Snowsure: 3.8
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Valle Nevado is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Valle Nevado Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
August 17, 2025
Joe Houston from
USA - California
Joe Houston from
USA - California
Will never step foot at Valle Nevado and will warn everyone I know not to. Started out with waiting over an hour just to try to rent ski equipment. Line was moving extremely slow due to an issue with their computer system. Since it was moving so slow, I told my wife to stay in line and I would go to purchase lift tickets. Purchased two, all day adult tickets. By the time we finally got in to get rental equipment, it was after 11am, arrived at 9:30am. They were out of ski boots in our sizes. I requested a refund of our lift tickets because we could not ski due to their lack of equipment. I was told no refunds on lift tickets. I was told I could use the tickets at a later date. I only had one day that I could ski. I reiterated that I couldn't not ski due to the fact that they ran out of equipment. I also would not have purchased the lift tickets before getting my equipment but only did so because of their system failure and I was trying to salvage as much of what was left of the day.... again because of their problems. No, no refund. So, buyer beware. Not only did we lose approximately $175 usd on the lift ticket, we paid for a round trip shuttle from Santiago at approximately $80usd as well as a wasted day and a wasted trip as this was our main reason for coming to Santiago.
August 28, 2018
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My experience was as a skier who stayed in Santiago and went up on the moutains two days to Valle Nevado and others resorts nearby.
If you are a tourist visiting Santiago and is curious to venture into a ski resort, you will love it!
Otherwise, if you are a skier with some experience and seek a 'ski trip', think twice about choosing Valle Nevado.
I always heard a lot about Valle Nevado and had to go skiing there. I have spent several seasons at other resorts in South America and the US and I can say that going back to Valle Nevado in the future will not be my first choice.
Bariloche, even with poor snow, gives you a better experience. Valle Nevado resort has expensive hotels, few and expensive restaurants, only a refuge (restaurant in the middle of the slopes) and that is expensive, like 15 dollars a beer, 5 dollars a bottle of water and 25 bucks for a pizza. A robbery experience, even more knowing that in Santiago the price is 1/4 of that. The rental equipment is also restricted to just a store only, with high price, and an reasonable equipment. In addition, at 5pm everything is closed, including the only gift shop at the base of the parking lot (which also has no restaurant). If you are not staying at the resort hotel, forget the after-ski because you will have nothing.
For those who do not want to stay at the resort and will stay in Santiago, the road is poor, with little maintenance; very tight. But worst of all is that it is traffic jammed for several hours. Incredibly they don't salting icy roads, even with snow forecast. The result is that when it snows, it forms a layer of ice for several kilometers, which causes a gigantic traffic jam for hours. In addition, there is a snow chain rental cartel at an absurd price. And even on hot sunny days, the police supervise and ask the 'possession' of snow chains. That is, you have to rent every single day that you plan to ski (average 25 Dollars per day) or buy (average 100 Dollars).
What is incredible is a city like Santiago, with fantastic freeway roads (kilometer-long tunnels of 4 lanes to each side, subway, express avenues, v.g.) to cause jealousy in São Paulo, treat so badly thousands of tourists that go up to the mountains every day to the ski resorts. You will feel like being a hostage of a ridiculous road, with few and expensive transfers-van that have scheduled time, or of whom rents a car and falls in the rental market and 'placement' of snow chains. Unfortunate!
The skiable area is good but you can do all the slopes in 3/4 of a day. It seemed to me that the ski area is similar to El Colorado, but the slopes at El Colorado have pleased me a little bit more. The off-piste area is great I could only enjoy it in one day because of the lack of snow, but this is not a resort guilty (ed: do you mean 'resort's problem?'), but the weather and nature. With more snow then the situation changes; the ski area is quite large.
So overall, it was nice to visit Valle Nevado. Would I go back? Only if I fall with a parachute in Santiago for another reason. Would I plan another trip to Valle? Only if it did not have snow elsewhere in Argentinian resorts: mainly Bariloche or Ushuaia. I recommend that if you go skiing for more days, you should also visit La Parva and El Colorado located a bit closer (and slightly cheaper tickets).
I also recommend that you rent a car and get off too early to get out of the traffic jam and pray that an old truck will not break in front of you and stand for hours.
I did not stay 'hosted' up in the ski resort. But some colleagues stayed there and they were enjoying it. But without that excitement and true willingness to return the following year, as we expected, whose like to ski (ed: not sure what you mean to say in last sentence .)
June 15, 2018
jim from
Germany
jim from
Germany
Excellent resort.
