Travel to Farellones-El Colorado with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Located to the northeast of Santiago is Farellones-El Colorado ski resort, which together with nearby Valle Nevado and La Parva is the largest ski region in South America. El Colorado is known for its abundance of good quality snow, which is backed up by snow making equipment, numerous trails suitable for all levels of ability, plentiful off-piste terrain and comprehensive facilities.

The two interconnecting villages of Villa Farellones and Villa Colorado make up the Farellones-El Colorado ski resort refuge. Farellones is the older of the two, with its more traditional ski village look, while Colorado is more modern and offers more in the way of the facilities. Situated between Farellones and El Colorado is an excellent ski school with top-class instructors and a mini ski school for children as well as rental and repair shops, boutiques, a medical clinic, mini-market and a first-aid station.

Farellones-El Colorado ski resort’s statistics are quite impressive, with 22 pisted runs stretching for 25 miles down a 2,952-foot vertical slice of Colorado Hill, a peak ski level of 10,935 feet above sea level and a whopping 19 ski lifts providing access to the slopes. Half of the groomed terrain is given over to beginners, but there are runs suitable for all levels of ability as well as plenty of off-piste powder for thrill-seekers.

Both villages in Farellones-El Colorado ski resort have a variety of lodgings, with Farellones being cheaper than its sister village of El Colorado. Two particularly good establishments are the Apart Hotel Colorado and the Hotel Posada de Farellones. With regard to après-ski, there are many cafés and restaurants featuring Chilean and international cuisines as well as fast food available, while the KL Pub provides a pleasant place to drink.

For alternative skiing, you can head to the resorts of La Parva and Valle Nevado, part of the Three Valleys collection. The former resort offers even higher skiing than Farellones-El Colorado ski resort, while Valle Nevado also has a snowboard park. Away from the slopes, Santiago is well worth a look; a grand and sophisticated metropolis with a superb Andean backdrop.

The ski season at Farellones-El Colorado ski resort runs from mid-June to mid-October, receiving its best snow in July and August and cheaper rates are available on weekdays at the beginning and the end of the season. Santiago receives flights the world over and flying here and then taking a private shuttle to the resort is the most convenient travel option.

Skiing in Farellones-El Colorado

Farellones-El Colorado ski resort is part of Chile’s famed Three Valleys, South America’s largest and best ski area. The resort is close enough to the capital of Santiago to be called convenient and the massive snowfall it receives throughout the season ensures great sliding conditions. There are many trails here suitable for all levels, ranging from beginners to experts and much off-piste for fanatics.

Twenty four miles of well-groomed pistes are divided into 22 quality runs split into 51 per cent suitable for beginners, 28 per cent for intermediates, eight per cent for advanced sliders and 13 per cent for experts. The longest slope here is two and a half miles and the highest ski lift-served slope is 10,935 feet, while 19 ski lifts provide slope access for thousands of skiers and snowboarders per hour.

Alternative activities at Farellones-El Colorado ski resort include randonee (ski touring), snowshoeing and mountaineering, while the top resort hotels have saunas, swimming pools and spas for relaxation. Après-ski at Farellones-El Colorado can be enjoyed at either village at one of the many restaurants and bars.

As can be expected, facilities and services at Farellones-El Colorado’s resort villages are top notch, with ski schools, comprehensive ski rental equipment and a supermarket, while accommodation is also first rate, with quality hotels and condos available. If you are on a budget, Villa Farellones is more cost friendly than El Colorado.

The best snow conditions can be enjoyed from mid-July to mid-August at Farellones-El Colorado ski resort, while cheaper rates are available at the beginning and the end of the season; young children and seniors qualify for ski lift discounts. The most practical travel option for getting to Farellones-El Colorado and away is to fly to Santiago and use the shuttle service that runs direct from the airport.

Transportation to Farellones-El Colorado

Farellones-El Colorado ski resort is 30 miles northeast of Santiago in central Chile and is directly accessible by controlled road. There are only two real options for getting here from Santiago airport or from the city -- by hire car or shuttle bus. As the resort has good accommodation options and is near to the capital, it’s easier to travel by shuttle.

If you are travelling by car from Santiago-Benitez International Airport, head towards Santiago on route 5 and then exit onto the route 70 ring road heading east. After about six miles you can join the G21 paved highway for Farellones; Villa Colorado is an additional three miles farther up the mountain. Total distance from the airport to the ski resort is about 40 miles. The Farellones road is one-way between 08:00 and 14:00 (ascending) and 14:00 and 20:00 (descending).

Santiago-Benitez International Airport receives direct flights from many US cities, but if you are coming from London you will have to go via a US city such as New York, Miami or Los Angeles. Facilities at the fairly new single-terminal airport are good and transfer services to the city centre and Farellones-El Colorado ski resort via shuttle bus or taxi are excellent.

There are direct shuttle services to Farellones-El Colorado ski resort from the airport and the city in the morning and early afternoon. After 14:00 the road traffic is switched by police so that returning vehicles have the right of way.

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