Book-It-Yourself Trip · Chile
Chile on a Budget:Santiago and the Tres Valles
Any week from mid-July to mid-September. Tell us your dates and your group, and we send a plan built for them. You book it all yourself.
Where
Santiago and the Tres Valles
When
Any dates, mid-July to mid-September
Your group
Up to 5 guests
Planning fee
$299 per group
01 · Where it is
A city of seven million with the Andes on the doorstep
You sleep in Santiago, where the restaurants, the bars and the beds are, and ride the Tres Valles an hour above it. La Parva, El Colorado and Valle Nevado sit side by side at the top of one mountain road. Portillo is a longer day out, on the road to Argentina.
- Base yourself in Providencia or Las Condes. Providencia is young and lively, full of good restaurants, bars and shops. Las Condes is a bit closer to the mountain, and quieter and more residential. Both are on the east side of the city, where the mountain road leaves from, and where the private driver picks up.
- Valle Nevado is on the Ikon Pass: 7 days on a full Ikon, 5 on Ikon Base, no blackout dates in 2027.
- La Parva has the view over Santiago, and the best terrain off the top.
- El Colorado sits between the two and connects on skis when the traverse is open.
- Portillo is a two-and-a-half-hour day trip, and worth one.
- Santiago base
- Ski resorts
- Airport (SCL)
- Bluebird Pop-Up Lodge (Las Condes)
- Ikon mountain (Valle Nevado)
- Route G-21
Santiago, between ski days
Where you sleep, eat and go out when you're not on the mountain.
02 · How it works
Your dates, our plan. You book it
Three things to understand, and then the numbers.
01
Tell us your dates
Pick your dates and who's coming, up to 5 of you. Late July and August are the heart of the season; September depends more on the snow. We plan for the week you pick.
02
You book it yourself
Flights, your bed in Santiago, lift tickets and food, booked and paid direct at public prices. Our private driver takes you up and down the mountain door to door at a set price, paid to the driver, not to us.
03
Planning fee
$299 for your group of up to 5. Your plan arrives within 5 business days, and we're a message away before and during the trip. Non-refundable: the work on your plan starts the day you pay.
- Stay wherever you want. The plan recommends two areas (Providencia or Las Condes), not a required hotel.
- Ride on your own, or with others from the optional chat. Nobody guides anybody.
- We're in Santiago all August 2027. If your dates overlap, come ride with us.
03 · Four mountains
Four mountains, one road, one driver
Ikon covers Valle Nevado only. Skiing across into La Parva on a Valle Nevado ticket costs extra at the window.
Top ~3,670 m
Valle Nevado
The biggest of the three
Ikon: 7 days (Base: 5). No Ikon? Day ticket ~$105
Private driver from Santiago: $30/day
2,670 to 3,630 m
La Parva
40 runs, 14 lifts, 960 m vertical
Day ticket ~$94, or ~$65 on the 10-day coupon book
Private driver from Santiago: $30/day
Top ~3,330 m
El Colorado
The middle resort in the Valley, with access to the epic Santa Tere sidecountry zone.
Day ticket ~$85
Private driver from Santiago: $30/day
Top ~3,310 m
Portillo
Laguna del Inca, and the steeps
Day ticket ~$75
Private driver from Santiago: $50/day
Open full size04 · A week in the middle of it
What the days actually look like
Nothing here is a schedule, and your plan is built for your dates. But people ask what the days actually look like, so here's a sample week in August.
Day 1
Land in Santiago
Uber from the airport to Providencia, about 40 minutes and $25. Nothing planned; dinner nearby if you're up for it.
Day 2
A day in Santiago
Before the mountain: lunch in Barrio Italia or Lastarria, the view from Cerro San Cristóbal, and an early night.
Day 3
Valle Nevado
First day on the Ikon mountain. The private driver picks you up at your door and brings you back down.
