Portillo Ski Resort

The first in South America

The Portillo Ski Area in Chile is the most famous and oldest center in South America, renown for its extraordinary beauty and its world-class skiing and snowboarding. In a world quickly going generic, Portillo proudly remains unique, private and grand. There are no towns, shopping areas, high-priced tickets or major ego to be found here, just casual elegance and a warm social atmosphere that encourages every visitor to feel like part of the family.

In the World of skiing, has a golden history. The celebrated skier Jean-Claude Killy won his first gold medals here, in 1966. Speed skiers in Portillo's Kilometro Lanzado competitions were the first to exceed 200kph. Four former gold medallists have led Portillo's Ski School in the past, and hosts National Ski Teams every year (last year the Austrian and U.S. Olympic teams trained here).

The guests come from all over the world to Portillo Hotel. Its maximum 450 guests have the slopes all to themselves. It sells all-inclusive Ski Weeks Packages: from June to October, guests arrive like a freshman class every Saturday and leave a week later as great friends. Families spend happy weeks together. Singles meet other singles, and couples take pleasure in the romance and fun that fills the air at Portillo ski resort.

Skiers and Snowboarders delight in Portillo's powder, steeps, chutes and groomed slopes. It offers 2 quad chairlifts, 1 triple, 2 doubles, 2 one-of-a-kind va et vient "slingshot" lifts, and 5 Pomas. Portillo is 100% above tree line and therefore the skiing is bowl-like and wide open, with incredible opportunities for off-piste skiing and snowboarding.

The Ski School is one of the finest in the world. Portillo's Ski School Director Jesús Puente is a superb skier, as well as a skilled leader. No one knows skiing better than Jesús. He is a member of the elite Spanish Demonstration Ski Team and his energy and spirit of fun is infectious both on and off the mountain.

Outdoor heated pool, gymnasium, weight room, aerobics, cinema, disco, bar, game room - there are so many activities that guests are never without something to do, and kids and parents love this ski resort for its wealth of family-friendly activities. The dining experience is exceptional here, not only for our excellent cuisine but also for the sociable atmosphere.

Portillo Ski Resort is located 9,350 feet (2,850 meters) above sea level, on the International Highway between Santiago, Chile, and Mendoza, Argentina - just a 2-hour drive from Santiago. The highest mountain in the western hemisphere, Aconcagua, is just over the ridge. The hotel and ski area wrap around beautiful Inca Lake in a spectacular setting that is naturally therapeutic for any vacationer.

Besides, Portillo is almost an independent town in the mountain, located at 165 kilometers away from Santiago. It has all the services that the passengers can need during their stay and counts with one hotel with different kinds of rooms, generating an integration of all the guests in the activities that it offers.

Today, with more than 50 years of history, Portillo has the same snow quality and beautiful surroundings that charmed the first visitors of the zone, with a permanent renovation of its entertainments and services for the passengers that wants to discover a ski resort of excellence.