Job Discussion Forums

[-Stu-]

On checking back through previous posts I noticed that a few people on here are snowboarders. So has anyone figured out the cheapest way to get up the hill yet? I've been using Ski Total most weekends but at $8000 per trip it's getting a little expensive, especially on teaching wages.

Any advice is appreciated.

[AndyRoofman]

Hi Stu

I'm not in Chile atm, but could you tell me, is that to Portillo, Valle Nevado or what resort exactly. And is that $C8000 one way or return (if that's one way then ouch!!!).

AndyRoofman

[-Stu-]

Hey Andy

That is the return fare to La Parva and El Colorado. It is $8500 to Valle Nevado. Not sure about Portillo.

There hasn't been any new snow for weeks so it's pretty icey up there at the moment, but is one of the best options for skiing/snowboarding in SA. I went down to Bariloche a few weeks ago and the snow situation there was pretty poor too.

[denise]

I used skitotal as well, and one day while I was standing outside somewhere or other (one of the resorts) waiting for the bus back, a guy from a competing shuttle service gave me his card. I don't have it on me at the moment--will post later with the contact info--but I gather that there are several other services, probably similarly located. If you noticed on the drive from the skitotal office, there are many other ski/snowboard shops, rental services, etc. all there.

If you head further south, Termas de Chillan is nice. Crappy weather the weekend that I went, but TREES!!! TREES!!! AND MORE TREES!!!! Up north by Santiago, I really missed riding through (and nearly crashing into) trees. The snow was decent--fresh and soft.

d

[-Stu-]

Cheers for that D.

I'm planning on a trip down to Termas de Chillan for the upcoming bank holiday actually. Do you have any details about where you stayed and stuff? I've been told there's a boarder friendly HI hostel about 7km from the slopes in a town called Las Lanzas or something.

I'd also be interested in finding out about that other transport company. The others I've visited were charging the same prices as Ski Total. $8000 is crazy money, in Bariloche it only costs Arg$2.50 (C$500) to get up the hill.

Errm I hear lots of rain outside, so hopefully it'll be snowing in the mountains, roll on the weekend!

[denise]

I splurged and stayed in one of the hotels advertised in the Termas de Chillan tourist brochures--not the poncy five-star one, but a decent one. The whole weekend set me back about $200US, but I just thought of it as an early birthday present to myself. (But certainly not something that I can afford to do again!) I got a transfer from Concepcion, a night of lodging with a couple of meals thrown in, and lift tickets for two days--although the first day was so crappy that I just hung out in the thermal pools and jacuzzis.

There are cabanas and lodges all along the road in. The trick is getting up to the slopes--the hotel that I stayed at was a few kilometers out, and it had a shuttle service. I think folks are pretty friendly and cool about picking up carless boarders, so you could probably hitch your way up to the lifts.

I actually did have that shuttle contact info on me when I posted earlier, but I thought that I didn�t. Now that I�m back online, I once again don�t have it. Next time, I promise! I warn you, though, that I�ve never actually used them, and I don�t know their rates.

Have you thought about Pucon? It�ll be a while before I can make it down there, but that�s my next target.

d

[-Stu-]

Yeah I was considering Pucon, but have decided on taking a trip down to Ushuaia in September instead. I have to renewal my visa so thought why not spend a week or so snowboarding in the southerley most ski resort on the planet. So I'm flying down to Punta Arenas to check out the slopes there and then getting the bus down to Ushuaia, it should be fab.

[AndyRoofman]

While on this topic of discussion, could someone on this forum give some kind of indication of what it might cost to take a snowboard/ surfboard or bodyboard on a plane trip as excess baggage from North America or Europe or alternatively, to ship any of these items over? I'm planning on coming (from Australia) in 2007 and would like to get a gauge on costs in relation to this. I know the differences aren't exactly the same, but I wouldn't want a snowboard or bodyboard to count as one of my two checked pieces with so many items to take (including ESL books).

Thanks

Andrew

[denise]

Stu--the name of the company is Skivan. Their number is 09-8204173, website www.skivan.cl.

Have fun down south! I went to Punta Arenas at the end of June, but there was so little snow that the resort was closed. Damn near broke my heart.

Andy--I brought my board with me from Japan. On the way from Japan to the US, I had to pay an extra $200. Ouch! Some airlines, though (apparently Delta is not one of them), have a "ski allowance" that does not count as your two checked items. Presumably, the allowance covers snowboards as well. I'd check with the airline before booking a flight.

d

[-Stu-]

Thanks D, i'll check out the Skivan. I think i'll head up there Sunday so will let you know how they were.

[denise]

Please do. I�ll be back up in Santiago for one final weekend before settling in Concepcion, and I might just have to make one last trip up to the mountains, because it�s even harder and more expensive from Concepcion!

d

[-Stu-]

Ok I've arranged to get the skivan this weekend. They pick up from your house for the same cost as the ski total service, which is great as it means I won't have to struggle on to a packed bus with snowboard and boots every Saturday now.

[eileen]

the HI hostel, which is the last place before the termas in valle las trancas, ~ 7 km away, costs about 8,000 a night w/breakfast. You can take the bus company Nilcahue straight from the station in Santiago (forgot which, but the proprietor of the hostel will know) to the youth hostel, leaving about 8 am and arriving around 2. Return bus leaves at 3. Can't remember the price though, sorry! You can also take one bus to Chillan and then change, but this nilcahue goes straight to chillan without stopping, and then continues up the valley, so it's prolly a better bet.

From the hostel (shared rooms, kitchen available, decent place, fireplace and woodburning stove) there are busses up to the resort for about 1000 pesos, they'll take you and your gear from out front, or hitching is very possible.

The skiing at Chillan is quite expensive, and the altitude is low, so the snow can be sloppy/wet.

Wish I had more info, but it's all in Santiago, and I'm in the states at the moment, missing the ski season completely. Grrrrr.

[-Stu-]

Wow that's great, thanks for the info.

[denise]

I wish I had known about both of those--the hostel and the skivan service--when I arrived here! I�ve only got one snowboarding trip left this season, in Pucon, and then I�m heading up to Peru. Sandboarding, anyone?

d