Day 4
La Parva
The view over Santiago, and the best terrain off the top. The driver drops you at the base.
Day 5
A day off the hill
The hot springs in the Cajón del Maipo, or a wine valley an hour from the city.
Day 6
Portillo
The long day. Two and a half hours each way, and the Laguna del Inca at the bottom of it.
Day 7
Last turns
Final laps on the Tres Valles, then a last dinner in Santiago.
Worth a night: the bars in Bellavista or Lastarria. Your plan says which.
Here longer, or for less? Swap any of it. Your plan fits the days you have.
05 · What it costs
Every line paid by you, direct
What it costs on the ground in Chile. Flights aren't included, because they depend on where you're flying from.
| Category | Rate | Who books / pays | Notes | One week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FixedPaid once, however long you come. | ||||
| Accommodation | $50 to $75 / night · ~$800 two weeks · ~$1,500 month | You, direct | Private Airbnb or private hotel room in Providencia. Two weeks or more: a private Airbnb | $420 |
| Airport transfer | ~$25 each way | You, Uber | SCL to Providencia, 30 to 45 min | $50 |
| Insurance + eSIM | ~$85 to $200 | You | Rescue insurance is required. | $85 |
| Planning fee | $299 | You, to Bluebird | Pays for your plan | $299 |
| Fixed subtotal | $854 | |||
| VariableGrows with how long you stay and how much you ride. | ||||
| Food | $30 to $50 / day · ~$25 / day with some cooking at home | You | A quick lunch at a fuente de soda or a proper dinner, you pick. Staying longer with a kitchen? Groceries and a packed lunch bring it to about $25 | $320 |
| Mountain transport | $30/day Tres Valles · $50/day Portillo | You, to the driver | Private driver. Per person, round trip, door to door | $150 |
| Lift tickets | Free with Ikon (Valle Nevado) · ~$95/day without · ~$65/day on La Parva's 10-day coupon book | You, at the window or online | Valle Nevado $105, La Parva $94, El Colorado $85. The coupon book can be shared between people | Free |
| Nights out & excursions | ~$100 / week | You | A night out in Santiago, a wine valley, the hot springs | $100 |
| Variable subtotal | $570 | |||
| Total for one week on the ground, with an Ikon Pass | $1,424 | |||
| Same week without an Ikon Pass (+$95 a ski day) | $1,899 | |||
A week, two weeks, or the whole month
About $1,400 a week on the ground with Ikon.
| 7 nights | 14 nights | 30 nights | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, Providencia | $420$60/night | $800private Airbnb | $1,500private Airbnb, monthly |
| Food | $320$40/day | $375$25/day, some cooking | $775$25/day, some cooking |
| Airport Uber, both ways | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| Ski days | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Private Driver to/from Resort ($30/ski day) | $150 | $300 | $450 |
| Lifts | Ikon: FreeNon-Ikon: $475 | Ikon: $285Non-Ikon: $650 | Ikon: $650Non-Ikon: $1,125 |
| Insurance, eSIM | $85 | $135 | $200 |
| Nights out & excursions | $100 | $200 | $400 |
| Planning fee | $299 | $299 | $299 |
| Total with full Ikon | $1,424 | $2,444 | $4,324 |
| Total with Ikon Base | $1,424 | $2,634 | $4,324 |
| Total without Ikon | $1,899 | $2,809 | $4,799 |
Assumptions
- On the ground only. Flights are extra and depend on where you fly from.
- Ski days: 5, 10 and 15. Everyone takes rest days, weather days and a Santiago day or two, so nobody is budgeted to ski every day.
