Ski Corralco Chile
The Corralco Ski Resort in Chile on the Lonquimay Volcano is the antithesis of the ski resorts near Santiago. Corralco is located off the beaten track so it’s quiet and you can get away from the hordes.
Corralco Mountain and Ski Resort is mainly frequented by South American families who enjoy the child-friendly facilities and gentle slopes, whilst outside the ski resort boundaries, the extensive slopes lure backcountry powder hounds who are happy to earn their turns.
Pros & Cons of Corralco
Pros
- Corralco is well suited to backcountry riders who are happy to earn their turns.
- Corralco has no crowds so on a powder day the powder is pretty much all yours.
- The Valle Corralco Hotel & Spa offers fantastic accommodation, great facilities, and a range of activities including guided backcountry skiing.
Cons
- The lift infrastructure is basic and the chair lifts are very slow (as is common in South America).
- Corralco doesn’t have a large amount of intermediate terrain.
- The Corralco Hotel is priced at the luxury end, so for those travelling on a moderate budget there are no on-mountain lodging options. There is limited lodging nearby and you’ll need a car (or be on a tour) to get between the ski resort and your lodging.
- The nightlife is close to non-existent at Corralco and the sleepy Malalcahuello.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
- Corralco gets huge amounts of snow, and the quality of the snow is often pretty good because the slopes face south to southeast. The Lonquimay Volcano is rather exposed and at the mercy of the weather gods. Whilst the weather isn’t as fickle as it is at nearby Villarrica, there might be days when you need to sit it out.
- Corralco has very mellow terrain for first timers and is very child friendly, but the group ski lessons and child care do not cater to children that only speak English.
- The expensive luxury hotel at the base and the basic no-frills ski resort are at odds with each.
Corralco Ski and Snowboard Terrain
The Corralco Ski Resort has 2 chair lifts and 4 surface lifts, 29 trails across 1,800 hectares of skiable terrain (if you include the sidecountry freeride terrain), and a vertical drop of 960 metres (1,440 to 2,400 metres elevation).
The base of the Corralco ski resort sits just above the treeline so the slopes are treeless and open; ideal for learning to ski or snowboard. There are a handful of long groomed beginner slopes near the base that are very mellow, whilst further up there are a few intermediate groomed trails. Corralco also has a few “advanced” groomed trails which can be tackled by strong intermediate riders and are lots of fun for some speedy turns. In between the groomed trails are lots of off-piste lines and with some traversing you can access an abundance of interesting terrain features that have resulted from lava flows.
Corralco Chile offers excellent backcountry and mountaineering access, and this is the main drawcard for experienced skiers and boarders. An ascent to the “peak” (aka crater) of Lonquimay is particularly popular which is at an elevation of 2,865 metres, 465 metres higher than the top lift. Experienced riders are likely to get the most out of Corralco Chile by including it as part of a guided
Chile ski tour.
Where is Corralco Chile?
The Corralco Ski Resort is located on the southeastern side of the Lonquimay Volcano in the Malalcahuello National Reserve, not far from the little town of Malalcahuello. Corralco is 120km to the east of Temuco, whilst Santiago is 700km to the north.
The Corralco Ski Resort is about 90 minutes drive from the Temuco Airport (Maquehue Airport), which receives flights from Santiago. The flight takes just over an hour and there are about 4 flights a day. Guests of the Valle Corralco Hotel and Spa can get transfers from the airport, or it’s possible to rent a car to get to the ski resort.
Lodging
The Valle Corralco Hotel and Spa is a luxury hotel at the base of the mountain set amongst the unusual and ancient Araucaria trees (aka monkey puzzle trees). The ski-in luxury hotel has 54 hotel rooms and an abundance of amenities such as a day spa, swimming pool, gym, cinema room, restaurant, bar, and activity services. Hotel packages incorporate full or half board, and kids’ club for ages 6-12.
The nearby town of Malalcahuello also has some limited lodging options.
Malalcahuello Accommodations Listings
Facilities & Activities
The Corralco ski resort has a nice day lodge with a restaurant, sun deck and small skiosk. Other facilities include a picnic area, ski and snowboard rentals, and ski school.
The activity centre at the Valle Corralco Hotel and Spa offers various winter activities such as snowshoeing in the Araucaria forest and guided alpine touring (randonee).
The region features various hot springs, which are a fabulous way to relax and rejuvenate after a big day ripping the slopes, or just head to the day spa at the hotel.
Ski Season
The Corralco ski season begins on June 1st and goes until October 15. It’s generally rather stormy during June and July, so the best time to go is from early August onwards when there are more fine weather days, whilst September is ideal for ski touring/splitboarding.