Because we have just received pricing from Valle Nevado offering you seven nights for the price of five (see sample packages below), I thought I’d take this opportunity to tell you a little more about this Chilean resort. Valle Nevado is located only 37 miles from Santiago and you can even see the city from the mountain on a clear day. However, the drive takes up to two hours due to the infamous switchbacks.

With a base of 9,383 feet, Valle Nevado is located at about the same elevation as Breckenridge, yet all of its impressive terrain is above tree line. Interconnected with La Parva and El Colorado, Valle Nevado provides access to an unbelievable 22,000 acres of terrain. And if that’s not enough, the resort also offers Andes Heli-Skiing leaving right from the base area.

At Valle Nevado, the largest winter resort in the Southern Hemisphere, each of the hotels are located mid mountain and give access to glorious vistas in every direction. Enjoy what’s typically a jaw-dropping sunset with a great variety of restaurant options including Italian, a la carte, Mediterranean and of course your typical ski fare. Be sure to check out Mesón de los Andes, a brand new restaurant for the 2010 season and the highest in the Andes. There is also a diverse range of activities both on and off the slopes, including torchlight parades, parties with DJs, live music, fashion shows, the SPA Fitness Center, a heated pool, a movie theater, open-air bonfires, happy hours and more.

This massive Chilean resort offers the most advanced lift system in the Andes, night life, huge terrain and a range of accommodations and restaurant options. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of one of the great specials listed below. It will be a skiing and cultural experience you’ll be talking about for years to come.

Remember, in addition to putting together perfect vacations in Valle Nevado, Ski.com can customize the itinerary of a lifetime that includes incredible skiing and riding in Portillo or Termas de Chillán, Chile or Las Leñas or Bariloche, Argentina. Just call one of our Mountain Vacation Specialists at 800-299-0656. Whether you’d like to simply focus on the skiing or you’d like to combine your love of the sport with a cultural experience in places like Santiago, Buenos Aires or elsewhere in South America, Ski.com will take care of all the details for you!

D.S.