Located above the Aconcagua Valley to the north of Santiago is the boutique ski center of El Arpa...

From Santiago we travel early by a combination of transfer vehicle and then by 4x4 vehicles to a unique location 43 kilometers to the north of the town of Los Andes in the Aconcagua Valley. The first 15 kilometres are on paved roads then we travel by dirt tracks snaking up the hills from the Lo Calvo sector to Campos Ahumada and the high ski center.

Recently started, the ski center has basic amenities but with huge areas of virgin sow and great potencial for all types of mountain activities like snowboarding, downhill skiing, and cross country skiing, as well as exploration excursions.

There is also a snowcat which is used to take skiers to the top of the valley at around 3,740 meters above sealevel, as there are no ski lift facilities. From the top on clear days the immense majesty of Aconcagua, over the border in Argentina, can be appreciated.

The ski runs are from  intermediate standard to expert grade and therefore are only recommended for advanced skiers. One of the areas is the Black Devil “El Diablo Negro” which covers hundreds of meters of distance and a very steep gradient. The “Quebrada El Arpa” has a straight line length of around 4 kilometers for intermediate standard skiers. After a box lunch snack, we return in the afternoon to Santiago.