Could you send me brochures, pricing
information, etc.?
No, I do not send this type of information. To receive
resort brochures, prices, etc., contact the resort(s) directly.
Contact information is included in the individual resort pages.
Telephoning is the best way to get information quickly. English
may or may not be spoken. If you do not speak Spanish, find somebody
who does. Faxes and letters will probably be answered. Writing in
English should not be a problem. A few resorts have email (addresses
are in the individual resort pages) that is theoretically checked
regularly.
Could you tell me where
to find snow reports?
Check the AndesWeb Snow
Report Page.
When is the best time to go?
Sometimes snow falls heavily in May and June. If
the snow is good, you'll have excellent skiing and riding, few crowds
and lower prices. Snow is usually good in July, but South Americans
have Winter vacation during this month. Resorts become more crowded,
and prices are at their highest. August is usually the month with
the best snow and weather. It is also less crowded than July. September
usually has good snow, but conditions are sometimes spring like.
Crowds are usually small. October is a good month for Spring skiing
and riding. During an average snow year, the biggest resorts are
still in full operation at the beginning of October.
Can you stay in Santiago and
drive the the Three Valleys Areas? Is it safe to drive? Could you
recomend any car rental agency? Is it similar to Salt Lake
City and the Canyon areas?
Instead of renting a car, I would recommend using
one of the van services (see Travelling
within Chile page). Some operators will pick you up at your
hotel. The ride to the mountain costs around $10-15 round trip.
When the roads are clear, it takes about an hour
to get the ski areas from the city. The road to the Three Valleys
areas, while paved, is not like the access roads at U.S. areas.
The road is very steep, has several hair-pin turns, is narrow, and
in spots has no guard rails. When it snows, it is mandatory to use
chains. Most international car rental agencies serve Chile. Consult
a guidebook for more information.
I think you would probably avoid a lot of potential hassles by using
the van service, and you may save some money.
Is Santiago safe? Is Chile safe?
Is Argentina safe?
Chile and Argentina are democracies and are among
the safest countries of the hemisphere. Watch out, though, for the
notoriously bad drivers. Santiago is at least as safe as an average
big city in the U.S. Nevertheless always use common sense and be
cautious.
Could you recommend a place to
stay?
The guidebooks are your best source for this type
of information. Check out the guidebook page. Take a look at the official resort
home pages (listed within the AndesWeb resort pages).
What about tours?
Again, take a look at the tours.
Are snowboarding, telemarking,
monoskiing and skiboarding allowed?
Yes. A large number of foreign and Chilean snowboarders
ride Chilean slopes. Some resorts do not allow snowboarders on surface
lifts on crowded days. As far as I know, 100% of Chilean terrain
is open to riders. Telemarking is allowed, but it is not widely
practiced. Monoskiers and skiboarders are a more common sight than
in North America.
Will I be able to rent equipment?
Yes. Skis, boots, poles are available on mountain.
Equipment for all ability levels and snowboard equipment is available
at all but the smallest areas. Prices are comparable to those in
the U.S. Equipment can be rented more cheaply in Santiago.
What are prices like?
Lift tickets, lessons, food, etc. cost about the
same as you would expect to pay in the U.S. The bigger the area,
generally the more expensive the prices.
What are options for those on
tight budgets?
No on mountain accommodations fall into the low budget
category. However, most resorts are near cities or villages that
have inexpensive places to stay. Many comfortable rooms cost as
little as $10 a night. Consult one of the many guidebooks
for more information. You, or a travel companion, should be able
to speak Spanish (or be willing to try), if you do not plan on staying
on the mountain at one of the destination resorts. The Three Valley
Areas (Valle Nevado, El Colorado and La Parva) are all within a
short distance of Santiago. Convenient inexpensive shuttle
service serves the three resorts. Villarrica-Pucon is a short
distance from the village of Pucon where many low cost rooms and
shuttle services await the budget traveller. Frequent, comfortable
and inexpensive busses connect Pucon
to Santiago. Chapa Verde is another good budget option. Shuttles
connect the ski area to the city of Rancagua, a 2 hour bus
ride from Santiago. The villages of Las Trancas and Los Lleunques
and their many budget rooms are a short distance from Termas de
Chillan. Shuttle service is often available to the mountain from
these villages. Los Andes is the closest city to Portillo. However,
the most convenient and frequent shuttle
service to Portillo is from Santiago (2.5 hours), and the trip
is moderately expensive.
