La Parva Ski Resort
Updated Travel Guide to Skiing in La Parva Chile
We designed this destination guide to help you quickly learn about La Parva Ski Resort in Chile. After skiing here for over 25 years, the La Parva ski area ranks as one of our favorites in The Andes.
Here we’ll cover:
- Terrain details
- Travel tips
- How to get here from Santiago
- Recommended guided trips visiting La Parva ski resort and more
Let’s dive right in. La Parva’s ski season kicks off in June!
Where is La Parva Chile?
La Parva ski resort is based at 9,000ft in the high Chilean Andes is just 45 miles from downtown Santiago and the international airport, Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez (airport code SCL). La Parva along with neighboring ski areas Valle Nevado and El Colorado form Chile’s version of the Three Valley’s, locally known as Tres Valles.
One of my favorite runs in La Parva is a short hike above the Las Aguilas lift. Once you gain the ridge after about a ten minute hike, you can either drop in to some powder chutes to your left, or hike up 20 more minutes and ski the massive bowl back down above the lift. The terrain is really scenic and the skiing can be really steep or relatively mellow. On a low snow year you have to be careful with route selection but there’s always something to ski from this spot.
Big News Out of La Parva for 2024-2025
Two of the three ski resorts that compose the famous “Tres Valles” have been purchased by a North American based company called the Mountain Capital Partners (MCP).
The Tres Valles is home to Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado, offering nearly 7000 acres of skiable terrain, making it the biggest in the southern hemisphere. The plan is to merge Valle Nevado with La Parva to offer skiers nearly 5000 acres of skiable lift serviced terrain, stamped by 84 named trails and 30 ski lifts. MCP own ski areas all across the USA, with the purchase of these two Chilean resorts being their first outside of North America.
The correlation of the two world-class resorts will result in easier access to more terrain due to new interconnection trail systems between them, creating a skiing experience of global proportions.
The Mountain Capital Partner’s managing partner, James Coleman, states: “Together, with these two world-class resorts, we are committed to creating the largest and best lift-served resort in the world.”
La Parva Packs a Big Punch
La Parva, the smallest of the Three Valleys resorts packs a punch. It has great skiing and snowboarding for intermediates to expert. With a huge swathe for intermediates and advanced-intermediates – a terrain park, and amazing access to the legendary Andes backcountry. The ski season runs from June to late September, and on a good year can extend into October.
With a vertical drop of nearly 1 kilometer from an altitude of 3,630 meters (11,910 ft), this Andes gem gets far less foreign travelers than its neighbors Valle Nevado and El Colorado. The area has a community of well-to-do Chileans who return each season, so it feels more like an exclusive boutique resort.
La Parva is one of the few skiing destinations in The Andes that offers night skiing.
It’s not uncommon to share the ski lift or an Apres-ski pisco sour with some of the best pros on the Planet. La Parva ski village has recently hosted unique events like Eye of the Condor and the PowderQuest Women’s Freeride Camp with Ingrid Backstrom.
Their FIS-approved downhill courses are used for training by international teams including the USA and France.
What is The Ski Terrain Like at La Parva?
Terrain – experts
After tracking out the fresh snow inbounds, experts head off-piste into the La Parva backcountry for their kicks, to the chutes like the famous tight, steep and long couloir La Chimenea, and McConkey’s, so named as a tribute to Shane McConkey in 2009.
There are plenty of deep powder bowls, and cornices, which is why this has been the location of Freeskiing championships and host to the Eye Of The Condor film and photo event.
Backcountry touring and exploring is pretty much endless as you head east and north of the resort. Just remember cell phone service is very limited once leaving the ski area. It is highly recommended to let the ski patrol know where you are heading and always check in quickly upon your return.
Backcountry Trips Visiting La Parva
For a guided backcountry trip visiting Chile’s La Parva, El Colorado, Valle Nevado and Argentina’s Las Leñas, check out this award winning tour led by certified ACMG ski guides.
Cerro La Parva Falsa has some great skiing for those willing to do some hiking. Alpine faces and couloirs are the reward to those willing to work up a sweat. Manantiales is the powder playground for those who aren’t up for hiking. Just make sure you get your timing right or you could be in for a very long run of windslab or crust.
Terrain – Intermediates
There is plenty to play on for low level and high level intermediates, with endless amounts of rolling groomers it is an excellent place to get some high speed turns in during the summer months.
Trip suggestion for experienced intermediates Chile Ski Resorts Tour for snowboarders + skiers
Terrain – freestyle
La Parva’s terrain park is located next to the Tortolas run with it’s own lift. The 32,500 square meter area hosts a mix of features and jumps, aimed to give skiers and riders the ability to improve and progress in their freestyle.
