The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: July thirteenth, skiing south of the border.

The fact that it's mid-summer is no reason to put your snow skis in storage. There's plenty of good powder on steep slopes south of the equator, where winter is in full swing. Until recently, South America's slopes were too remote to attract any but the most adventurous North American skiers. But the Andes do boast some fine ski resorts, and air service to South American has improved.

Las Lenas, 750 mile due west of Buenos Aires, is Argentina's world class resort. Though the village is small by U.S. standards, Las Lenas has over 4,000 feet of vertical drop and 40 miles of groomed runs, served by eleven lifts. Its snow attracts national ski teams from the U.S., France and Switzerland. San Carlos de Bariloche, Chapelco and los Penetenties are other somewhat smaller Argentinean resorts.

Chile is the other South American nation with something special to offer North American skiers. The ski resort of Portillo, just a three-hour drive from Santiago, sits in the shadow of the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere. Portillo has hosted numerous international competitions, including the 1966 World championships. Nearby lies Valle Nevado, one of South America's newest ski resorts. Termas de Chillian, La Parva and El Colorado are other emerging Andes resorts.

The South American ski season generally runs from mid-June to late September, with the best snow found in August. Though distance does add to travel times and the cost of the airfares, affordable ski packages to South American destinations are offered by a variety of tour operators.

FMI For South American ski expeditions, contact Solar Tours at 800-388-7652 or www.solartours.com or Powderquest at www.powderquest.com

Back to July 2003 Main

Look through the list of fascinating places and off-beat features we’ve covered. Search text versions of past episodes and articles in our archives.