The 1966 surfing documentary “The Endless Summer” brought mainstream attention to a culture of year-round warm-weather chasers.
For as long as skiing and snowboarding have existed, others have chased the opposite season. But you don’t have to be a mountain-town local to join in the year-round powder chase. It’s more accessible—and more fun—than you think.
That’s where Valle Nevado, the Chilean ski resort boasting the most snow in the Andes, comes in. If you’re looking for an excuse to extend your ski 2024 season, we’ve got seven of them.
Valle Nevado#1 — The ski pass you’re already planning to buy works at Valle Nevado
If you’re a serial IKON, Mountain Collective, or Powder Pass holder, you know that the multi-mountain passes grant you access to some incredible skiing and snowboarding in North America. What you might not know is that they also give you access to and perks at Valle Nevado. Each pass is different, but a full IKON Pass, for example, includes seven days of skiing and riding at Valle Nevado. So, if you’re already planning to buy one of these passes for the upcoming 2024/25 season, why not kick it off early with a trip south of the equator?
Valle Nevado#2 — Skiing there is unlike the experience at any resort in North America
You can spy some iconic 14ers from some of Colorado’s ski areas. In Valle Nevado, you’ll see 17,000-foot-tall peaks from the slopes.
Due to the high elevation and the extreme geography of the Andes, the entirety of Valle Nevado’s skiable terrain is above treeline, and skiing there is a wholly different experience than what you’d find at a typical North American resort. Huge views abound from every run, which cover 2.400 skiable acres and nearly 2,700 vertical feet.
Valle Nevado#3 — Valle Nevado is half a world away (but in your same time zone)
If you live in New York, Miami, or anywhere else on the North American east coast, anyway. But our point still stands, whether you live in the Midwest or Pacific Northwest, that it’s rare to plan an international trip for skiing or riding that doesn’t come with a serious case of jet lag. In other words, a four- or five-day trip to Valle Nevado is totally doable because you can be back at your desk Monday morning with none of the nasty side effects of major East-West travel.
Your legs, however, will be throttled.
Valle Nevado#4 — Valle Nevado has one of the deepest, most reliable snowpacks in the Southern Hemisphere
Will I get skunked? It’s a question that torments every traveling skier and snowboarder after booking a trip. While your odds of scoring deep snow can never be 100 percent, they’re high if you’re headed to Valle Nevado, which receives an average annual snowfall of over 240 inches.
Valle Nevado#5 — It’s easier to get to than you think
With direct flights from Miami, New York, Atlanta, and Dallas, many of which are overnight, getting to Santiago International Airport (SCL) is as simple as boarding a plane and waking up in the Southern Hemisphere. From the airport, Valle Nevado is a 90-minute drive or shuttle ride. That drive, by the way, is absolutely stunning — the winding mountain road ascends some 8,000 vertical feet through Andes mountain majesty.
Valle Nevado#6 — The resort experience is top notch
Built by a French developer, Valle Nevado has a distinctive European-meets-South-American vibe. Translation: the food and services, like spas and wellness facilities, are incredible. Three ski-in/ski-out hotels at the resort offer package deals that include lodging, lift tickets, breakfast, and dinner. On the mountain, nine restaurants serve everything from traditional Chilean dishes and world-famous wine to a variety of international cuisine.
Valle Nevado#7 — The ski season is about to kick off
The 2024 winter season begins June 21 and runs through mid-October for an average of 115 days. Lodging discounts are available for bookings made before May 31, 2024, so act fast.