Chile's number 1 ski area (Valle Nevado)

Member Name: markjlomas

Product:	Valle Nevado
Date:	09/05/02 (179 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Close to Santiago

Disadvantages: Limited Accomodation, Crowded at weekends

I visited Valle Nevado (www.vallenevado.com) in August 1995. I was on a business trip in South America and was due to spend the weekend in Santiago. Our agent out there offered to take me skiing for the weekend, so I jumped at the chance, and on the Saturday moring we set off for the 1.5 hours drive from Santiago to Valle Nevado. As we got closer to the resort there were a lot of street vendors selling snow chains as apperently it is some sort of legal requirement to have them when in the resort (or was it the Andes in general?).

Obviously I hadn't taken my skis with me so on arriving at the ski area the first port of call was the ski hire shop. One major drawback was that I had to provide, and leave, ID in order to rent the skis. I was a bit nervous leaving my passport at the hire shop, but everything as OK and I got it back when I returned my Skis. Can't remember how much the ski hire was exactly bud don't think it was too expensive and I was able to pay by credit card.

The ski area was built by the same company that built Les Arcs so it had a distinctive French feel about it. There was a good selection of varied blue green and red runs, with only a couple of blacks, but as this was my first time on skis for 6 months it was just perfect for me.

We had lunch at the main complex, which got quite busy but we were able to find a table fairly easily. Prices were not too bad really.

The skiers were mainly Chilean, but there were a few 'professional' skiers from France and North America, obviously doing some winter training there. A couple of locals that I talked to were quite surprised to see and English Man skiing in Chile.

I had a great day skiing, we had intended to ski again on the Sunday, but the Valle Nevado Hotel was fully booked up and had been for some time so at the end of the day we packed up and returned to Santiago.

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