It’s not every day that you can ski down a volcano – nor anywhere. At 2865 meters, Lonquimay is the main star of the almost always icy landscape in this part of Chile. Around it are the 29 slopes of Corralco, Chile’s newest ski resort. Granted by the government just over a decade ago, Corralco only really became known in 2013, when a hotel was opened at the foot of the volcano.
Despite it, Corralco is not just for professionals. This is where the longest beginner trail in the country is located, at 1.2 km. You get off the cable car and, between one fall and another, you arrive at the foot of Lonquimay, which last erupted at the end of the 1980s. The ancient araucaria trees, trees that are a symbol of Chile, are other attractions in the region. Corralco is within an environmental protection area, the Malalcahuello National Reserve.
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Where is Corralco and how to get there
Located 870 km south of Santiago and around 130 km from Temuco, the city where the nearest airport is located and which is the capital of the state of La Araucanía, Corralco can be reached by plane or bus. There are four daily flights from Santiago, from LATAM and Sky Airline.
Once at the airport, you need to take a transfer to the ski resort, which can be arranged at the time of booking, rent a car or take a van. If you choose to drive, read the text on how to rent vehicles abroad – but keep in mind that the roads may be icy, which requires some experience from the driver. For transfers, there is information on prices here.
Snow in Corralco: when to go
The climate is one of the highlights of Corralco. The snow starts to fall in May, the ski season starts in June and lasts until October, the biggest winter season of the Chilean resorts: there are seven meters of snow per year. During this period, the temperature is between 4°C and -8°C.
The rest of the year is the season for kayaking, cycling and hiking – it is only in summer and spring that it is possible to go on longer treks, to the top of volcanoes. Well, Lonquimay isn’t the only one there.
What is the Corralco ski resort like?
Small compared to other Chilean resorts, Corralco has 29 ski slopes and 6 lifts. 31% of the slopes are for beginners, 14% are at an intermediate level, 17% are red slopes, for advanced skiers, and 38% are black, the most difficult. The base of the volcano, where the accommodations are located, is at an altitude of 1440 meters.
The type of snow there is another point that, according to experienced skiers, deserves to be highlighted. It’s all due to the powder, that fresh snow that hasn’t been touched yet, which creates a soft layer that makes skiing feel better and falls more relaxed.
At the base of the ski resort is the El Zorro com Botas restaurant, a stop for hot chocolate and even barbecues, frequent events at the end of the day. A ski and snowboard school allows you to schedule private lessons or participate in groups, with classes at scheduled times. There is also a ski equipment rental shop.
Basic tips for skiing in Corralco for the first time
- Try skiing on more than one day, even if your first experience is a succession of falls. The difference is clear when you have time to train.
- Take classes. This guarantees your safety and greatly increases your chance of enjoying the experience. It is a necessary investment.
- The store that rents equipment does not have the most basic items, such as ski goggles, pants, thermal jackets and gloves. Take it with you or rent it in Caracautin, the nearest village.
- Arrive at the station early, especially on the first day. Renting the right skis for you takes time, just like putting on all that gear for the first time. The earlier you arrive, the more time you have to enjoy the track.
- There are no fees to enter the ski resort, which is a public area granted by the government to a private company. A fee is charged to use the lift – the cable car that will take you to the top of the track. You receive a magnetic card that needs to be swiped through a type of turnstile. In other words, if you just want to play in the snow and see the mountain views, you don’t need to buy a ski pass, which costs 25 thousand pesos (about 37 dollars) per day. There are discounts for children, seniors and students.
- The only telephone operator with a signal there is Entel. Wi-Fi is available to hotel guests, but it is often slow.
Where to stay in Corralco
The Valle Corralco Hotel & Spa has only 54 rooms, which reduces the number of guests – that’s why Corralco is always relatively empty, even in high season, which leaves the slopes freer and creates fewer queues at the lifts. The hotel is about a kilometer from the ski area. In other words, it’s not ski in, just leave the room and ski, as happens in other resorts, like Valle Nevado. You have to take a van to get to the track, a journey that takes just over five minutes. On the way back, as one of the slopes ends next to the hotel, you can get there by skiing.
The hotel operates on a half-board or full-board basis (without drinks). The big attraction is the spa area, which has a heated pool, sauna and jacuzzi, all with a wonderful view of the volcano. There are also activities for children, as well as a different menu not only for little ones, but for adults with, let’s say, childish taste buds – lots of fries and Bolognese pasta. For other guests, meals include a starter, main course and dessert and are made with local products and recipes. Daily rates cost around 380 dollars, for a double room and full board. This amount already provides the daily ski pass, but there would still be equipment rental, if necessary, and lessons. Keep an eye out for promotions that can drop the price by up to 40% at certain times during the winter season.
For those who prefer more economical accommodation, there are several cabins – types of chalets – in the villages that are on the outskirts of the mountain. The luxury and price of these accommodations vary and many of them are located in the back of cafes or restaurants. Booking lists some options like this, but make sure you stay close to the reservation entrance.
Travel insurance is mandatory in dozens of countries and essential for any trip, especially when it involves sports, such as skiing. Find out which insurance offers the best cost/benefit for Chile (with discount coupon).
Itinerary and other activities
Spending three to five days resting in front of a volcano, whether skiing or not, is a good vacation plan – and it wouldn’t even be necessary to include more destinations in the itinerary. Another common activity there is hiking in the snow using snowshoes, shoes suitable for this type of terrain. On the ski center’s official website there are trail options, with information on prices. Snowmobile tours and cross-country skiing are other possible activities.
There are several treks, from one that goes to an Araucaria tree that is more than a thousand years old to another that takes at least three hours, each way, and that reaches a viewpoint from where it is possible to see two volcanoes. Spending a day in the hot springs, which there are lots of in this area, is another common trip.
And a nearby city that can be included in the itinerary is Pucón, where there are also hot springs, volcanoes, a ski resort and the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve. Around 200 km separate Corralco from Pucón.
