La Parva

Situated in the mountainous Tres Valles area, which is also home to El Colorado and Valle Nevado, La Parva offers high-alpine skiing in the heart of the Andes Mountains. From the top of the resort, take a minute to revel in the astounding views of the entire Santiago Valley before dropping into 3,000-plus vertical feet of treeless terrain. With its more well-known resort siblings taking on the crowds, La Parva’s hike-to, off-piste skiing is yours for the taking. With lines like the La Chimenea couloir and McConkey’s–named after the late Shane McConkey–it’s no wonder locals like to keep word about this ski area to themselves. Because the resort’s terrain is 100-percent exposed, conditions can get variable quickly but after a solid snowfall, there’s no better place to pillage for pow. And if your legs can handle it, La Parva also offers night skiing.

Details

Skiable Acres:

988

Runs:

20

Vertical Drop:

3,150 feet

Distance To Airport:

45 miles

Website:

laparva.cl

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How To Get There

Once you fly into Santiago International Airport (SCL), La Parva is just an hour’s drive northeast of the city. The road is well paved but during busy traffic times, it is a one-way highway, so be prepared for extended travel times when traffic is thick.

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Nightlife

After a full day of slarving and carving the resort, make your way to El Montañés in Farellones for après that seamlessly transitions into a night out. Blue Tambo night club is another popular spot in the town of Farellones that keeps the party going into the early hours of the next morning.

Travel Tips From The Pros:

Always pack a few of your favorite mountain snacks knowing that you won’t be able to get them in South America. If you feel like you have the room, throw in some peanut butter and hot sauce… two things that I have yet to find in South America.

— Michelle Parker

Where To Ski

For intermediate skiers, La Parva is a great place to experience skiing in South America but advanced and expert skiers will also find their fair share of challenging terrain both in bounds and off-piste. Off of Chair 1, heading left will take you into the Águilas area, where the terrain is ungroomed and yours for the slaying. On the other side of the ski area, the new Valle Fabres lift now provides entry to terrain only previously accessed by hiking or crossing over from another resort. Note: If you plan on skiing off-piste, be sure to have the proper safety equipment, knowledge and a partner.

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Where To Stay

Accommodations at La Parva are limited to expensive condos and most require at least a week’s stay. On the plus side, almost every condo in La Parva is ski-in/ski-out. However, the nearby town of Farellones is less than three miles from the resort and offers accommodations for all budgets. Hotel Posada Farellones will get the bougie juices flowing in this Swiss-style hotel with rooms for up to six people and breakfast and dinner are included with your stay. Powder Lodge is a quaint eight-bedroom lodge with rooms for up to three people. A free shuttle will take you to and from the ski area and breakfast, après and dinner are all included. For those on a super tight budget, check out the ChileXtremeo Hostel. You can choose to stay with strangers in a shared, four-person room or pony up for some privacy.

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Where To Eat

For a quick ski break, make a stop at Restaurant 3100 at the top of the Alpha lift for tasty Chillean fare and when your dogs start barking, take a break at Cafe Olimpico for a snack and pisco sour. For more casual fare like pizza, burgers and beer, Alfonsina is the place to eat in La Parva. The Hotel Posada Farellones–whether you’re staying there or even if you’re not–offers gourmet dishes and cocktails at a reasonable price.