Overfly and land in the most pristine terrain of the Chilean Andes, in the Maipo Valley. A heliskiing program of 3 or 6 days which will be led by the local IFMGA guide Rodrigo.
Andes
3 Days
Jul - Sep
High
Intermediate
The Maipo Valley is a Chilean area that offers the best powder terrain in South America. Here you will also find from huge glaciers to steep powder couloirs. There is something for everyone!
Leaving from the El Morado, a new and amazing Chilean lodge and spa, we’ll have access to endless terrains. Furthermore, the skiing ground in the Maipo Valley is dry. That means you’ll ski on high quality champagne powder snow!
The 3-day heliskiing package includes 2 groups (4 or 5 people each) of participants and 9 hours of flight time. We will fly an average time of 3 hours per day. As for the 6-day adventure, we’ll spend around 13 hours in the air! You can also ask me for private groups.
Regarding our accommodation, El Morado is a new cozy lodge with spa and warm rooms. It works 100% with solar energy and it’s quite close to the main skiing areas of the Andes. That way we will minimize the helicopter flights time and enjoy the ski runs to the fullest.
So, if you would like to know more about this amazing program in the Maipo Valley feel free to contact me now. And if you’re already decided please fill out the form to start with the booking process. It will be my pleasure to be your guide!
After landing in Santiago a member of my team will meet you at the airport. From there, you will drive to the helicopter connection in order to get to the lodging in the mountains. Once at the El Morado Lodge, I will meet you there for the gear check, briefing, and group selection. Then, I will teach you some avalanche beacon search and safety techniques as well as a required helicopter briefing. Welcome Dinner at the Lodge.
Immediately after breakfast we will walk to the heliport, which is only few steps from your room. Soon we will be carving our first turns in the Andes. Each group will have a maximum of 4 or 5 participants per guide depending on the number of guests and helicopters we use. Today we will take it slowly since it will be your first day exposed to the thin air at high altitude. Back to the base for the night to enjoy a well deserved gourmet dinner at the Lodge.
After breakfast we will gain more altitude as we become more familiar with the terrain. There is always the possibility of discovering a new landing zone, or virgin terrain never skied before. It is highly likely that you will have the chance to pioneer a few runs with me, since the terrain is vast and much remains unexplored. Return to Base and dinner at the Lodge.
Note: if you choose the 3-day program, after skiing we will pack and be transferred to your 5-star hotel in Santiago, where the trip ends. On the contrary, keep reading the itinerary.
Another exciting day with more runs, powder and fun! We will continue discovering the Andes and tracking fresh snow. Picnic at midday, then continue heliskiing. By this time the group will be well acclimatized and feeling stronger. We may go a bit higher or perhaps move to a different valley, depending on conditions, group strength and abilities. Return to Base for dinner.
After breakfast we will repeat our routine. Those who are ready for a break can soak at the nearby hot springs, go horseback riding, choose a day of resort skiing or simply relax at the Lodge.
After breakfast we will continue with more heli time, more turns and vertical feet in the majestic Andes Mountains. Return to Base for dinner.
After breakfast we will start our final day of adventure. After skiing, we must pack our gear in order to return to Santigo, where you’ll spend the night in a 5-star hotel. Enjoy a great evening in this cosmopolitan city.
More info
Not Included in the price:
Meeting point
5.0
(7)
Mountain Guide
An Internationally Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Mountain Guide, Rodrigo has been a guide for 30 years. He has led 24 expeditions to Denali and 28 expeditions to Aconcagua — the highest peaks in North and South America, respectively. He has been a member of expeditions to Shisha Pangma and Cho Oyu in the Himalaya, and his climbs in Patagonia include the North and Central Towers of Paine, Agujas Guillaumet and Poincenot, as well as Cerro Torre attempts. He’s made Patagonian Ice Cap explorations including the first east-west traverse of the northern Ice Cap. He holds first ascents in Antarctica, the Andes and Alaska; speed ascents of Denali, Aconcagua, and Juncal. He’s guided the Ellsworth Mountains and Mt. Vinson in Antarctica and has extensive climbing and guiding experience in Yosemite and the Alps, including Frendo Spur and the Grand Jorasses. He’s a former Technical Committee member for the American Mountain Guides Association and a Senior Guide at Exum Mountain Guides in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Rodrigo speaks fluent English, French and Spanish.
Certificates
ANGM | UIAGM
5
Great guides, great equipment, amazed about how good food was. All round a very experienced and top end operator who know what they are doing and will maximise your chances of getting to the summit. Reaching top Aconcagua was one of greatest highlights of my life thank you Aventuras Patagonicas.
5
From the start Aventuras Patagonicas was welcoming, which set the trip up on the right foot. The guides, Wes, Lucia and Sebastian were all excellent and worked very hard to get the group of climbers safely up and down the mountain. The food was excellent and well organized. The gear provided on the mountain (tents) were also of good quality. I would climb again with Patagonicas.
5
I did a 20 day climb of Aconcagua with this company. The guides were excellent and made the trip as enjoyable as possible. We had hot meals every evening and morning. Aconcagua is a hard mountain and it takes a great deal of effort to reach the top. The guides at Patagonicas are committed to each client's safety on the mountain. I would recommend them over any other company on the mountain.
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