One, Two, Ski At Antillanca

Located at the base of Volcano Casablanca near Osorno in south-central Chile, Antillanca ski resort is one of Chile's quieter ski destinations. It has a fine setting in the lush rainforest of Puyehue National Park and is popular with skiers and snow lovers of all ages due to its easy access slopes, fantastic off-piste hiking and free-riding.

Antillanca resort itself is only a few feet from the chairlifts and a couple of miles from the sublime Puyehue hot springs. The base boasts typical mountain architecture and has commendable facilities, with a ski and snowboard school, rental boutiques, equipment repair shops and plenty of restaurants and coffee shops. Childcare services are also available at the Antillanca Hotel.

Antillanca has slopes suitable for every level of skier and snowboarder, including 13 runs and a 1,738-feet vertical. Intermediate and advanced level sliders get the majority of terrain, much of which passes through dense forest, and there is also good off-piste. There are five chairlifts at the Antillanca ski resort, one of which is a double chair capable of lifting thousands of people per hour to the slopes.

The Antillanca Hotel is the mainstay of accommodation at the slopes, boasting excellent services and 70-odd rooms, while a mountain refuge at the base offers large apartments and good slope access. The Antillanca Hotel's restaurant and the Pub Patagonia provide entertainment at the resort, while the nearby Puyehue hot springs also boast a restaurant and bar.

After a hard day on the slopes at Antillanca ski resort, the Puyehue hot springs resort provides perfect relaxation and beauty treatment along with an excellent restaurant and bar; alternatively, for a bit of sightseeing the nearby Raihuén crater boasts a spectacular natural amphitheatre.

The ski season at Antillanca ski resort runs from mid-June to November and the cheapest rates are offered at the start of the season to early August; children under five and seniors over 65 years old ski for free. The most convenient way to get here is to fly to Puerto Montt and transfer by shuttle bus or hire car.

Skiing in Antillanca

Lying within the Puyehue National Park to the south of Osorno and Santiago, Antillanca ski resort has some challenging slopes down the steep sides of the Casablanca Volcano, both on and off-piste, and it also has great ski touring at altitude. Additionally, snowboarding down la Taza is a must for thrill seekers.

Antillanca's 13 runs are divided into categories, with 20 per cent being suitable for beginners, 30 per cent for intermediates, 30 per cent for advanced skiers and 20 per cent for experts. There are four draglifts and a chairlift providing slope access. Snow conditions at Antillanca ski resort are usually superb and when conditions are right, ski touring at altitudes exceeding 6,560 feet on the Casablanca crater are possible.

Non-skiing activities at Antillanca ski resort include hiking, snowboarding and mountain biking, while the Antillanca Hotel has saunas and a swimming pool as well as providing après-ski at the hotel restaurant and the Pub Patagonia. The Pescador bar at the Puyehue hot springs has an extensive wine list and an attractive terrace with views of the Puyehue volcano.

Resort facilities include a ski and snowboard school, repair stores and rental boutiques, while there is also a nursery at the Antillanca Hotel. The Antillanca Hotel has the most beds and a nearby mountain refuge offers apartments. A cheaper, but less convenient alternative is to stay at Osorno.

The June to November ski season at Antillanca ski resort has the best snow conditions in the high season month of July and the cheapest rates in June, while August, September and October are considered mid-season. The most practical form of transportation to Antillanca is to fly to Puerto Montt via Santiago and then take a shuttle bus to the resort.

Transportation to Antillanca

Antillanca ski resort is located to the east of the town of Osorno in the Puyehue National Park, not far from the Argentinean border. The resort is situated over 620 miles south of Santiago so the best option for getting here is to fly to Santiago and then take a short domestic flight to Puerto Montts, from where shuttles and hire cars are available.

If you are driving from Santiago, take route 5 all the way to Osorno, then head east on route 215. Antillanca ski resort is well signposted on this highway but the last 12 miles are unsealed. The Puyehue pass is open throughout the ski season, although you may need chains for the last section of unpaved road.

Santiago International Airport receives flights the world over and there are regular domestic flights from here to Puerto Montt. By car from Puerto Montt Airport, take route 5 north to Osorno and head east to Antillanca ski resort along route 215; the resort is over 60 miles from Osorno.

Tur buses run regularly from Santiago International Airport to the city, from where long distance buses run south to Osorno and then buses and shuttles run to Antillanca. However, this is an arduous journey and it's much more convenient to fly to Puerto Montt and take a shuttle bus from there direct to Antillanca ski resort.