The snow is just great. Powder is dry and light, a dream. You ski at high altitude (between 2800 and 4800 if I remember well) with breathtaking views. Tracks for all levels and great off-piste skiing. If you are into back-country ski and mountaineering you have great options, starting with El Plomo.
There are another 3 resorts within 30 - 60 min distance and you have a ski connection with La Parva. The road to the resort is really fun and interesting.
Lodging is good. You have 3 hotels plus very well maintained apartments (where I stayed) within 50 m from the tracks. Food is pretty good, a bit on the expensive side, and I love the outdoors hot tube.
The resort is a bit expensive by European standards, but by USA or South-American standards is OK, I guess.
I will come back soon, I know no better option for European summer ski.
June 11, 2018
J. Rivadeneira from
Chile
J. Rivadeneira from
Chile
July 28, 2015
Olavo Aranha
Olavo Aranha
Very nice hotel (Valle Nevado); food at lunch is ok and very good at dinner. Beautiful views and very nice social areas.
Currently, there is no snow and the maintenance is very, very disappointing. One third of the pistes are closed and there is no information about its status. The other 2/3 are very icy and therefore very dangerous. Lots of stones and pebbles on the pistes. On most of the teleski paths there are numerous patches of earth. I cannot understand the reason why the staff don't fill them with snow from the sides, there is plenty 3 meters away. Furthermore, the snow making machines are not being used at all. Shame on this service.
May 21, 2015
Margie from
USA - California
Margie from
USA - California
Gorgeous large breathtaking views. Great when they have snow. No trees makes for untracked powder all day when the snow is good. Do not rent a car. Horrible; worst road up with 87 switch backs and cars going over the side. Do not take a driver from the airport. Terrible drivers with old horrible vehicles! Overnight in Santiago and do what the locals do and use "Ski Total" Proper vans with drivers who know the road and cheap but more important; safer! Expect delays if there is weather. Bring your own equipment or forget it. You will be sorry if you try to rent anything. Hotel Valle Nevado is smaller and very expensive but very nice ski in-ski out with amazing breakfasts. Includes dinner in any of the restaurants. When they have snow you will love this amazing advance intermediate resort and vibe in Chile; really fun. Even with horrible road up much easier to get to than anywhere else in South America ! I have skied ten times in South America and five of the times in Valle Nevado. Forget Portillo not worth it; way too small and Las Lenas is so far to get to and so windy with constant avalanches!
July 29, 2013
Chile Traveler from
USA - California
Chile Traveler from
USA - California
Valle isn't bad, but it's not good value. However, you can kill it here with the massive off-piste skiing potential and you can make it work for you. Here are some tips:
1. Rent a car. This will allow for car shuttles to hit the stuff that feeds down to the access road and you won't be ripped off with the $100+ per person airport to resort transfer fees. Make sure it comes with chains as the tires will be shit and there is a checkpoint on the way to the ski area where they'll ask about chains.
2. You have a car, so now you can stop at the large market at the base of the canyon in Santiago and buy your beer, wine and snacks, bottled water and anything else you'll need. Do not buy this at the resort, it will be 5-7 times the cost.
3. Bring your avi and backcountry gear and ski outside the resort. This is a must as the in-bounds is tame. The best terrain is above and behind the ski area, or into the canyon from the lodge, tour back up to the Tres Puntas poma. This is true expert/steep skiing terrain and it holds powder long after a storm.
4. Never, ever charge anything to your room. They will make mistakes and you will be hit with a massive bill which you will then have to contest. Just bring your own beer out to their deck and drink it. Yes, it makes them mad, but who cares!
5. When it comes time to check out do it first thing in the morning, the staff is a complete junk show. There are huge lines. Don't waste your time, get 'er done.
That's enough to get you started. Have fun!
September 19, 2012
Caio
Caio
Second year coming. This year stayed in Puerta del Sol. 6000 US dollars for 3 people, 4 nights (miniweek). Worst value for my money I have ever encountered in my life. Go somewhere else or if you do wanna try the station, stay in Santiago and hire helicopter shuttles to the station. It goes about the same value, and you still get the thrill from the heli ride which is more exciting than the majority of the pistes in Valle. ;)
August 28, 2012
paula carvajal from
Chile
paula carvajal from
Chile
I rented an apartment for the weekend 202 in Valle del Sol, incredibly expensive and it was dirty, with water on the floor, stained walls, dirty kitchen and refrigerator, all with pictures to prove it. Was promised a refund and have never received it. Do not be fooled with pictures they post, those are not even close to the real thing.
Nearest