Ski Portillo is kicking off the 2014 southern hemisphere ski season with five-plus feet of brand new snow. The Chilean resort, known as being the “the finest ski experience in the southern hemisphere,” has announced that it will open for the season on June 21. Also, with this year named an El Niño season, skiers can expect for there to be a lot more snow in the forecast. Located a mere two hours from Santiago, Ski Portillo may be the place to be in South America this summer (winter). For more information on the resort, visit the website, or see the information provided by Ski Portillo, below.
Ski Portillo, Chile:
With excellent early season storms delivering nearly five feet of snow, Ski Portillo, Chile announces that the season will kick off on June 21, 2014. With an El Niño season forecast for the southern hemisphere, the season is expected to be colder and wetter than average, great news for skiers and snowboarders who want optimal snow conditions.
Renowned as the finest ski experience in the southern hemisphere, Ski Portillo offers an authentic experience is rich in culture, family-owned hospitality and awe-inspiring beauty. Ski Portillo offers only 7-day ski weeks, with prices starting at US$2,100 at the grand Hotel Portillo and US$1,390 at the Octagon Lodge (prices are per person based on double occupancy at Hotel Portillo and quad-occupancy at the Octagon Lodge and include 7-nights accommodations, four meals daily, and eight-day lift ticket as well as all the amenities of the resort. For information or reservations, visit www.skiportillo.com, call 1.800.829.5325 (US toll-free), or email [email protected].
Located approximately two hours from Santiago and accessible via non-stop flights from numerous North American cities, Ski Portillo is the dream South American ski destination. Its incomparable setting – on the shores of the Lake of the Incas and surrounded by 19,000-foot Andean peaks – delivers an unsurpassed experience with world-class skiing and snowboarding and excellent service thanks to a one-to-one guest-to-employee ratio. Families, singles, couples, groups of friends—as well as many national ski teams—all love Portillo for its beauty, wide-open slopes and ample snowfall. The resort accommodates a maximum of 450 guests a week, eliminating crowds and lift lines, and affording guests the sensation of skiing at their own, private Andean resort.
Hotel Portillo Renovation
During 65 years in operation, Ski Portillo has continued to innovate and improve in order to elevate the ski week experience for guests, while maintaining legendary traditional hospitality. Currently, the grand Hotel Portillo is in the midst of a multi-year renovation which includes a redesign of the standard lakeview guestrooms. Close to 50 percent of the lakeview guestrooms will be renovated in time for the 2014 season with a sleeker, more contemporary room design that includes unique Chilean touches such as sustainably grown Lenga wood walls and ceilings and Chilean sheep wool throws.
Ski Portillo Skiing & Ski School
Ski Portillo’s 14 lifts, including the famed Va et Vient lifts found only at Ski Portillo, access terrain catering to skiers of all abilities. Ski Portillo’s ski and snowboard school features the world’s most qualified instructors; nearly 100 percent instruct year-round, teaching at the finest resorts in the Northern Hemisphere when they are not in Portillo. While less-experienced guests will find wide-open and uncrowded slopes, Portillo is famed for its steeps, and the area is surrounded by easily accessed backcountry terrain. Ski Portillo’s instructors also provide expert off-piste guiding for experienced skiers.
2014 Ski Portillo Heli-Skiing
From July to September Ski Portillo guests can experience the services of heli-skiing through Suma Air (www.sumair.com), which allows guests to access the endless acres of untracked powder snow in the mountains that surround Portillo. Suma Air flies a Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopter (with low noise level, GPS navigation and a luggage compartment), with a capacity of four passengers, a guide and the pilot. Ski Portillo provides the professional, who is in charge of guiding skiers during heli-ski trips. For information, contact Ski Portillo. Heli-skiing bookings are subject to availability, snow and weather conditions.
2014 Special Weeks – Wine Weeks, Friends Week and More
Family Weeks – Free night at Ritz Carlton Santiago for U.S. guests.
During Family Weeks (July 5-12, July 12-19, July 19-26, and July 26-Aug. 2), Portillo offers enhanced activities for children and families. As an added incentive to U.S. families, Ski Portillo is offering any guests of Hotel Portillo staying from July 5 – Aug. 2 a complimentary night at Ritz Carlton. This offer is subject to availability, has additional restrictions and has no cash value.
Chilean Wine Week (Aug. 2-9) and Chilean Wine Fest (Aug. 23-30) feature Chile’s top vineyards, with winemakers offering complimentary daily wine tastings and other special events for wine aficionados.
Friends Week (Aug. 16-23) is a favorite for old- and new-Portillo friends with additional special events on and off the mountain.
Kids Free Ski Weeks – During June, late August and September, Portillo offers “One Child Skis/stays/dines Free,” and “Two Children Ski/stay/dine Free” weeks, which represent a savings up to US $4,400. One child ski free promotion is available June 21-28, Aug. 30-Sept. 6, Sept. 6-Sept.13, Sept. 20-Sept. 27. Two children ski free promotion is available Sept. 27-Oct. 4.
2014 Ski Clinics
In addition to offering one of the finest ski schools in the world for guests looking for instruction or professional guiding, Ski Portillo is honored to welcome many of the world’s finest ski guides and pros to our slopes. Following are currently scheduled clinics for the 2014 season:
Ski with the Superstars with Chris Davenport, Ingrid Backstrom, Mike Douglas, Chris Anthony and Wendy Fischer – Aug. 9-16
NASTC (North American Ski Training Center) – Aug. 9-16
Ski with Kim with Kim Reichhelm – Aug. 9-30
Clendenin Ski Method with John Clendenin – Sept. 9-14
July in Portillo – World Cup
The 2014 World Cup will take place throughout neighboring Brazil from June 12 – July 13, 2014. In celebration of the World Cup, Ski Portillo will have large screens throughout the resort for fans of both skiing and football/soccer to be able to follow their favorite teams and matches while on vacation in Portillo.
Early Booking Offer for 2015 Season
For guests wanting to plan in advance for the 2015 season, Ski Portillo is announcing in advance its 2015 early booking offer, valid until Dec. 31, 2014. Guests confirming a 2015 ski week by that date are guaranteed 2014 prices. This special offer is for North American reservations only, subject to availability, and a 50 percent deposit is required at the time of booking. It must be purchased by Dec. 31, 2014, and is valid only for Saturday – Saturday Ski Weeks for the 2014 season; other restrictions may apply. More information about Ski Portillo is available at www.SkiPortillo.com.
Ski Portillo Sister Hotels
Ski Portillo also owns and operates two award-winning sister hotels – Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, located in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, and Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa located on the banks of Lake Sarmiento in Torres del Paine National Park. Tierra Atacama is open year-round and Tierra Patagonia is open from Sept. 1 – April 30, so a trip to Ski Portillo may be combined with visits to these iconic hotels.
About Ski Portillo
For 65 years, Ski Portillo has seamlessly united the spectacular beauty of the Chilean Andes, the pure joy of skiing and snowboarding, the camaraderie of friends and family, and the resort’s unique brand of hospitality and service, delivering unforgettable vacation experiences where guests create the memories of a lifetime. Ski Portillo was awarded the best ski resort and the best ski resort hotel in Chile by the 2013 World Ski Awards. For reservations, call 1.800.829.5325 (U.S.) or email [email protected]. For more information, visit www.SkiPortillo.com.
