Nevados de Chillan has the natural potential to be a world-class ski resort, as well as the undisputed best ski destination in the Southern Hemisphere. The vast volcanic mountain massif boasts almost 2000 meters of skiable vertical drop. Nevados de Chillan also receives significantly more snow than the Chilean resorts located closer to Santiago, which reside 500 kilometers closer to the equator. The scenery is also breathtaking with native forests giving way to the snow bowls resting below the conical peaks of active volcanoes that spew smoke and heat thermal hot springs.
Unfortunately, Nevados de Chillan grossly underachieves its potential. It is a lovely place to visit that could be a lot better. The main problem is a systemic lack of investment in the ski resort. The lift-served ski area only provides access to less than 20% of the overall terrain. These painfully slow and uncomfortable chair lifts were most likely purchased used several decades ago from other resorts that decided to replace them. The ancient patchwork lift system poorly matches the natural layout of the mountain, showing a lack of planning and funding. To get from the bottom to the top of the resort you must ride four separate low-speed chairs and then take a guided snowcat. The total time to ascend almost 2000 meters can extend to two hours considering lift lines. Having said this, skiing from the off-piste top of the volcano before linking with Tres Marias, which is the longest run in South America, is an exquisite experience that may be worth the time it takes to get there. The problem is that you can only do it once per day after having paid extra for the snowcat ride.
The owners of the resort obviously care more about real estate than building a world-class ski resort. To their credit, the main hotel offers a comfortable stay and a variety of activities, which makes it worthy of 4 stars. The newly built apartments also attract a multitude of snow-starved Chileans that live in Santiago and make the 6–8-hour drive to Nevados de Chillan. These visitors from Chile´s capital tend to overwhelm the lift system and crowd the narrow trails that could be wider with an adequate amount of snow grooming equipment. The almost non-existent investment in the actual ski area is a shame considering the potential of the terrain that could rival the world´s best like Chamonix and Whistler Blackcomb in terms of vertical, size, and variety.
Hopefully, the current owner will someday decide to either sell the resort or raise capital to install a modern lift system and open vast amounts of advanced terrain. Until this happens, I would recommend traveling a little further south to Corralco. Another more expensive option would be to stay at the nearby Roca Negra Lodge located outside the town of Las Trancas and use their helicopter to access the best virgin terrain surrounding the underdeveloped ski area.
July 14, 2016
George Dellinger
from
USA - California
I have to agree with all the recent posts about Termas de Chillan. It could be a top rated mountain if it was maintained properly and given an improved infrastructure. Sadly, this place hasn't seen any love in a long time. The surrounding landscape is amazing. And there are great places to stay in Las Trancas; most notably Mission Impossible Lodge. The mountain itself is spectacular if you can get up on a working lift. There's really only one decent lift which is probably 40 years old. It doesn't run half the time because of lazy operators, or fibbing ones. The smallest wind and it shuts down. Could be raining at base and snowing up top but they still don't run it. Discounts on tkts when weather bad: forget it. Service at the restaurant: poor at best. Really sad because the first time we visited Chillan, 6 years ago, we fell in love with it. The weather was on our side, it snowed so much followed by warm brilliant sun. We hired a private guide who took us well beyond any lift accessed areas and we totally got to explore the best of the mountain. But this is rare now. Our next trips down were not so fortunate. We were so disappointed that we left early and went further down south. But if you go, you must stay at MI Lodge; an amazing experience and the most wonderful hosts with Bertrand and Mylise. I wish that a big ski resort would buy Termas de Chillan and give it what it deserves. Could be an amazing mountain. Stay up north and hit El Colorado , La Parva and Valle Nevado. El Colorado is where it's at. Great 'on the mountain' service too. They know what they're doing. Much better than Valle Nevado.
This sucks people; don't buy those sucky fake reviews the people from Nevados de Chillan have written in their resort page. Spend your money in ski resorts near Santiago like El colorado or Valle Nevado, or if you want something far from the capital city, you can go to Corralillo or any resort you like, even outside of chile, like the one in Bariloche (I don't know the name).
People from other countries: do not believe the good reviews displayed in this website; some people from the resort write good reviews just to keep up with all the real bad reviews you can read here. Unless you like to hike, snowshoeing or split-boarding, do not spend your money here!
Mixed days of rain and sun the days I was staying there. Generally, all excellent; we were well cared for. I had great days with very good conditions for snowboarding. Enjoyed some of the best mountains I've seen.
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People think differently regarding their enjoyment of a place. Very rewarding rest in snowy Chillán; the setting of the place is unique. Biodiversity is unique with marvellous landscapes. The stay is very pleasant for everyone visiting the mountain.
The place is charming. I came five years ago and it is changing every season with more implementation in most sectors of downtown.
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One of the most beautiful places; enchanted landscapes and diversity. Lots of snowfall looking out the hotel window and the next day a speedy day with bright sunshine. To go out and scratch the mountain with snow recently fallen is the charm of the mountain of the Andes in southern Chile.
Stunning natural environment. This ski resort is the place; a very good standard that has been improving over the years. I have now realised that the place has new lifts, a hotel and other stadia.
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