The Andes run the whole length of South America, and in the south they get enough snow for a proper ski season from June to September.
In Chile, Valle Nevado and La Parva are close enough to Santiago that you can ski in the morning and be back in the city for dinner, while Portillo, with its bright yellow hotel next to a frozen lake, feels much more remote. Across the border in Argentina, Bariloche combines skiing at Cerro Catedral with lakes, forests and a lot of good chocolate shops. Las Leñas is known for steep, challenging terrain, and at the very end of the continent, Cerro Castor near Ushuaia is one of the southernmost ski resorts in the world.
Many resorts sit at high altitude, so it helps to drink plenty of water and take it easy on the first day. Weather can also close the mountain roads, so leave some extra time.
