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Best snow destinations in South America

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Valle Nevado
Snow‑kissed peaks and alpine serenity
9.1
Founded in 1988, this resort lies 29 miles east of Santiago. Its base is at 9,843 feet. Skiers have 2,224 acres and 34 marked slopes, with 14 rated advanced and 5 expert. Sixteen lifts include a cable car and five chairlifts. The season traditionally runs June to October.
Highlights:
  • 🚠 Take a cable car ride for panoramic Andes views
  • ⛷️ Ski or snowboard on world‑class pistes during winter season
  • 🏔️ Hike to the summit of Valle Nevado ski resort
Las Leñas
Snow‑kissed peaks and alpine serenity
9.0
Construction began in January 1983 and the resort opened that July with a 300 bed hotel. The base lies at 7,350 feet and the summit at 11,250 feet. Fourteen lifts serve a vertical drop of about 3,900 feet. The longest run covers 4.3 miles. Off piste terrain suits extreme skiing.
Highlights:
  • 🍷 Explore local vineyards and taste Malbec in the valley
  • 🌌 Stargaze from the high-altitude observatory at night
  • 🏔️ Hike to the summit of Cerro de los Siete Picos
Portillo
Alpine elegance meets Chilean winter wonderland
8.8
The Alpine World Ski Championships came here in August 1966. Jean Claude Killy won gold in the downhill and combined. The hotel stands at 9,450 feet. Skiers get a 2,500 foot vertical drop, five chairlifts and nine surface lifts. The season typically runs from mid June to early October.
Highlights:
  • 🍖 Enjoy a traditional Chilean barbecue at a local lodge
  • 🏘️ Stroll through the historic wooden town center
  • 🎿 Ski down Portillo's world‑class pistes in winter
San Carlos de Bariloche
Argentina’s Alpine Wonderland
7.4
Redesigned in the 1930s to resemble a European alpine town, the city earned the nickname Little Switzerland. It lies on the southern shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake inside the national park. Most visitors arrive from June to September, mainly to ski. The city is also known for its chocolates.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Explore the Bavarian-style Centro Cívico and museums
  • 🥾 Hike the scenic trails of Nahuel Huapi National Park
  • 🚡 Take a cable car to Cerro Otto for panoramic views
Ushuaia
End of the World Adventures
7.0
Lying below the 54th parallel south, this city claims to be the southernmost in the world. Cerro Castor opened in 1999 about 17 miles north. It is called the world's southernmost full fledged ski resort and has 28 trails. The season typically runs June to October. Martial Glacier has a chairlift.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike to Laguna Esmeralda surrounded by snow-capped peaks
  • 🚂 Take the End of the World Train to Tierra del Fuego National Park
  • 🚢 Cruise through the Beagle Channel and spot sea lions
Cerro Catedral
Alpine wonderland with world‑class slopes
8.7
Summit elevation here is 6,900 feet and the base lies at 3,380 feet. Thirty nine lift systems move up to 35,000 skiers an hour across 1,500 acres. The resort lies about 12 miles from Bariloche inside Nahuel Huapi National Park. Snow is most frequent from June to August.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike the panoramic trails to spot Andean wildlife
  • ⛷️ Ski or snowboard on world‑class pistes during winter season
  • 🏔️ Climb Cerro Catedral’s summit via cable car
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