Ski Portillo

Portillo

By Alexis deGheldere

Finding the off-season a little too long? Starting to feel a little antsy? Dreaming of hitting some glorious snowy ski runs? The problem is, it’s only July! But, there is a solution… why not head to the Southern hemisphere where the seasons are the opposite of ours? In Portillo, Chile, for example, skiing is at its very best between June and October.

Located in the heart of the South-American Andes, Portillo feels like a different world altogether. Its signature bright yellow hotel is completely isolated, located several kilometres from the border of Argentina atop the highest summit of the continent: the Aconcagua. It looks a little like the hotel in The Shining, except this place is definitely not abandoned and there is no chance you’ll run into a psychopath. Instead, you’ll get to meet fellow ski aficionados who have come to spend a week in these breathtaking surroundings, and with whom you are sure to develop a friendship as the week progresses.

Thanks to the heated pool and luxurious dining area, beautifully adorned with exotic wood, everyone ends up crossing paths at this hotel. In the morning, guests head to the basement locker room to grab their skis before heading outdoors to the most awe-inspiring views of the surrounding Andes. You can ski almost a full 360 degrees around the hotel and Laguna del Inca, an unbelievably blue lake located right alongside the hotel.