Portillo is located near the base of Mt. Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western hemisphere (7,266 meters, 23,834 feet). Portillo is Chile's first ski resort and important in the evolution of world skiing. It is generally regarded as the best organized ski resort in South America. The resort has hosted numerous international events including the 1966 World Championships.

People began skiing in the area when the Argentina-Chile railway line reached Portillo in 1890. Virtually all of the resort's accommodation and activities are concentrated in the huge hotel complex. This is one of the world's classic mountain hotels, and has been so pretty much from day one - receiving rave reviews in the 1940s and '50s and still very highly regarded.

Portillo's ski area is split in to two by the hotel but is very highly regarded by good skiers, who have 50% of the terrain. With limited numbers on the slopes, the chances of finding wide empty fields of light powder to float through beneath blue skies and above the beautiful lake are well above even.

Vertical Drop: 762m/2,500'

Hotel's altitude: 2,880m/9,450'

Longest Run: 2,465m/1.5 mi.

Top Elevation: 3,310m/10,860'

Lifts: 12 (3 quads, 1 triple, and 1 double chairlift, 2 va et vient and 5 surface)

Terrain: 10/35/35/20 (beg/int/adv/exp)

Skiable Acres: 1,235

Snowboards: Yes