There are plenty of words to describe Portillo’s ski resort. It’s thrilling with world-renowned expert terrain and beginner-friendly slopes. It’s gorgeous with views of the Andes Mountains and the vibrant blue Lake of the Inca from your hotel room. It’s also convenient: the resort is all-inclusive, so skiing, lodging and meals are all included in a single price.
If you’re looking for a ski vacation during the traditional off-season that features a relaxed atmosphere, a melting pot of skiers and Chilean culture, Ski Portillo is the answer. And booking through Ski.com is the easiest way to transition that search into a real-life ski vacation. With more than 50 years of expertise, our Mountain Travel Experts can navigate the sticky details — from flights to airport transfers to excursions like heli skiing — for you.
The Basics:
Once you learn that Ski Portillo refers to both the mountain and the lodging, visiting the destination begins to make sense. Ski Portillo is home to a ski mountain with 1,235 skiable acres, but it also refers to its hotel, chalets and lodges. And that’s it.
Unlike most resorts, which have dozens of properties to choose from and a ski base village with hundreds of restaurants, Portillo does not. While some might see this as a negative, our Experts see it as a major plus. Portillo’s design is the ideal setting for exploring empty slopes, building community and spending a vacation without having to make tough decisions (well, maybe you’ll have to choose between a steak and TK dinner).
With 50+ years of ski travel experience, we know how to plan a memorable mountain getaway. Take planning off your plate and let our Experts handle the details.
Contact a Mountain Travel Expert to discover the best lodging options and personalized recommendations for your stay at Portillo Ski Resort.
Visiting Ski Portillo is an all-inclusive experience, so the price of your vacation includes lodging, meals, unlimited lift access, hotel amenities and weekly activities. Guests typically stay for a week, but shorter stays are also welcome.
When it comes to accommodations, Ski Portillo exclusively offers ski-in ski-out lodging. There are a handful of accommodation styles, including Hotel Portillo with 123 rooms, ski chalets for groups and affordable options like hostels. Altogether, only about 450 guests are ever on the property, which means the mountain has a private resort feel.
Since Portillo is in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are flipped for American and European skiers. The resort typically opens in late June and stays open through September, with most of the snowfall happening in July and August.
July tends to be Portillo’s busiest month with winter vacation for South American schools and summer vacations for families in North America. However, with limited accommodations and lift tickets sold, the resort never feels crowded.
Portillo is just 95 miles (two hours) from Chile’s capital, Santiago. Most skiers will fly into the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) and take a shuttle from the airport to the resort.
Once you’ve arrived in Portillo, you won’t have to think about transportation until you’re leaving since the hotel, ski lifts, dining and après are all a walk away.
Expert tip: Extend your stay and explore Santiago. Your Mountain Travel Expert can book additional nights at the beginning or end of your ski vacation to allow you to explore Chile’s rich wine scene and the country’s largest city.
Everything you need is within walking distance of the iconic Hotel Portillo, including ski lifts, dining, and après-ski activities. With only 450 guests at the resort, the slopes are uncrowded, and there are no long lift lines. Families can enjoy a stress-free experience, with kids' ski lessons and activities conveniently located just steps away from the hotel.
Portillo’s mountain is evenly distributed across beginner, intermediate and expert terrain. The resort is complete with sunny days, plenty of snowfall and 35 groomed slopes.
The resort is home to a world-class ski and snowboard school with instructors who teach in English, Spanish and other languages to fit skiers and riders' needs. Beginners can pick between private and group lessons designed for children, teens and adults at additional costs.
After building skills, beginners have access to 15% of the mountain terrain. Corralito is the easiest green run on the mountain with a magic carpet, wide slopes and an area dedicated to learning. Once that’s mastered, the next 30% of the mountain is for intermediates with runs groomed nightly.
Ski Portillo’s terrain is divided in 30% intermediate, 30% advanced and 25% expert.
For intermediate skiers and snowboarders, Las Lomas and Juncalillo are favorites with rolling hills and easy cruising. There’s also accessible off-piste for intermediates as well.
Portillo is known for its expert terrain, which predominantly features bowls and chutes. Make sure that the Roca Jack, Garganta and Lake runs are on your radar. Roca Jack offers views of the surrounding mountain range, while the famous Lake Run is a unique experience that allows skiers to traverse across the frozen lake back to the hotel.
For intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders looking to skill up, the resort also offers coaching. There’s also guiding for those craving an off-piste ski experience.
Expert tip: Unlike many resorts, skiers can book heli skiing on a per-run basis, which offers the flexibility of going all day or for only a few runs.
Ski Portillo is an ideal family destination thanks to the approachable mountain and small, manageable resort. With only about 450 guests and an easy-to-understand layout, children of all ages thrive during their ski vacation.
Free Daycare: If your children are between 4 and 7 and need a break from the slopes, the property offers free daycare by certified professionals.
Nursery Services: For younger children and babies, Ski Portillo also has an on-demand, paid babysitting service.
Kids’ Program: Each week, specific activities are targeted for kids and families. There’s everything from magic shows to snow tubing to keep children engaged throughout the ski vacation, thanks to a dedicated entertainment team for children.
Property Amenities: From heated pools and hot tubs to a movie theater, Ski Portillo has a range of amenities to keep families busy off the slopes.
For the Parents (and Every Adult): Regardless of whether you have children, all adults can indulge in amenities and events like wine pairings, yoga classes, snowshoeing, welcome cocktails and live music.
The mountain receives an average of 16.7 feet of snow each season, and it's known for dry powder similar to what skiers find in the Rocky Mountains. The storms tend to be short, powerful and overnight. Afterward, you’ll typically find clear blue skies for skiing. The resort also makes its own snow, so skiers and snowboarders will have consistent conditions for exploring no matter when they arrive.
The two-hour trip involves mountain driving with 29 switchbacks. Since you won’t need a car at the resort itself, most skiers and snowboarders opt out of car rentals and instead book either a group shuttle or private transfer from Santiago to Portillo.
Ski Portillo is known for its weeklong ski bookings that encourage travelers to stay from Saturday to Saturday, but the resort also has “mini-week” offers that are three or four nights long.
Ski Portillo has close to a 1:1 guest-to-staff ratio, and many of the staff members are bilingual. However, our Mountain Travel Experts always encourage skiers and snowboarders to pick up a few common phrases before arriving at the resort. Additionally, tipping is common in Portillo, and our Experts can share guidelines on who to tip and how much.
Connect with a Portillo Expert to get started.