- How the lift days are priced. Ikon days go at Valle Nevado. Any time someone has 7 or more days to pay for, they buy La Parva's 10-day coupon book instead of day tickets (seven day tickets, at $665, already cost more than the book).
| 7 nights (5 ski days) | 14 nights (10) | 30 nights (15) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Ikon (7 days) | 5 Ikon days · free | 7 Ikon + 3 at $95 · $285 | 7 Ikon + one coupon book · $650 |
| Ikon Base (5 days) | 5 Ikon days · free | 5 Ikon + 5 at $95 · $475 | 5 Ikon + one coupon book · $650 |
| No Ikon | 5 at $95 · $475 | one coupon book · $650 | one coupon book + 5 at $95 · $1,125 |
- La Parva's 10-day coupon book is about $650 (CLP 622,500 in 2026, about $65 a day). It can be shared between people, so leftover days can go to a friend. Split books within your group so nobody has leftovers, and the 30-night totals drop by up to another $150. It sold at that price until 30 June in 2026, so plan to buy it by the end of June.
- Coupon days are La Parva days. Valle Nevado's own coupon book costs more (about $73 a day) and can't be shared once used. El Colorado's season pass is about $820 for ages 25 to 34 (more if you're older), more than a coupon book for these trip lengths.
- Two weeks or more? Get a private Airbnb in Providencia. About $800 for two weeks and $1,500 for the month, thanks to the weekly and monthly discounts.
- Portillo isn't in these totals. Add $50 for the private driver plus ~$75 for the lift if you go.
- Food on longer stays is $25 a day. With a kitchen, you shop at the supermarket, pack lunch for the mountain and eat out a couple of nights a week. A week is budgeted at $40 a day, since most people eat out and buy lunch on the hill.
- A week is priced at $60 a night. At $50 a night it's $70 less; at $75 it's $105 more.
- The 26/27 Ikon Pass works at Valle Nevado in August 2027 if you haven't used those days. If you already ride Ikon up north, your Chile lift days may already be paid for.
The tour-company version of a Chile ski week runs about $5,500 before you've bought a flight. This one is about $1,400 on the ground.
06 · Where to stay
Sleep in the city. Eat on the mountain
Where you stay
$50 to $75 a night · about $800 for two weeks · about $1,500 for the month
- Book a private Airbnb or a private hotel room direct, at the public price. Staying two weeks or more? A private Airbnb is the move.
- Stay in Providencia for the best food, bars and shopping in the city, or in Las Condes, a bit closer to the mountain and quieter. The private driver picks up in both.
- Staying two weeks or more? Get a place with a kitchen. A supermarket shop and a packed lunch for the mountain keep food around $25 a day or less; resort lunches cost about the same as a whole day of groceries.
- Book as early as you can. Late July and August are peak season, and the best places in Providencia and Las Condes go first. Look for free cancellation, and ask for the monthly rate if you're staying the month.
- Stay wherever suits you. We'll tell you where we'd stay.
- Want it hosted instead? Join our Pop-Up Lodge in Santiago, a house in Las Condes for 8 people, 14 to 28 August.
Las Condes · 14 to 28 August
Bluebird Pop-Up Lodge in Santiago
From 14 to 28 August, the Bluebird Pop-Up Lodge is a house in Las Condes, on the side of Santiago closest to the road up to the mountain: 8 guests a week, breakfast and lunch at the house, and a private driver to the resorts. One price, and we host it.
The Santiago Pop-Up Lodge07 · Getting there
Santiago airport to the snow in about three hours
01
Fly into Santiago (SCL). Direct from Miami, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta and New York; most of the rest connect through one of them or through Lima, Bogotá or Panama.
02
Uber to Providencia. 30 to 45 minutes, $15 to $30 depending on time and traffic. Uber, Cabify and DiDi all work at the airport.
03
A private driver takes you up. Door-to-door pickup in Providencia, in a 4x4 with room for four riders and their gear. About an hour and a quarter up Route G-21 to Farellones, La Parva, El Colorado or Valle Nevado. $30 per person, round trip. When the first driver is full, a second private driver runs the same trip at the same price.
04
And back down. Same driver, same day, to your door. (If both drivers are booked, Ski Van runs the road for $35 each way.) Don't plan on an Uber down: there are almost never drivers up there, and the road rules make it a six-hour round trip for them.
