Valle Nevado base station in the early stages of construction

With the 2012-13 ski season just gathering pace in the northern hemisphere, it’s still six months until the southern hemisphere’s 2013 winter season kicks off, but Chile’s first ski area gondola is nearing completion and is ready to open in February 2013.

Located in Valle Nevado, one of the closest ski areas to capital Santiago, ´the Gondola will feature 70 cars with space for 6 people each and will carry skiers and tourists from the 17th Curve Service Area in Gondola Plaza to the Bajo Zero Restaurant, which sits mid-mountain, creating a fast route to the heart of the ski area.

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Valle Nevado's "I'm in a meeting"

The next time your boss calls to ask about your whereabouts, you can easily reply ‘I’m in a meeting’…that’s of course if you happen to be skiing down Chile’s Valle Nevado.

Continue reading ‘When in Valle Nevado, tell your boss ‘I’m in a meeting’’

Tourist Office

Valle Nevado
Avenida Vitacura 5250 #304, Vitacura
Santiago
Chile

Telephone: (2) 4777000
Email: info@vallenevado.com
Website: www.vallenevado.com/

Description

A smart French designed resort with international cuisine prepared by European chefs. Close to Santiago, the resort is currently being expanded with the on-going target of being both top in the southern hemisphere, and potentially one of the top resorts in the world. Heliskiing is particularly popular with minimum reservations of 10 minutes for three to four people starting from about $130 (US). Snow mobiling and hang gliding are also offered.

Review

Valle Nevado is a smart, French designed, resort close to the Chilean capital Santiago. It has a look of Les Arcs or Avoriaz to it and the French concept of putting most facilities conveniently together and sheltered from the elements within in a few major buildings. The resort is constantly being expanded with the on-going target of being both top in the southern hemisphere, and potentially one of the top resorts in the world. One of the world’s newest major ski areas, opened in 1988, it endeavours to offer both world class snow sports and the highest quality resort infrastructure including lodging, dining and off slope leisure facilities.

Valle Nevado is located just 60km (37 miles) from Santiago’s international airport, at an altitude of 2855m (10,000 feet), yet still at the foot of the imposing El Plomo Peak, amidst the incredibly breathtaking landscapes of the Andes Mountains. The Chillean capital and South Pacific Ocean lie far below. Despite copious snowfall the resort has an 80% average of sunshine days during the ski season.

Skiers and boarders are both very well catered for here. The abundant powder snow is legendary; the ski area – linked to two neighbouring resorts, the largest in South America and the terrain park also the best in South America, attracting annual FIS World Cup events. Heliskiing and boarding is another strength being more affordable and easily accessible than in most other parts of the world, with huge 2,000m off piste verticals to be had.

keywords

Valle Nevado, Three 3 Valleys of the Andes, Chile, Andes, Santiago

Big snow at Treble Cone in New Zealand as resort officially kicks off 2010 season

With good snowfall conditions in most of the southern hemisphere, the 2010 ski season officially kicked off last weekend with Coronet Peak New Zealand reporting a 50cm (20 inch) base including 15cm (six inches) of new snow.  Thousands of Queenslanders hit the piste to celebrate.

Continue reading ‘And they’rrreee off: Southern Hemisphere’s 2010 ski season underway’

Valle Nevado ski resort was far enough to not be seriously damaged by the earthquake.

Last Saturday a massive earthquake struck just off the Chilean coast near Concepcion which is south of Santiago.

Santiago, located 310 miles north of the epicenter, suffered damage to some buildings, many of which were older structures located principally in the city’s downtown.

Fortunately, Valle Nevado ski area and the road that connects the resort to Santiago were not affected. Following an exhaustive inspection engineers found only a few minor cosmetic damages at Valle’s hotels and buildings.

Continue reading ‘Valle Nevado ski area not harmed by Chilean earthquake’