El Colorado Skiing with Farellones Ski Centre, Chile, South America
Introduction to El Colorado Skiing with Farellones
El Colorado skiing centre is one of the oldest in Chile when people came up to these slopes to test skis back in the 1930’s as well as being known to have the first ski lift in operation from 1936. It is, however, a relatively small ski centre, compared to Portillo and Valle Nevado, but for day trippers it is a great option as well as those on a Three Valley ski ticket. The base of the El Colorado ski lift is at 2,430m rising to 3,333m above sea level at the highest lift.
The Farellones ski village is a very small and simple skiing area located 5km down the road from El Colorado, but only about 200mts less in altitude (base of the ski lifts). However, it is linked to El Colorado by one ski lift, therefore allowing access to the Three Valley ski network linking El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado together.
Usually, Farellones is a destination for day trippers, but there are also a number of residential houses that line the road to the base of the slopes as well as a few, small hotels here.
Facing west, when the sun is out the days are bathed in sunshine for almost the entire day (there is not so much mountain shadow here), however, this also means that later in the season, especially September time, the snow can loosen up during the day and start to disappear from the summits. But, if you like to ski in a T-Shirt, under a cloudless sky on a brightly lit day this is an option.
Both Colorado and Farellones are frequented by families and young skiers, especially snowboarders.
El Colorado Infrastructure Combined with Farellones
Location: Directly east from Santiago
Road Distance from Santiago: 39km (El Colorado)
Skiing Altitude: 2,430m (7,972ft) to 3,333m (10,935ft)
Vertical Drop: 903m
Longest Run: 4.3km (only El Colorado)
Combined with Farellones Pisted Terrain: 62 runs
Combined with Farellones, Piste Category Allocations: 11 for Beginners, 6 for Intermediate, 33 for Advanced and 12 for Experts
Combined Ski Trail Distance: with Farellones 40km
Historical Seasonal Snow Dump: 4m
Lifts: 18, 2 double chair lifts, 3 triple chair lifts and 12 drag lifts.
Three Valleys: Part of the Three Ski Valley network with La Parva and Valle Nevado
Ski Rental Shop: 1 / Restaurants: 3 / Pub: 1
Getting Here
By road Farellones is 34km from the Santiago district of Las Condes and then a further 5km up the road is El Colorado. The mountain road up to both places is the same road that leads to La Parva and Valle Nevado. It begins in the eastern end of the Las Condes district in Santiago and continues in an upward direction, around numerous curves until reaching a junction whereupon turning left leads to La Parva, El Colorado and Farellones and turning right leads to Valle Nevado. Naturally, if ExperienceChile.Org is making your ski arrangements we will build in the up and down transfers.
Note: The road leading up to La Parva, El Colorado, Farellones and Valle Nevado has restrictions of direction. On Weekends, and public holidays it is one way only going up between 08:00hrs to 14:00hrs. Then it is one way only coming down between 16:00hrs and 20:00hrs. There are fines if you are caught going in the wrong direction at the wrong time, as well as it being dangerous.
Accommodation and Ski Weeks at El Colorado
Although there are some self-catering apartments at El Colorado, these are not at the level that ExperienceChile.Org expects for our clients, therefore we will base accommodation in Santiago and arrange for daily transfers to El Colorado, or at one of the small hotels in Farellones.
