Ski season in the North hemisphere is done, but the South is just getting started. Head to Chile’s lake district for a fiery blend of ski mountaineering and backcountry skiing, and conquer four Andean volcanoes in only 8 days! It’s as simple as it gets — you summit a beautiful Patagonian peak, you ski down world-class 30-45-degree corn slopes, and then it’s on to the next one! In between adventures, you’ll roam quaint lakeside towns, rest in cozy lodges, and recoup in rejuvenating termas (hot springs). If you lava good challenge, don’t miss out on this one! Learn more about volcano skiing in Chile from Greg Hill, ACMG Ski Guide extraordinaire and soon-to-be Assistant Rock Climbing Guide.
Summit and ski four different Andean volcanoes in only 8 days
Upgrade your skills on Chile’s exhilaratingly steep corn slopes
Rest your tired touring muscles in reinvigorating hot springs
Spend 8 days summiting and skiing the Patagonian Andes! Tackle four of Chile’s most spectacular volcanic summits, and ski to your heart’s content on exhilaratingly steep corn slopes! In your off-time, take in Chile’s scenic lake district by diving into its culture, cuisine, and reenergizing hot springs.
Arrive in Temuco for the 2-hour transfer to Malalcahuello, where your tour begins. Arrive early enough, and you’ll have a free afternoon to relax in Malalcahuello’s natural hot springs!
Transit to the base of the Corralco ski area on the flanks of the Lonquimay Volcano. Take the chairlift to the highest point of the ski area, and then make an ascent on this beautiful and easily accessible peak. At the summit, take a mental image of the dramatic views of the region’s other stunning volcanoes before the long, long descent. You’ll be taking them on soon! Head back to Malalcahuello, have another soak in the hot springs, and hit the hay.
Get ready for an early transfer to Las Araucarias Ski Resort at the base of the Llaima Volcano. Today, you will ascend and ski down this impressive volcano with its vast crater, twin peaks with spectacular smoking fumaroles, and araucaria forests. When you’re done, get transferred to your hotel in Malalcahuello.
Leave Malalcahuello behind for the resort town of Pucon. Nestled on the shores of the scenic Lake Villarrica, this cozy little town is towered over by your next objective, the impressive Villarrica volcano. Take the afternoon off to explore Pucon, and enjoy another opportunity to relax in the termas (hot springs). Overnight in Pucon.
As was the case with the other volcanoes, your climb on Villarrica starts at the base of a small ski area. You will skin half to two-thirds of the way to the summit before transitioning to boot crampons. The 5,000-ft (1,520 m) vertical climb to the summit will take you about 5 hours, while the descent back to the parking lot takes only 25 minutes! Spend another night in Pucon.
Day 6 takes you to Puerto Varas, a beautiful city on Lake Llanquihue. Across the lake, you’ll have a clear view of your next objective, the imposing Osorno Volcano. Take the day off to rest and tour the city, always keeping an eye on Osorno.
Your final day of touring brings you to the base of Osorno, a 1-hour drive away from Puerto Varas. Like Villarrica and Lonquimay, Osorno features a 5,000 ft (1,520 m) ascent, and you’ll skin for a good portion of this elevation gain.
Depending on the conditions, the summit can involve a couple of exciting rope lengths of climbing rime ice, in which case you’ll leave your skis behind for the last stretch. Other times, the route is covered by snow, allowing you to ski from the summit. High-five on top, taking in 360° views of the mountain’s lakes, before your final big ski run of the trip. Chat about your favorite moments of the adventure in the cozy village of Puerto Varas.
Your journey wraps up in Puerto Montt, a beautiful city on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Catch your first flight home here — don’t forget to wave goodbye to the volcanoes of southern Chile.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for several full days, skiing, touring, and summiting in some very steep terrain. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. Your guide highly advises a structured and specialized training regime in a gym or with a personal trainer in preparation for this trip. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on physical training.
For the enjoyment and safety of everyone involved, participants must be approved to participate in advanced backcountry skiing tours either through a previous trip with the guiding service or through recommendations and a vetting process.
To participate in this tour, you need to have previous backcountry skiing experience. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on challenging and steep terrain for 4 full days. You must be capable of linking turns on steep slopes (up to 45 degrees) while maintaining control. You should also have some experience using alpine climbing and mountaineering equipment, including an ice ax and crampons. Your guide advises you to have at least 14 days of experience touring in the backcountry with varied terrain and snow conditions.
For backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For technical mountaineering gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
Your guides recommend you pack all your equipment in your two duffle bags. Do not simply pack your backpack, since baggage handling machines can damage its straps.
It is essential to lock these bags for their trip. Depending on the airport, you may be able to put your travel locks on after they have been searched. If not, lock the bag with zip ties. For travelers from the US, if the TSA cuts off the zip tie to search your bag, they will replace it.
You will still need travel locks to lock your bags in the hotel and base camp. Generally, you will take one duffle to the base camp and leave one in the hotel with your belongings for the town.
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Malalcahuello and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and prices:
Backcountry skiing in Chile can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
To get to this ski tour, most people fly into La Araucanía International Airport, also known as Temuco Airport, in Temuco, Chile. Make sure to pick a flight that arrives by the early afternoon.
Your guides will meet you in Temuco at a pre-arranged time and transfer you to Malalcahuello, marking the start of your tour.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Chile’s Lake District, please refer to Chile’s COVID-19 entry requirements.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