The park also features an airbag jump open to guests, weather permitting, to give them an opportunity to learn new tricks in a safe environment. With a total length of 450 meters, the park is a large improvement compared to previous ski seasons.
Beginners and non-skiers
Their are dedicated beginners areas below the ski school and an area called Manzanito that is close proximity to the village base.
For those not skiing, there is not a lot to do here except to watch the sunset, eat, drink and be merry.
Weather and Snow Conditions
For current weather and updated snow conditions at the resort use the following apps: La Parva website updates the conditions online Monday to Friday. But it is all in Spanish, and there are days where updates are forgotten. Learn more Resort Stats
Location: Above the town of Farellones, 1.5 hours from Santiago Airport
Elevation: 2,670m (8,759ft) to 3,630m (11,909ft)
Vertical Drop: 960m (3,150ft)
Inbound Terrain: 40 Runs
15% Beginner, 45% Intermediate, 30% Advanced, 10% Expert
Ski Lifts: 14
Hotels and Lodging: Condominiums, Apartments and private homes available for rent around the base area, or you can stay 10-15 minutes away in the Farellones village.
Off-Piste and Backcountry Access: Excellent. See guided off piste +backcountry trips
Heli-ski: Yes
Annual Snowfall: 300 inches (762 cms)
Weather: 80% sunny days on average with dry powder after a storm
Ski Season: June to late September, occasionally extending into October
Ski and Snowboard Park: Yes
Night Life: bars and pubs open nightly at the base, plus Farellones, just 15 minutes away has some great nightlife.
Donde Esta Mi Hotel?
If you are having trouble finding Ski La Parva hotels, it is because they do not exist! No hotels in La Parva, just private apartments and condominiums for rent in the village. The village has more of a small remote mountain village feel with nice amenities. Although it has minimal dining options the few that are available are top notch especially the fondue at La Marmita and Pisco Sours next door.The underrated and least crowded of the 3 Valleys. Pisco sour at sunset on the deck of El Montañes will excite the soul and fondu and red wine at La Marmita will warm you up nicely for the next day!
Value and Lift Ticket Prices
Day lift tickets at La Parva are often slightly cheaper compared to neighboring El Colorado and Valle Nevado, however on mountain food options are more limited, and tend to be a bit more pricey than its neighbors. See updated lift ticket rates.
How to Link Skiing to Valle Nevado and El Colorado
Weather and snow conditions depending, you can link your day skiing in La Parva to neighbor resorts; El Colorado and Valle Nevado. With the new ownership and plans to potentially merge La Parva with Valle Nevado, linking the two will certainly become a priority and easier in the near future.
Linked, the 3 resort combo is known locally as the Tres Valles, or 3 Valleys. Combo tickets are purchased via the lift ticket booths.
Be sure to ski with a map as the linking roads and lifts can be a bit confusing at first, especially on overcast or low visibility days.
How to Get to La Parva Ski Resort
Travel from Santiago to the La Parva ski area, generally takes 1.5 hours from downtown Santiago. This varies based on the road conditions, transfer company and day of the week.
The road known as, G-21 from Las Condes, has many switchbacks on the climb, with thousands of feet of elevation gain.
The road splits as you arrive to the entrance to the Farellones Village. If you continue straight, this road takes you to Valle Nevado Ski Resort.
Going to La Parva, you want to turn left into Farellones, by pass the busy parking lot of the small Farellones ski area, and up to yet another main fork in the road. Turn left to get to the La Parva base area. (Turning right will take to El Colorado resort.)
Public Shuttles
The cheapest way to get to the mountains. If you are on a budget and have the extra time and patience to pick up other passengers around congested Santiago, and more patience as they drop them off at the different ski centers, this can be a reasonable way to arrive.
Details are online or booked directly from the airport. We encourage you to do your research here.
Trip Advisor has lost trust to many savvy travelers recently, but their site can be a start to find a shuttle company to get you to La Parva.
Rent a car
Renting a SUV or 4×4 short-bed truck is an option from Santiago and the airport. If you are staying off the mountain (down in Farellones for example) or you are visiting several areas during your trip a vehicle can be worthwhile. Note that gas is expensive, the roads are not easy to drive, and you will need to carry snow chains, even if you have 4×4. This is enforced by the local police. An international drivers license is needed to drive in Chile. Pick one up at your local AAA (USA drivers) or CAA in Canada.
Recommended Ski Tour Visiting La Parva
Simply fly into Santiago, Chile and the rest is taken care of:
- 4 resorts
- 2 ski guides
- 8 guests per tour
- lift tickets, hotel, transportation, hosted dinners + wine, and more
- Over 2 decades of experience skiing and guiding in The Andes