With the Andes running down much of the Chilean interior, there are plenty of places in the high mountains where visitors can go to enjoy excellent snowboarding. Ranging from fun pipes and terrain parks to steep slopes where it is possible to carry plenty of speed, and with slopes suitable for beginners and intermediate snowboarders as well as experts, there is plenty of choice available too. Here are five of the most popular destinations for snowboarding:
Arpa
Around two hours from Santiago, the resort of Arpa is one which is very much aimed at the more established snowboarders, offering some wonderful surroundings and over a thousand meters of vertical descent on the slopes. There is no snow making equipment there, but with plenty of snowfall every year it means that those going boarding will be doing so on natural snow. There are some wonderful natural pipes on the slopes and others are very steep, making for plenty of opportunities to really pick up some speed. For those looking for a break from snowboarding, Arpa also has the only snowcat area in Chile.
Portillo
Portillo is a destination that is famous for its steep slopes, and with a vertical drop of over eight hundred meters there are plenty of open slopes on which to gain speed and to really see how fast your board can go. For those who like to practice there are some nice beginner slopes further down the mountain, and these have snow making equipment if the area is suffering from a low snowfall during your visit.
At the bottom of the slopes is the bright yellow Hotel Portillo which has featured in skiing films, and it is also a great place to relax and unwind with fellow snow lovers at the end of the day.
El Colorado
Within easy reach of Santiago, El Colorado is one of Chile's most popular skiing and snowboarding destinations, and for those who favor the snowboard there is plenty of snow to enjoy. Ranging from beginners routes through to advanced pistes, there is a route for every skill level, while an excellent terrain park means that those looking to test out their tricks will also have an area in which to practice. El Colorado is one of the oldest and most well established destinations in Chile, and as the host of the annual King of the Park snowboarding event, it is also one of the most revered for snowboarders.
La Parva
Another important resort which is within easy reach of Santiago, La Parva is famous for its small town mix of bars, restaurants and nightlife that can be enjoyed after a day on the slopes. The snowboarding routes have a good mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced routes, but it is the terrain park and the off piste routes that really get the blood pumping for expert snowboarders. With a good selection of beginner slopes on offer, La Parva is a nice place for those looking to learn or improve their snowboarding skills, and also hosts an annual film festival when the town becomes very busy.
Valle Nevado
This is one of the largest skiing and snowboarding centers in Chile, and is very popular among visitors from Santiago who are usually able to make the trip in under an hour and a half. The terrain park is one of the best in the country for snowboarders, with boxes, rails and jumps to enjoy, while there are also plenty of good slopes to enjoy too. The scene at the end of the day is also very good, with several bars and some very nice hotels to stay in, making this a great destination for those looking to get the most from their snowboarding holiday.