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If you get an urge to go skiing in the middle of summer, Chile is the place in June and July. This South American country offers stunning landscape contrasts, particularly between the fertile grounds of Santiago and the stunning beauties of the Andes. If you wish to discover the Chilean culture, a few nights in Santiago is the perfect stop-over upon arrival to contemplate the European influenced architecture and to shop till you drop.
Three stations await you: Portillo, where the slopes are witness to a flamboyant yellow hotel and Incas Lake, situated on the highest peak of the Americas. The second one, Valle Nevado, offers the vastest ski complex in South America including La Parva and El Colorado, and the last, but not the least, in the southern region, is Termas de Chillan, combining thermal waters and out-of-this-world descents on the most spectacular natural slopes in the Andes.
In Portillo, the most renowned station in the country, forget condos, boutiques or other artifices. In the heart of the snowy peaks of the Andes with an altitude of over 5,000 meters, you will be surprised to find a bright yellow property, Hotel Portillo, dating back to the 1950’s. Here there are no TV’s or radios in the rooms so guests can allow themselves to relax and get to know other skiers in the resort. Close by are the crystalline waters of Incas Lake. This ski centre guarantees an exclusive getaway to guests from all over the globe. If you wish to treat yourself to a heliski outing in the shadow of Aconcagua, the highest summit of all three Americas, you are assured this will be a once in a lifetime experience!
Valle Nevado, is the most modern of the three, the biggest and most commercial. This vast domain is linked to the El Colorado and La Parva ski resorts and recalls the style of the 3 Vallées in France, but to a smaller scale. Located less than 90 minutes from Santiago, Valle Nevado offers 3 hotels, luxurious residences, a superb gym and numerous restaurants. Treat yourself to the best ski conditions in South America. Furthermore, Gendron Travel offers 2 hotels in the quaint village of Farellones, including La Cornisa managed, by the way, by a native Quebecer.
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