A South America Snowboarding Guide

Whether a visit to the Bolivian salt flats has been on your mind, or you want to enjoy a carnival in Rio, there are plenty of incredible reasons to visit South America. Luckily for us snowboard fanatics it is also possible to search out powder lines in the amazing Andes mountain range. Snowboarding in South America offers an opportunity for us Northern Hemisphere snowboarders to get some laps through the summer months.

WHERE TO SNOWBOARD IN SOUTH AMERICA

South American snowboarding is found in either Argentina or Chile in the Andes mountain range. The Andes offer an insane landscape of high mountain peaks surrounded by beautiful lakes which makes South American snowboarding some of the most scenic in the world. South America has some world-renowned ski resorts such as; Cerro Catedral, Las Leñas, Portillo, Valle Nevado and La Parva, however, it is perhaps equally well-known for its extensive backcountry terrain.

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SOUTH AMERICAN SKI RESORTS

ARGENTINA

Heading to Argentina to experience the Southern Hemisphere winter is one trip I will never forget. Yes, the resorts are incredible but an Argentinian snowboard trip should be about more than the on-snow experience. Argentine steak is known as some of the best in the world and the community experience of asado is both tasty and a great way to meet the locals.

Argentina has a number of quality ski resorts with Cerro Catedral and Las Leñas amongst the most famous. Cerro Catedral, near the bustling town of Bariloche, offers high-speed lifts, a decent park and most importantly some awesome freeride terrain. Inbounds at Cerro Catedral, the Nubes is great but if you are looking for more adventure consider heading into La Laguna. Las Leñas ski area is closer to the Chilean border and is best known for its freeride terrain.

Other notable Argentine ski areas are Chapelco, Cerro Bayo and Cerro Castor. Cerro Castor sits at the most southerly point of Argentina, just outside of Ushuaia and is a resort I am really keen to visit. Cerro Bayo is quieter and smaller than Cerro Catedral so offers a more relaxed experience. Also smaller but with modern facilities, Chapelco is worth the visit. Chapelco has a modest amount of trails but its 730m of vertical drop is enough to keep most satisfied. Heading to Chapelco is a must as it is situated just outside of the town of San Martín de los Andes. The town has a stunning location along the Seven Lakes Road or Ruta de los Siete Lagos which is a drive well worth taking.

Los Penitentes ski resort can be skied in the Mendoza region but is small and is more likely going to form an add on to your trip to Las Lenas. If you are looking for something more affordable then consider La Hoya ski resort. La Hoya is south of Cerro Catedral near the town of Esquel.

CHILE

Does the idea of snowboarding on an active volcano appeal? Well, add Chile to your list of need to visit ski destinations. Similarly to Argentina, Chile will offer spectacular views and some pretty epic terrain. A snowboard holiday to Chile offers you the chance to chase powder laps and experience Chilean culture.

Like Argentina, you will need to take a long flight, but unlike Argentina when you arrive in Chile the main resorts are not too far away. Close to the capital of Santiago, you will find the resorts of Valle Nevado, La Parva, Farellones and El Colorado. Valle Nevado offers world-class facilities and is perhaps one of the most widely known Chilean ski resorts. A not so short 164km drive from Santiago and you can visit Portillo, home to some epic freeride terrain and noticeable by its iconic yellow Hotel Portillo. The closer the resorts are to Santiago the better the infrastructure and quality of the facilities. Sadly, this also means the more expensive the lift pass becomes.

You will find a further 15 resorts spread throughout this rather strangely shaped country. The more southern resorts mostly boast slower chairlifts or surface lifts. Of the more southern resorts, Nevados de Chillan is worth adding to the list as it receives a rather epic 10m average snowfall.

WHEN IS THE ARGENTINA AND CHILEAN SKI SEASON?

The ski season in South America begins in June and will run into October. Early and late season conditions can be incredibly variable and therefore it is much better to visit South American ski resorts in August for reliable snow cover.

LIFT PASS OPTIONS

There are some multi-resort lift passes that will offer you some summer laps in South America. The major one is the Ikon Pass from the US. The Ikon will get you 7 days of free lift access at Valle Nevado in Chile which is great if you are already using this pass in the US. Weirdly, as it stands Vails Epic Pass has no partner destinations in South America. You can also get 2 days of free skiing at Valle Nevado with the Mountain Collective Pass ... but that is hardly much to write home about.

WHY I LOVE SNOWBOARDING IN SOUTH AMERICA

South America as a continent offers some of the greatest variety of skiable terrain in the world. The Andes mountain range is epic and offers an incredible backdrop to your ski or snowboard trip. But it would be remiss to ignore the holistic aspects that make a ski trip to South America stand out. Yes, you will love your time on the ski hill but more than that, South America is about the whole experience. Inherently, South Americans are welcoming and sociable. This single trait will lead you towards many an afternoon sipping maté or evenings eating asado with new friends. My experience is that South Americans are all about enjoying life. Be prepared to throw yourself into a Latin culture that likes to party, that likes to dance, that is open to new people. My experience is that the friends you meet at asado normally make great people to ski with the next day.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IS SNOWBOARDING BETTER IN ARGENTINA OR CHILE?

Due to the geographical layout of the countries, there are a lot of similarities to be found between Argentine and Chilean ski resorts. It is perhaps best to compare the snowboarding between north and south rather than by country. The southern Andes and Patagonia regions are prone to some pretty extreme weather. This can mean incredible storm cycles that dump loads of pow into the resorts of Cerro Catedral or Nevados de Chillan. Unfortunately, this extreme weather can also lead to resort closures! The further north you go the more extreme freeriding can be found with Las Lenas and Portillo being particularly famous for their terrain.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SNOWBOARD IN ARGENTINA AND CHILE?

Lift passes in South America’s premier ski resorts are not cheap! Day passes can set you back around 80USD a day at Valle Nevado or Cerro Catedral resorts. Due to the fluctuation in the Argentine Peso, your trip can be noticeably cheaper or more expensive depending on the current rate of inflation.

WHAT SKI RESORT GETS THE MOST SNOW IN SOUTH AMERICA?

The average annual snowfall for ski resorts in Argentina and Chile is around 6-7m. Nevados de Chillan and Ski Pucon receive the most snow and can hit 10m in a good year. In Argentina, Las Lenas is well known for the quality of its powder and receives 6m per year on average.

EXPLORE BY COUNTRY

GET IN TOUCH

As always thanks for reading and if you want to learn more about skiing and snowboarding in South America check out some of the featured posts below. I’d love to hear from you and now it is your turn to have your say! Get in touch in the comments or via socials to tell me about your South American skiing or snowboarding experiences. Have you done something cool away from the slopes or do you have any questions that I can help you answer?