- On weekends and holidays the mountain road runs one way: up 08:00 to 13:00, down 15:00 to 20:00 (2026 rules; they're reissued every season). Weekdays are two-way.
- Chains are mandatory on the mountain road in winter. Our drivers carry them.
- Buses are banned on the G-21 in winter, which is why everything runs in SUVs and vans.
08 · Your plan
What's in your plan, and what's on you
Your plan · $299 per group, up to 5 guests
- Your itinerary for your dates: where to stay, where to eat, which ticket to buy, which day for Portillo
- Flights, beds and lift days: what to book and when, with the links
- What everything costs for your dates
- Our private driver, at our rate
- Local contacts: gear rental, ski tuning, the hot springs, the wine valleys
- Us on message before and during the trip: the snow, the road, where to eat, who to call
- An optional chat with others heading to Santiago around your dates
- Your plan within 5 business days of paying
On you, on purpose
- Your flight
- Your bed in Santiago, booked direct
- Lift tickets, or your Ikon days
- Your food
- The private driver, paid direct
- Rescue insurance, which is required
09 · Dates & deadlines
How it goes, from now to your trip
Plans are open for mid-July to mid-September 2027. Book early and you get the pick of the Airbnbs, the better flight prices and the best lift deals. We're in Santiago all August.
Now
Tell us your dates and who's coming. We reply within a day with the payment link.
Within 5 business days
Your plan arrives, built for your dates.
As soon as you can
Book your flight and your Airbnb in Providencia or Las Condes. The best places, the monthly deals and the lower fares go first.
Before the Ikon Pass sale ends
No Ikon yet? The 26/27 pass is the one that covers Valle Nevado in the 2027 season, and it gets pricier the longer you wait.
By the end of June 2027
Staying two weeks or more? Buy La Parva's 10-day coupon book before the presale ends.
Before you fly
Sort your rescue insurance, and message us with any questions.
Mid-July to mid-September 2027
Your week in the Andes. We're in Santiago all August.
10 · Questions
The things people ask first
Is this a package?
No. You book and pay everyone direct, at their own price. The $299 planning fee pays for your plan.
What do I get for $299?
A plan built for your dates: where to stay, what to book and when, which mountain on which day, what it all costs, our private driver at our rate, and our local contacts. Plus us on message before and during the trip, and an optional chat with others there around your dates.
When can I go?
Any dates from mid-July to mid-September, for as long as you like. The Tres Valles are usually at their best in August.
Do I need an Ikon Pass?
No, but it helps. A full Ikon gets you 7 days at Valle Nevado, Ikon Base gets 5. Without it, budget about $95 a day, or about $65 a day on La Parva's 10-day coupon book if you're staying longer.
Do I have to stay where you suggest?
No. We'll tell you where we'd stay. The private driver picks up anywhere in Providencia or Las Condes.
Is anyone guiding?
No. Ride on your own, or with others from the optional chat.
Can I get my planning fee back?
No. The work on your plan starts the day you pay. Your flight and your bed follow their own rules.
Is the $299 per person?
No, it's per group, for up to 5 guests. More than 5 is a Custom Trip, because a bigger group needs more logistics.
Can I just take an Uber up to the mountain?
Sometimes up, almost never back down. That's why we use a private driver.
What's the difference between this and the lodge?
The lodge is a house in Las Condes for 8 guests, with breakfast, lunch, three asados a week and a private driver, all in one price, and we host it. This is Santiago, your own bed, your own pace, and a lot less money.
Santiago · mid-July to mid-September
¿Vamos?
Shall we go?
Any week this season, one plan for your group of up to 5. Reply in, maybe, or not this year. Either way, we'd rather hear from you.
The planning fee is non-refundable: the work on your plan starts the day you pay.
Bluebird Ski Trips · Santiago, Chile
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