Travel to Lagunillas with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Lagunillas is a friendly and inexpensive ski resort near the picturesque town of San José de Maipo to the southeast of Santiago. Lagunillas is well known for its range of slopes, great atmosphere and beautiful surroundings and the south-facing slopes of Lagunillas ski resort are open for four months in the winter, with night skiing also available.

The resort base is situated at a lofty 7,220 feet above sea level and facilities include a ski school, equipment rentals, skiing and snowboarding gear for sale at the Club Andino shop and a cafeteria.

Lagunillas ski resort offers 13 slopes across 500 acres of varying terrain that accommodates all skiers, from beginners to experts. The pistes at Lagunillas are up to 1,150 feet and are fed by a series of ski lifts that take thousands of people up the slopes every hour. La Lola, Novicios and Pancho are the most popular pistes in Lagunillas, where you can also enjoy night skiing on the illuminated pistes.

There are several lodges and hotels at Lagunillas ski resort including the Hosteria Millahue, which is a favourite among return skiers for its value for money and excellent facilities including hot and cold swimming pools and a Jacuzzi. The resort also has some decent cafés and restaurants as well as the excellent Pub La Francisca, with its beer and music.

For alternative skiing and snowboarding, the famed Three Valleys of Chile lie just to the north of Lagunillas ski resort and incorporate three top class resorts at altitude, with superb services and facilities. For additional sliding, Chapa Verde ski resort lies to the south, while the picturesque towns of El Cajón del Maipo, especially San José de Maipo, are well worth a look.

Lagunillas ski resort’s ski season runs from mid-June to mid-October, with cheaper rates at the beginning and end of the season during weekdays and quality snow best found in July and August. Flying to Santiago and then taking a private shuttle bus is the most convenient means of transportation to Lagunillas ski resort.

Skiing in Lagunillas

Located near the pretty town of San José de Maipo, not far from the capital of Santiago, Lagunillas ski resort is for the more discerning skier. Here the marvellous, relaxing ambience puts an emphasis firmly on taking it easy. The slopes at Lagunillas are available for every level of skier and snowboarder and night skiing is also possible.

Lagunillas ski resort’s slopes are divided into beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert categories and are accessible by a complement of efficient chairlifts. There are 13 slopes in total at Lagunillas, the longest of which is just under a mile and the total skiable area including the off-piste is 500 acres.

Several alternative mountain activities are available at the ski resort of Lagunillas including hiking, snowshoeing, ski touring (randonee) and night skiing, while some of the hotels at the resort offer facilities such as saunas, swimming pools and Jacuzzis. Hotel entertainment and Pub La Francisca provide much of the après-ski.

Lagunillas ski resort’s services include a ski school, ski rentals at the Club Andino shop as well as a café, while hotels, lodges and hostels make up the quality and inexpensive accommodation. Hosteria Millahue has excellent facilities and is one of the most popular places to stay in the village.

The high season months of July and August offer the best skiing in Lagunillas, while weekdays in June and October offer the best rates. Shuttle buses leave regularly from Santiago’s Benitez Airport throughout the day for Lagunillas and pre-booking a return journey is the most practical and convenient means of transfer.

Transportation to Lagunillas

Lagunillas ski resort is located 50 miles southeast of Santiago and 10 miles northeast of San José de Maipo in the Metropolitan of Santiago. It is directly accessible by paved and unpaved road, making the only viable transportation options for getting here from Santiago-Benitez International Airport driving a hire car or taking a shuttle bus.

If you are driving from Santiago-Benitez International Airport, take the Panamericana highway and follow route 5 southbound through Santiago and on towards Rancagua. Take the G-25 east towards San José de Maipo once you have passed through Santiago. Before you reach Lagunillas, head north on an unpaved road for 10 miles to Lagunillas ski resort; tyre chains must be used on this part of the journey in the winter.

Santiago-Benitez International Airport is the main transport hub for Chile and it receives numerous daily flights from important cities worldwide. However, those coming from London will be routed through a major American city such as Miami or Los Angeles. The airport is well equipped and has good transfer services to Lagunillas.

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