I’ve had snowboards for a long time One of them I’ve always wanted to try and learn, but I’ve never found the right moment to do so. Certainly, the activity depends quite a bit on a few things: snow, gear, balance… get drills. But, alas, it finally happened! Having had a few days left in Santiago, I headed to the nearby Andes mountains to learn how to snowboard Valle Nevad.
Surprisingly, I wasn’t that bad. I think snowboarding tricks need to be slow and stable…and of course, to train your brain and see where you want to go, and your board/body will follow. All experiences 10/10!
I’ll review the volleyball
After traveling to over 50 countries on 6 continents, I’m (very) embarrassed before my visit Nevad Valley Until today, I have never learned to ski or snowboard in the Andean mountains. It was scheduled for a week in the Chilean capital, Santiago, so I took a short 1.5 hour trip to the foot of Mount Andean and jumped at the opportunity to check out another “must-have” from my bucket list.
Early Friday morning I was collected by a driver from a hotel in Santiago Santiago Adventure Transferred to Valle Nevado. Transportation can be somewhat unpredictable, but we were lucky enough to arrive at the ski resort just 90 minutes after we left Santiago.
Once there I checked in to the hotel – Hotel Puerto del Sol – one of three properties in the Valle Nevado collection.
Nevad Topographic Valley
Valle Nevado is famous in Latin America for being one of the best ski resorts on offer in Chile. Both local and international skiing customers head here with great ski conditions and a combination of lifts, lovely hotel accommodations and reasonable service.
It’s a fun season, with an average of 7 meters of snow each year. Non-guests at the hotel can visit on a one-day pass, but to my surprise, the skiing was not overly crowded and there was plenty of room to get into the ditch of things (and falling brilliantly a few times).
If you’re a beginner or are trying to improve your skills, I highly recommend booking snowboarding lessons with Ashley, a fellow Australian who has been at the resort for the past 15 years, and Ashley, who is twice as snowboarding. Certainly, he played a major role in introducing sports in Australia years ago. His passion for sports makes the lessons completely enjoyable, but very informative and instantly gives him confidence in the board.
Valle Nevado Lodging
The resort itself offers reasonable accommodation in Chile, but it’s somewhat inferior to international standards given it being a more expensive option for Andean resorts. Valle Nevado offers a comfortable stay, but the decorations are dated and require renovations. The reception staff were welcoming and spoke a bit of English, but elsewhere it was very cold and unattractive. However, this is something that is expected in Latin America. The service is very touching and progresses throughout the region.
If you’re new to Nevado, please request as much information as possible when you check in, as there is no voluntary information provided at check in and there is no directory that will provide all the information you need in the room.
The rooms are basic but offer all the essentials, including TVs, bathroom amenities and comfortable beds. However, I was very surprised to see the twin bed configuration for solo occupancy, so please request your preferences in advance. My room was also an interconnect room. In other words, it was hardly protected from the sounds next to it. However, the view from my balcony is spectacular and I would certainly recommend paying a little extra for the view alone.
Half the board fee includes breakfast and dinner. This is a great way to experience the rest of the facility and dine at several restaurants during your stay. However, service is slow so if you are trying to come and go further than the buffet restaurant at Hotel Puerto del Sol after a long day at the Slop.
Book this resort
If you’re looking for the best things to offer at ski resorts in the Andean Mountains, Val Nevad is a great choice. But by international standards, it is somewhat lower in expectations. The service was really great for the small number of staff members selected, or incredibly difficult for the majority. It can be great, but if you frequently go to ski resorts around the world, Valle Nevado won’t live up to your expectations. But with a positive note that is part of all Vallenevado’s charm – it is rustic, authentic and positively Chilean.
World of Wanderlust was welcomed to this resort as a guest at Valle Nevado, but my opinion seems to be the usual.