Portillo Chile

A Heritage of Excellence

Portillo is not merely a destination; it is the oldest ski resort in South America and a cornerstone of global alpine history. Located just 6km from the Argentine border at the Paso Los Libertadores, it has welcomed over 3 million visitors since 1949, offering a sanctuary for technical excellence and steep terrain.

Since its inauguration in 1949, Portillo has remained a bastion of pure mountain culture. It is not just the oldest ski resort in South America; it is a world-renowned technical sanctuary where Olympic teams and expert skiers converge to test their limits against the most iconic slopes of the Andes.

Technical Specifications

Altitude Range
2,580 m — 3,310 m (730 m Vertical)

Skiable Terrain
500+ Hectares

Mechanical Lifts
13 High-performance systems

Piste Profile
18 Official runs (Technical focus)

International Fame
Home of the 1966 World Championships

Historical Timeline

• 1887: Construction of the Trans-Andean Railway begins. British engineers introduce the first wooden skis to the region, using them for transportation and recreation during the works.

• 1910: Railway Inauguration. Early skiers pioneer the use of the train as a primitive "lift," riding the wagons between Juncal and Caracoles stations to access the high slopes.

• 1949: The original Hotel Portillo officially opens its doors under Chilean government administration, featuring the first chairlifts in the region.

• 1961: Privatization and the arrival of Henry Purcell. This marks the beginning of an era of international modernization and the development of the "ski-in/ski-out" luxury concept.

• 1966: Portillo hosts the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. To this day, it remains the first and only World Championship ever held in the Southern Hemisphere.

• 1978 (Speed Skiing Milestone): Portillo hosts one of the most legendary speed competitions in history. American skier Steve McKinney shatters the "mythical barrier" of 200 km/h (clocking 200.22 km/h) on the specialized Kilómetro Lanzado track, located beneath the Roca Jack lift. This event propelled Portillo to the pinnacle of global sports technology.

• 1987: French skier Michael Prufer sets a new world speed record on the same track, reaching a staggering 217.68 km/h.

• 2000 – 2015: Portillo becomes the official summer training hub for elite Olympic teams from the USA, Austria, and Norway, attracted by the high-altitude "technical snow" surrounding the Inca Lake.

• 2019: Celebration of the hotel’s 70th Anniversary, reaffirming its signature policy of limited guest capacity to ensure uncrowded slopes and a "private mountain" feel.

• 2023: Deployment of advanced snowmaking systems and high-speed satellite connectivity, catering to the new era of professional digital nomads and remote-working athletes.

• 2024: Consolidation of the Sustainability and Conservation Programs to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Laguna del Inca and its high-alpine surroundings.

Technical Overview

Location
Los Andes, Valparaíso Region, Chile.

Distance from Santiago
164 km (North)

Elite Training
Home to US and German Olympic Teams

Speed Record
217.68 km/h (Michael Prufer, 1987)

The Legacy of Speed

The resort is world-famous for its specialized "Kilómetro Lanzado" (Speed Skiing) track.

Designed specifically for record-breaking velocity, it remains a site of legend where the barrier of 200 km/h was first shattered on South American soil.

Current Climate

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