Farellones and El Colorado
El Colorado 503, Lo Barnechea, Metropolitan
These interconnected villages of Farellones and El Colorado—located only one hour from Santiago—comprise one of the most popular ski resorts in the country, both because of their proximity to the capital and their location among the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. As opposed to Valle Nevado, El Colorado is recommended for beginner and non-skiers.
Ranging up to almost 11,000 feet (3,352 meters) above sea level, and with numerous ski classes available for those who need a refresher course, El Colorado is an ideal place to bring the family for a quick jump-start to the season. Almost 70 runs graze the mountain, which receives an average snowfall of 15 feet (4.5 meters) per year.
For maximum convenience, visit the resorts as part of a day trip from Santiago; tours typically include round-trip transfers and lunch at the ski resort. Depending on your budget and schedule, you can tailor tours to include a ski or snowboard lesson, mountain hikes, biking through the snow, and even sledding on an inflatable inner tube.
- Farellones and El Colorado are the best option for families, visitors with little skiing experience, and those wanting simply to enjoy the winter scenery.
- Farellones Snow Park offers non-skiers an exciting range of activities such as tubing and a ride on a panoramic chair lift.
- There are plenty of restaurants and accommodation options in the ski resorts of Farellones and El Colorado.
From Santiago, it takes around 1.5 hours to reach the resorts via Costanera and Camino A. Farallones. The roads are winding and climb to high altitudes, so unless you’ve got plenty of experience with driving on mountain roads, opt for a tour to skip the stress of car hire and navigation. During the ski season, buses depart regularly from Santiago bus terminal.
The ski season in Farellones and El Colorado runs from June through early October, when snowfall is high and skies tend to be blue and clear. The opening hours of Farellones Snow Park and the ski slopes of El Colorado generally open from 9am-5pm in peak season, but can differ.
If you’re seeking an adrenaline-fuelled skiing experience, head to the neighboring resort of Valle Nevado, which caters to intermediate and expert skiers with almost 7,000 acres (2,832 hectares) of skiable domain, which makes it the largest accessible ski spread in South America. The resort is home to almost 40 trails of varying difficulty level and offers you the chance to reach remote skiing locations by helicopter.
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