South America’s ski season started earlier this month when Valle Nevado opened two weeks ahead of schedule on June 10. This early opening was made possible by a few storms, most notably a system that dropped more than nine feet of snow on Chilean resorts in early June.

While Valle Nevado was able to get their mountain operations up and running early, Portillo had to spend some time digging out. The road to the resort was eerily buried by all the accumulation. It was worth the wait though! Portillo opened June 18 with beautiful bluebird conditions and a 45-inch base at Hotel Portillo. With this much coverage so early in the season, conditions are set up to be great this year. Scroll down to see photos and videos of opening day at Valle Nevado and Portillo.

Save on airfare to South America this summer

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect year to book a South America ski vacation, your wait might be over. In addition to great early-season coverage and a favorable forecast for the rest of the ski season, summer airfares are low. Fares have dropping for more than a year thanks to low oil prices and an increase in airlines’ fleets. Carriers will start to rein in the oversupply of available seats, but it won’t happen overnight. There’s still time to find deals on flights during the peak summer travel season!

Photos and videos of opening day in Valle Nevado and Portillo

If you’re ready to ski South America, request a quote today. Our Mountain Travel Experts are standing by to help you with your complete Valle Nevado or Portillo itinerary.