valle Nevado — 46 km from Santiago; elevations between about 2,860 and 3,670 m; most runs are intermediate or difficult; hotels on the mountain itself
- Portillo — more than 150 km away, about 2 hours by road; top near 3,300 m; limited number of skiers per day
With kids or for a first time: El Colorado and Farellones
According to Chile's official tourism board, El Colorado has a ski and snowboard school for kids aged 4 to 8 and beginner areas. Almost half of its piste kilometres are easy. For people who will not ski, Farellones has a snow park with activities designed for that audience; the park's entry is not on the cards on this page. The brand sells kids' gear and transport; you pick the resort (Valle Nevado, La Parva or El Colorado) when booking.
Experiencia: pack-nino-equipo-de-nieve — Desde $19.900
Experiencia: pack-basico-transporte-equipo-de-nieve — Desde $69.900
Intermediate level: La Parva
La Parva has a school with private and group lessons plus a mini school, and its elevations run from about 2,650 to 3,570 m. If the group mixes levels, gear is rented in the same place and each person picks the resort for the day; the transport is the same for all three resorts.
Experiencia: pack-full-transporte-equipo-de-nieve — Desde $84.900
Experiencia: transporte-a-centros-de-ski-ida-y-vuelta — Desde $39.900
Valle Nevado: more technical runs and hotels on the mountain
Valle Nevado sits between about 2,860 and 3,670 m, and more than half of its terrain is difficult runs. It has hotels on the mountain itself and, because it lies inside the Yerba Loca Sanctuary, does not allow motor vehicles inside the area. To visit for a day without skiing, the Valle Nevado Full Day includes a bilingual guide (Spanish and Portuguese) and round-trip transport; lunch, the resort ticket and gear rental are left out. Meeting point and time are confirmed by WhatsApp; do not assume pickup at your hotel.
Experiencia: valle-nevado-full-day — Desde $42.000
Just seeing the snow: Farellones and the Panoramic trip
The Panoramic climbs the winding road to Farellones and Valle Nevado, with photo stops and free time in the snow. It lasts about 8 hours, with a bilingual guide and transport. Lunch, resort tickets and clothing rental are left out. Meeting point and time, by WhatsApp.
Experiencia: cordillera-de-los-andes-panoramico-valle-nevado — Desde $42.000
Portillo: a high-mountain day, farther away
Portillo is more than 150 km from Santiago, about two hours by road, and its official site indicates a limited number of skiers per day and lodging in its own hotel. The brand's trip, Portillo and Laguna del Inca, is a full day (about 9 hours) with a bilingual guide and transport, and it is a scenery trip: lunch, snow-clothing rental and optional activities are left out. Meeting point and time, by WhatsApp.
Experiencia: portillo-y-laguna-del-inca — Desde $58.000
Before deciding
Links between resorts and combined tickets change from season to season, and we have not confirmed any for 2027: check with each resort. To add up the cost of the day, read <a href="https://nevenochile.com/guias/how-much-does-a-ski-day-in-chile-cost-2027-by-parts">how much a ski day in Chile costs in 2027</a>. To choose where to sleep, <a href="https://nevenochile.com/guias/where-to-stay-in-santiago-for-the-snow-las-condes-vitacura-providencia">where to stay in Santiago for the snow</a>.
Frequently asked questions
Which ski resort near Santiago is best for kids?
For first-timers and kids, El Colorado: Chile's official tourism board mentions a ski and snowboard school for kids aged 4 to 8 and beginner areas. Almost half of its piste kilometres are easy.
Valle Nevado or Farellones: which to pick?
Valle Nevado to ski more technical runs, with hotels on the mountain. Farellones for people who want to see snow or play without skiing. The Panoramic trip passes through both.
El Colorado or Valle Nevado?
El Colorado has a kids' school and plenty of easy runs; Valle Nevado has more than half of its terrain in difficult runs. If the group is mixed, the brand's transport and rental work for both resorts.
Is La Parva good if I already ski?
Yes. It is the middle-ground resort, and the school offers private and group lessons plus a mini school.
How long does it take to reach each resort?
El Colorado is 36 km from Santiago, Valle Nevado 46 km and La Parva 50 km, according to the official tourism board. From the edge of the city to Farellones is a little over an hour. Portillo is more than 150 km away, close to two hours.
Can I visit Portillo just for the day?
There is a full-day trip to Portillo and Laguna del Inca, with a bilingual guide and transport. To ski there, the official site indicates a limited number of skiers per day; check with the resort.
Is the lift ticket included?
On no card on this page. You buy it at the resort, in advance on its website or at the ticket window on arrival.
Does the brand's transport pick me up at my lodging?
The pack transfers leave from La Casa del Ski, at Vitacura 9016, at 07:00. On the full-day trips the meeting point and time are confirmed by WhatsApp; do not assume pickup at your hotel.