From the US to Skiing Near Santiago in One Day

Part 01

Which flights make it work

During the Chilean ski season (mid-June to September), these are the nonstop routes from the US to Santiago (SCL):

Houston and Dallas also fly nonstop to Santiago, but only in the southern summer, not during ski season. From anywhere else in the US, connect through one of these hubs. Schedules change every season, so check with the airline before you book.

There's almost no jet lag. From early April to early September, Santiago is on the same time as US Eastern. In September, Chile moves its clocks forward and runs one hour ahead. For airports, entry rules and gear, see our guide to getting to ski in Chile and Argentina from the US.

Part 02

A realistic arrival day

This is what a weekday looks like on an overnight flight from Miami or Atlanta:

1. 6:30–7:30 a.m. Land at SCL.
2. 7:30–8:30 a.m. Immigration, bags and the agricultural customs check (SAG). Lines vary, so allow up to an hour and a half.
3. 8:30 a.m. Leave the airport. Cross the city and start the climb up the Farellones road.
4. 10:30 a.m. Arrive in Farellones or Valle Nevado. Add time if it snowed and chains are on.
5. 11:00 a.m. Rentals, lift tickets, drop your bags.
6. 11:30 a.m. onward. A few easy runs, then stop early.

That's about five hours from touchdown to your first chair. Doable, but only if nothing goes wrong. Not sure which resort to pick? Compare them in Valle Nevado vs La Parva vs El Colorado vs Portillo.

Part 03

The road rule that decides your day

The Farellones road (Ruta G-21) is the only way up to the Tres Valles, and in winter it runs on a schedule. In 2026, on weekends and holidays, cars could only go up between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and only come down between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. During Chilean school winter holidays (late June to early July), that schedule applied every day of the week. Authorities can change it at short notice.

In practice:

• On a weekday, the road is open both ways all day, so a late flight still gets you up.
• On a weekend, if your flight is delayed and you reach the bottom of the road after 1 p.m., you can't go up until 8 p.m. Plan a night in Santiago instead.
• Chains are mandatory when the authorities issue a weather alert, and police decide where you must put them on.
• Weekend traffic can be brutal. On Friday, July 24, 2026, more than 3,200 cars headed up in three hours, and the drive took four to seven hours.

Part 04

Should you ski on day one?

You can, but keep expectations low. You'll be at well over 3,000 m (about 10,000 ft) after a night with little sleep. Our advice from years of picking up guests at the airport:

• Don't drive yourself. The road climbs dozens of hairpin turns, sometimes on snow and with chains. Not the first thing to do after a red-eye.
• Ski the groomers, not the backcountry. Save the off-piste and the touring for day two, when you're rested and acclimatized.
• Drink a lot of water and stop early. The altitude hits harder than most people expect.

If you only have a long weekend, landing early on a Thursday or Friday gives you the best chance of a full first day. If your trip is a week long, treat day one as an arrival day and save your legs for the snow ahead.

Part 05

Entry rules for US citizens

US citizens don't need a visa for a ski trip to Chile. You get up to 90 days on arrival, and there is no entry fee: the old USD 160 reciprocity fee was abolished in 2014. Keep the small PDI slip you get at immigration. Hotels use it to waive VAT on your bill.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions