Part of the GoChile team visited some of the ski centers of the central valley to witness through their own eyes the attractions of the Chilean Ski Season. In this brief text, our sales manager, Héctor Gatica, tells us about his experience.

By Héctor Gatica

In the last week of June, me and María José Lizama, our marketing and products executive went on a ‘trip to the mountain’. The idea was to visit the ski centers near Santiago (Valle Nevado, Farellones, and El Colorado) not to go skiing but to see the facilities and services of our operators, in what turned out to be a great experience.  As we climbed the mountain the guide told us about the local geography, the rivers, mountains, and the main volcanoes of The Andes, as well as the differences between the different ski centers.

Our first stop was at Valle Nevado, from where we had a great view of the trails. Because the excursion we were taking (Visit the Andes) does not include skiing, we were only given the basic equipment: boots, thermal pants, and gloves. After that we went to Farellones, where a nice lunch was waiting for us. When we arrived at El Colorado, the white wind was so intense that it was virtually impossible to see the trails. Of course, it was really cold.

It is important to bring thick, warm clothes, because the weather in the mountain is unpredictable and the temperature can get really low. It is also recommended to have a light breakfast before leaving and going to bed early the night before, because the way up has over 60 curves and some passengers can get dizzy and feel sick because of the height.

This is the perfect excursion for those who have never been in the snow and don’t have time or are not interested in learning how to ski. It is a great way to explore the Andes Range while enjoying magnificent views of the mountain.

You can book the Visit the Andes excursion HERE.