Travel to Chapa Verde with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Chapa Verde is a well equipped ski resort conveniently located not far south of Santiago and near the major town of Rancagua. The area is renowned for its beautiful landscapes and multiple trails that appeal to all levels of skiers and snowboarders, while the off-piste terrain is awesome.

Chapa Verde ski resort is located at 5,380 feet above sea level and boasts excellent facilities. There is a top notch ski school here, a well-stocked ski rental store for the whole family and an extensive ski repair shop. You will also find a very good ski shop with plenty of up-to-date ski equipment and accessories.

There are 22 slopes at Chapa Verde ski resort culminating in 18 miles of pistes that cover a skiable area of 2,965 acres and traverse a 2,050-feet vertical. Four standard chairlifts and one triple chairlift carry thousands of skiers per hour to heights of over 9,843 feet, while the longest run is less than two miles.

There are no hotels or condos on the mountain, only private residences, while the Coya Country Club, a 30-minute drive from Chapa Verde ski resort, is an excellent hotel offering good deals. Many people choose to stay in Rancagua and it is here where you will find a decent helping of bars and restaurants, while the two restaurants at the slopes have a range of international cuisine on the menu and serve food all day.

For alternative skiing, the Three Valleys ski resorts of La Parva, El Colorado and Valle Nevado are all within 60 miles of Chapa Verde. Away from the slopes you’ll find irresistible countryside laden with vineyards, nature preserves and hot springs, while Rancagua is an up and coming city with plenty of attractions and Santiago is bustling and sophisticated, boasting the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Andes.

Chapa Verde ski resort’s ski season extends from June to October and its cheapest weeks are offered outside the July high season, while children under six ski for free and seniors over 60 years old receive a discount. Flying to Santiago and taking a direct shuttle bus to Chapa Verde is the most convenient travel option.

Skiing in Chapa Verde

With a superb location only an hour’s drive south of the capital of Santiago, Chapa Verde ski resort has some fine pisted runs amid stunning scenery and some of the best off-piste powder in the country. There are more than 20 trails at Chapa Verde, some of which reach heights in excess of 9,842 feet.

Chapa Verde ski resort boasts 18 miles of runs that are divided into 20 per cent suitable for beginners, the majority for intermediates at 60 per cent and 20 per cent reserved for advanced and expert sliders. The longest run is less than two miles long and five chairlifts provide slope access over the 2,050-metre vertical at a rate of 3,000 people per hour.

Chapa Verde ski resort doesn’t have many alternative non-ski activities apart from snowboarding and snowshoeing and as the hotels are situated in nearby Rancagua, there’s not much chance of jumping into a sauna after a slide. However, there are a couple of excellent restaurants and a bar at the resort base, while Rancagua offers plenty of entertainment.

Facilities at Chapa Verde ski resort include a respected ski school, quality rental shop, comprehensive repair facilities and a ski boutique with some first rate gear. The Coya Country Club provides the nearest, most comprehensive accommodation, while the town of Rancagua is not very far and has plenty of options.

The best time to go skiing in Chapa Verde is during the four-month, June to October ski season, while the cheapest times are at the beginning and end of the season on weekdays. The most practical transportation option for getting to Chapa Verde is to fly to the nearest airport at Santiago and take a shuttle direct to the resort or hire a car.

Transportation to Chapa Verde

Chapa Verde ski resort is only 50 miles south of Santiago and just east of Rancagua and is directly accessible by road only. Options for getting here include flying to Santiago and taking a direct shuttle bus to the resort, a bus combination transfer via Rancagua, train and bus combination via Santiago and Rancagua, or by driving a hire car.

If driving from Santiago, head south on route 5 directly to Rancagua city, from where Copper Highway heads east past the town of Machali and onto the Maitenes check stop. The road is paved up to this point and has a gravelled surface for the last four miles to Chapa Verde ski resort.

The nearest airport is Santiago’s Arturo Merino-Benítez Airport, which receives direct flights from many US cities. From London, flights go via New York, Miami or Los Angeles (USA) before heading for Santiago. Shuttle buses leave from the airport for Rancagua throughout the day, as do regular buses via Rancagua.

If you plan on taking a local bus up to Chapa Verde ski resort from Rancagua, be sure to get there early in the morning if coming from Santiago, as buses leave for the mountain between 09:00 and 09:30 on weekdays and between 08:00 and 09:30 on weekends; however, shuttles run at other times. Buses leave from the Hiperindependencia in Rancagua.

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