Portillo Frequently Asked Questions: 

Guest who have never traveled to Chile before often have questions about what to expect in Portillo. Here are answers to some of the most frequent questions.

How do you get to Portillo?

To reach Portillo you must travel two hours from Santiago (146 kilometers) through the Vespucio Norte Highway towards the west. From there, you have to take the Autopista Los Libertadores Highway and continue through the bypass Portillo, without entering the international road to Ciudad de los Andes. Portillo is located 3 kilometers from the border of Chile and Argentina.
You should always use chains, regardless of the weather, since the road to Portillo is located at high altitude (2,880 meters above the sea) and the road is unpredictable.

Are there shops in Portillo?

The Portillo Tours and Travel Shop has modern ski equipment and accessories; plus personal items, food and souvenirs that represent the ski center, like the book History of Portillo, which was written by its owner, Henry Purcell.

When does the ski season start in Portillo?

The Portillo ski season extends from June to October and is considered high season as well as weekends and holidays. Low season is all other dates.

What are the schedules of the Portillo Ski Center?

From 07:00 AM (Self-Service Breakfast) until midnight, time in which the music from the live band ends in the Portillo Hotel.

What will the food be like?

Food tastes in Chile are very international and our menu is varied and has lots of choices. Chile produces a cornucopia of wonderful fruits and vegetables, seafood and meat. Hygiene standards are high. Portillo's menus are healthy and delicious, hearty but not heavy. Vegetarian meals are available daily.

More questions:

What are the meal hours?

Here is a big difference. Breakfast and lunch are served at normal hours, but dinner is served late. The dining room will not open until 8:30pm, and as we serve dinner in two seatings, many adults do not come to dinner until 9:45pm.

To help keep guests going we serve tea at 5pm, including bread, jams and pastries. For a small extra charge, guests can also order a sandwich, fruit plate, etc.

Can I drink the water?

You can drink the tap water in Portillo and in any hotel in Chile. Portillo's water is so good it should be bottled.

Can I watch television?

Portillo does not equip its guest rooms with televisions, although large screen televisions in the cinema and disco show cable TV in English during certain hours of the day. Most of our guests prefer to participate in the many hotel activities and use television only to keep up on the news.

Internet connections?

Portillo has a cybercafé with the latest equipment for high-speed Internet connection. Fax and photocopying services are also available. There is an additional charge for the use of these services. Also Portillo guests could connect to the Internet through a wireless connection using their own laptops from the comfort of their guest rooms.

How is the telephone service?

Portillo has a fiber-optic line direct to Santiago. International calls are quick and connections are clear.

What time do I start skiing?

The ski lifts are open from 9am to 5pm, but most people begin skiing around 10:30am. If you are an early riser you will share the slopes with just the ski school, national ski teams, and other powder hounds.

What do I do when not skiing?

Our manual and daily agenda that we leave in each room provides explanation of our facilities and the dozens of children's and adult's daytime and nighttime activities in Portillo, as well as a daily weather report.

What is the tipping policy?

Tipping at Portillo is at the sole discretion of guests, however in Chile it is customary to tip 10% of the total bill. The most convenient way to tip is at the end of your stay, either at the front desk or directly to the head of whichever department you wish to tip, such as your head waiter in the dining room.

When is the best time to come to Portillo?

Families with children 12 or under might consider our "Kids Ski Free" weeks when we offer free skiing, lodging and meals. Adults without kids should avoid the "Kids Ski Free" weeks and come any other time. Many adults particularly enjoy the month of August when the National Ski Teams (last year we hosted the U.S. and Austrian speed teams) are training in Portillo and when the nightlife is lively. Our high-season weeks are when South American schools are on holiday -- a good time to mix with South Americans, although they come to Portillo throughout the season as well. Weather-wise, June and early July are cooler, averaging 20-30F (not bitterly cold); late July and August are sunny and warm, and September can offer a combination of gorgeous spring days and cooler days with snowfall. The weather, however, is ultimately unpredictable.

What if my flight is cancelled, or a storm delays my getting to Portillo, or I have a personal emergency that delays my arrival?

As Portillo sells set SkiWeeks and is often fully booked, we cannot guarantee airline schedules, weather or personal emergencies. We highly recommend that guests purchase trip insurance to cover any contingencies.