In Argentina, the city of Bariloche has many inexpensive
places in which to stay. Consult a guidebook
for more information. Low cost municipal bus service connects the
city to the ski area.
Resorts often discount lift tickets toward the end
of the ski season (September and early October).
What is the terrain like?
The biggest resorts have terrain for all ability
levels. Experts, intermediates, and beginners should be able to
spend a week on mountain without becoming bored with the terrain.
What is the weather like?
In Central Chile the weather is similar to Lake Tahoe.
Sunny skies and temperatures in the 30's and 40's F are the norm
for 70% of the winter. When it snows, storms generally last from
1 to 3 days. Because elevations are high, snow is usually dry. Lift
operations are often limited during storms. In Southern Chile precipitation
falls more often, and snow is generally heavier. Argentina is similar,
but, being on the Eastern side of the Cordillera, sometimes
receives less snow than Chile.
Can I get by with only English?
It depends on the resort you visit. If you travel
to Portillo, you will have no problems. At Three Valleys resorts,
Spanish is useful, but 80% of the time you should be able to get
by with English. At other resorts you should expect to use Spanish
to communicate. Broken, phrase-book Spanish usually will do the
trick. Chileans are friendly and will often go out of their way
to understand you.
I am desperately looking for a
job at any ski resort in Chile or Argentina this summer... I could
work as either a lift worker, ski instructor, or any other possible
position.
I wish I could give your some encouragement, but
lift workers, waiters, snowshovelers, etc., are all jobs done proudly
by Chileans and Argentines. And our Latin neighbors work for wages
that most North Americans and Europeans would find unacceptably
low. If you are an instructor with special skills, and speak Spanish,
there may be a chance of getting a job. Chilean and Argentine instructors
earn comparable wages to their North American and European counterparts.
An instructor certification certificate from an appropriate internationally
recognized organization, such as Professional Ski Instructors of
America (PSIA), is normally required. Full certification (Level
3 or higher) is most desirable. If your home ski school is willing
to hire South American certified instructors, your chances of landing
a ski school job are much higher. Certified ski patrollers may also
be able to find work. While you may have a small chance of prearranging
a job by telephone, fax, email and/or mail, travelling to
Chile or Argentina at the end of the ski season (in September or
early October) and meeting personally with the appropriate managers
and/or supervisors to try to arrange a job for the following season
is the most likely way to get a job. This seems complicated and
expensive (and it is complicated and expensive.). Sometimes, if
the early season snow is good, if business looks strong, and if
the ski school director is feeling generous, it may be possible
to arrange a job at the beginning of the season (in May or June).
This is especially true at the small and medium size areas (where
wages are significantly lower).
Another possibility is teaching English. Chilean
language schools are increasingly looking for native English speakers
to teach classes. Schools generally look for a long term time committment
(do not plan on staying for a month and then moving on.). A college
degree also helps. Pay varies but should be enough to cover living
expenses. Check El Mercurio classifieds for job
listings. The most likely way to get a teaching job is to meet personally
with the language school directors/managers.
Do you have names, addresses,
telephone numbers, etc. of appropriate supervisors and managers
I should contact to find work?
No, your best bet is to contact the ski areas directly
(contact information is in the individual resort pages) to find
out whom you should speak to. Telephoning is the best way to get
information quickly. If you do not speak Spanish, find somebody
who does. Faxes and letters will probably be answered. Writing in
English should not be a problem. A few resorts have email (addresses
are in the individual resort pages) that is theoretically checked
regularly.
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