Off-piste skiing and advanced skiing

Off-piste skiing and advanced terrain in Chile

Portillo’s terrain is a playground of endless possibilities for advanced and expert skiers looking for opportunities for off-piste skiing. With some of the steepest ski slopes in the Andes Mountains as well as chutes and bowls that fill with soft snow during storms, advanced skiers will fall in love with the variety of options and quality of terrain available to them. Depending on the snow conditions, zones that would be considered “backcountry” skiing become available, turning the mountain into a playground as big as your imagination.

Endless Possibilities

Extreme skiers and mountaineers have been visiting Portillo for years for its world class off-piste and backcountry ski terrain. At Portillo, the terrain can be as big as your imagination: opening up by traversing from either the Roca Jack, Condor, Vizcachas or Cara Cara lifts, skiers and snowboarders can access renowned off-piste areas such as the Primavera and Kilometro Lanzado runs.

The Legendary Lines of Ski Portillo

The expert terrain at Portillo is renowned worldwide for its accessibility, variety and snow quality. It’s no surprise professional skiers and film crews return year after year to document the experience. See the Behind the scenes of the Warren Miller 2019 film, Face of Winter filmed at Portillo

Unmissable adventures at Ski Portillo

Start exploring black diamond runs

Plateau and Condor offer the best terrain for skiers who are new to advanced runs. Groomed terrain steeper than intermediate runs on soft snow offers the perfect setting for skiers starting to explore the thrills of the black diamond runs. Condor features a Va-et-Vient lift and should be the first Va-et-vient experts use before riding the longer ones. See guide to using the Va-et-Vient lift.

Roca Jack and the traverse

The Roca Jack lift opens a wide area of terrain for advanced skiers. A short ride on the Va-et-Vient lift leads to the Roca Jack run, known for wide open descents and breathtaking views. At the top, skiers will also find access to the Traverse, recommended for expert skiers only, which opens up a variety of steep chutes and descents, such as Estadio and Kilometro Lanzado. Those who keep going can find even more options on Ultima Quebrada, returning to the Juncalillo lift. Go with a ski guide for the best experience to discover secret lines.

Lake Run

Aceing turns above the mirrored waters of the lake is a must. The famous Lake Run is a long run from the Condor lift that goes all the way down to the edge of the lake. It’s known for its soft snow, views and the routes back to the hotel. When the lake is frozen, expert skiers can traverse back to the hotel by gliding over the frozen ice. Otherwise, the Inca Trail, an iconic journey is a traverse cut through the rocks that leads skiers back to the lifts.

Backcountry terrain: the secret lines of Portillo

Portillo has descents that can be accessed by touring or hiking out of the ski area boundaries. La Chimenea, Gargantita, Primavera, Toilet Bowl and a few others are special lines in Portillo that can only be skied when the conditions are just right and by those with the right equipment and advanced knowledge of terrain and snow conditions. Technical turns, possible cliffs and variable snow conditions are a few of the things skiers should expect and be able to maneuver.For safety reasons please always speak with the snow safety director or operations manager before leaving the ski area to access this terrain.

Portillo’s backcountry legends

Shane McConkey, Chris Davenport, Eric Roner, Seth Morrison are only a few of the ski legends that have skied the Portillo backcountry, even filming segments for renowned ski movies. Stories of these legends can be heard from guests and employees alike and at given times, modern legends in the making can be seen skiing and walking the halls of Portillo.

Part of your adventure: dining in a stunning location

Lunch at Tio Bob’s - renowned as one of the most stunning dining spots in the world, is the perfect break from lapping the expert terrain at Portillo. Enjoy lunch al fresco with panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains or inside the cozy dining room with a roaring fireplace. Tio Bob’s deck is a great place to plan future descents and watch other advanced skiers make their way down some of the nearby slopes. If you pay attention, you might be lucky to spot a skier making their way down Chimenea, a popular sidecountry chute just above Tio Bob’s near Condor.

Ski lessons and guided skiing

Explore the mountain with Portillo ski guides

Portillo ski pros can teach you the technical skills needed to conquer some of the advanced terrain at Portillo like a professional. If you are an expert who only wants a guide to explore Portillo’s slopes instead of instruction, the ski school also offers guided skiing that can show you some of the secret stashes and challenging runs that Portillo has to offer.

Freeskier Magazine: The Andes continue to inspire - May '23

"Upon entering the brilliant sunshine, we are greeted by the deep blue waters of the Laguna del Inca, the towering Andes mountains and a pair of massive condors circling above."..."The majestic peaks surrounding Portillo are buried beneath a healthy mantle of white. At the top of the chair, we stop to buckle our boots, shake off summer—back in Colorado it is August, after all—and begin our dance with the mountain." Read the full article here.

Powder Magazine: What's it like to ski in Portillo right now? - July '23

"The snow is chalky, the turns are steep, and the views are stunning.".... "Portillo Resort has been open for almost a month and so far there's plenty of good snow and great skiing! The sun is shining, the skies are blue, and the snow gets nice and soft every afternoon." Read the full article and watch the video here.

Ski Magazine: Portillo is the ski resort that time can't touch - Sept '22

"As the world buzzes frantically around us and years seem to fly by in a flash, Portillo has a sacred timelessness to it, a slower pace, and a throwback vibe. " "I aged ten years between trips here, yet this ski area feels like a time capsule, a tribute to skiing’s storied past. Spend a week here, and the inevitable race of time seems to slow to a lazy crawl." Read the full article in Ski Magazine here.

Ski for everyone

Group Ski Lessons

The Portillo ski & snowboard school offers Ski lessons for adults & kids to learn to ski, whilst having fun and enjoying the beauty of the mountains. With flexibility to suit everyone’s needs, group ski lessons are available on a daily basis with sessions during the morning and afternoon. Guests can choose to join for a day, several days or a full week of ski lessons for adults or ski lessons for kids.

Guided Skiing at Portillo

Choose our guided skiing service to enjoy South American skiing with expert ski guides. Get tips about the best places to ski as well as powder skiing tips & techniques

Private Ski Lessons

Take a private ski or snowboard lesson individually or with friends or family. Private ski lessons offer a more personalized coaching experience for the individual needs, whether looking to take your skiing to the next level, spend quality time with your family or explore the mountain. Private lessons with our pros guarantee the best Portillo skiing experience.

Adaptive Skiing Lessons

Skiers with physical or learning disabilities can fall in love with the sport of skiing with the help of our adaptive ski coaches. Adaptive skiing is common at Ski Portillo, with ski instructors trained to teach skiers with a variety of disabilities. Adaptive skiers will also enjoy the warm, comfortable hotel facilities with it’s friendly intimate atmosphere, gourmet dining and daily activities and entertainment schedule.

Advanced and Off-piste Skiing at Portillo