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Snowy slopes of El Colorado, in the Farellones area

Chile · Valle Nevado · La Parva · El Colorado

Where to stay in Farellones, La Parva and Valle Nevado

Where to stay to ski Farellones, La Parva or Valle Nevado: sleep up the mountain or in Santiago, road timetables and how to ski near Santiago for less.

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Where to stay in Farellones & Valle Nevado by budget

The scores you will see come from guests who booked and stayed there. We take you to a search that is already sorted and filtered by a minimum rating, so you compare with real data.

Tight budget

Lo Barnechea (Santiago)

a city stay and day trips up

You save on mountain accommodation, the most expensive part of the trip.

Cheapest with good ratings
Best balance
Mid-range

Farellones

a refuge, cabin or shared apartment

Sleep on the mountain with a wider range of prices than Valle Nevado.

Best value
Treat yourself

Valle Nevado

a ski-in apartment or hotel

Ski without tackling the road every day.

Top rated by guests
  • Reviews from guests who actually stayed
  • No extra cost for booking through us
  • Book and pay on the official platform

Why Farellones and Valle Nevado

Just over an hour from Santiago lies one of South America’s largest ski areas: Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado, with the village of Farellones in between. Few capitals in the world have snow this close.

The big decision is sleeping up the mountain or in the city. Up top you save time and avoid the timed road and chains, but pay more. In Santiago you save a lot and go up for the day. For a short weekend, the city usually wins; for a ski week, the mountain.

Choosing by type of trip

  • Ski-focused, no driving: an apartment or hotel in Valle Nevado.
  • Family or group on a mid budget: a cabin or apartment in Farellones.
  • Group staying a week: a large house or apartment in La Parva.
  • One or two ski days: sleep in Lo Barnechea and go up early.

When to go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun❄
Jul❄
Aug❄
Sep❄
Oct
Nov
Dec
  • Good time to save
  • Peak season: pricier and busier
  • ❄ Usual snow season
  • A guide only: varies each year.

Winter (June to September)

The ski season usually opens in mid-June and runs to late September, depending on snow. The July winter holidays and weekends are the busiest; weekdays in August and September usually have good snow and fewer people.

Summer (December to March)

Without snow, the high country is good for hiking, mountain biking and escaping Santiago's heat. Fewer places are open, but there is also far less traffic.

Getting there

  • From Santiago, drive up through Lo Barnechea on the Farellones road, famous for its numbered bends. Without traffic it takes about an hour and a half to the resorts.
  • In snow season the road usually runs uphill-only in the morning and downhill-only in the afternoon, and chains are mandatory. Check current timetables before setting off.
  • If you would rather not drive, buses and transfers leave early from several points in Santiago and return in the afternoon.

Which area to choose

Valle Nevado

Best for: skiers who want to walk out onto the slopes

The highest resort and the best set up for staying, with ski-in hotels and apartments. The most convenient and also the most expensive.

Farellones

Best for: groups and families who want to sleep up the mountain for less

  • ≈ 30 min by car to Valle Nevado

The mountain village between El Colorado and La Parva, with refuges, apartments and cabins. A wider range of prices than Valle Nevado.

La Parva

Best for: week-long stays in an apartment

A resort with many apartments and houses for rent, often from private owners. Good for groups staying a week.

Lo Barnechea and Las Condes (Santiago)

Best for: tight budgets and day trips

  • ≈ 40 min by car to Farellones

Sleeping in the city and driving up for the day is the cheapest option. Lo Barnechea is at the foot of the road, so you can leave early within the uphill window.

Approximate times without traffic or snow, calculated with OpenStreetMap routing.

Where to stay

Cabins, refuges and houses

Farellones and La Parva have cabins, mountain refuges and whole houses, good for groups who split the cost.

Cabins and houses in FarellonesHouses in La Parva

Mountain apartments

The most common type of stay at all three resorts. Always check how far it is from the nearest lift.

Apartments in Valle NevadoApartments in Farellones

Sleep in Santiago and go up for the day

For one or two ski days, staying in the city and going up by bus, transfer or shared car is usually cheapest.

Places to stay in Lo Barnechea

On a budget

Skiing near Santiago on a budget

Skiing in Chile has a reputation for being expensive, but it does not have to be. Most of the cost is mountain accommodation, gear hire and food on the slopes, and you can save on all three.

  1. 1Sleep in Santiago and go up for the day: you skip mountain accommodation, the biggest expense.
  2. 2Ski midweek and avoid July: weekends and the winter holidays bring the highest prices and longest queues.
  3. 3Buy your lift ticket early on each resort's website: there are usually advance and weekday prices.
  4. 4Rent gear in Santiago before going up: it is usually cheaper than on the mountain.
  5. 5Pack lunch and something hot in a flask; food on the slopes is what makes the day expensive.
  6. 6For several nights up the mountain, share an apartment or house in Farellones or La Parva instead of a hotel.
Best-value stays in FarellonesBest-value stays in Lo Barnechea

FAQ

Where to stay in Farellones & Valle Nevado on a tight budget?

In Lo Barnechea (Santiago): a city stay and day trips up. You save on mountain accommodation, the most expensive part of the trip.

Where to stay in Farellones & Valle Nevado on a mid-range budget?

In Farellones: a refuge, cabin or shared apartment. Sleep on the mountain with a wider range of prices than Valle Nevado.

Where to stay in Farellones & Valle Nevado for a treat?

In Valle Nevado: a ski-in apartment or hotel. Ski without tackling the road every day.

Is it better to stay in Valle Nevado or Farellones?

Valle Nevado is the most convenient, with ski-in stays, but also the most expensive. Farellones has a wider range of prices and puts you close to El Colorado and La Parva.

Should I stay in Farellones or in Santiago to ski?

For one or two days, sleeping in Santiago and going up early is cheapest. For several days in a row, sleeping in Farellones avoids the timed road and chains every morning.

Are there timetables for the Farellones road?

In snow season the road usually runs uphill in the morning and downhill in the afternoon, and chains are required. Check current timetables before setting off.

Can I ski all three resorts on one ticket?

Some seasons have offered a joint ticket, but not always. Check each resort's website for the current season.

Farellones & Valle Nevado

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