South America’s 2025 Ski Season Gets Underway As Snowstorm Hits

By Patrick Thorne
in
Chile
—
Jun 13, 2025

Chile’s Valle Nevado is opening a little earlier than expected, this Friday 13 June. It’s the first in Chile and believed to be the first in South America to open for winter 2025.

Valle Nevado (library picture)

There has not been a repeat of last year’s incredible season start when most south American ski areas opened early after as much as 15 feet (five metres) of May snowfall, but Chile’s Valle Nevado is opening a little earlier than expected this Friday 13 June. It’s the first in Chile and believed to be the first in South America to open for winter 2025.

Fuelled by around 20 inches (50cm) of early-season snowfall and forecasts calling for up to five feet (1.5m) more over the next few days, this early, limited terrain opening marks the second year in a row that Valle Nevado has kicked off winter ahead of the pack.

The resort is coming off one of its longest and most successful seasons ever and has invested over $3.4 million in improvements for 2025, including lift upgrades, expanded terrain, and hotel renovations.

Located 90 minutes from Chile’s capital Santiago and sitting at 9,925 feet, Valle Nevado offers access to the largest interconnected ski area in the Southern Hemisphere, the country’s Tres Valles, which links it to neighbouring La Parva and El Colorado/Farellones.

For holders of North American Ikon, Mountain Collective or Power Passes, skiing days and  exclusive packages are now available.

With the snowfall now arriving across the Andes it remains to be seen how fast other areas open. Portillo has set its season start date to a week on Saturday – 21 June 2025.