South America Snow Holidays

South America Snow Holidays

In 1998, CASA started running tours in Chile. CASA was the first company to offer ski and snowboard tours of the Chilean ski resorts. Having led more than 400 clients in the past six years, CASA has learned the intricacies of skiing in South America. CASA has established itself as both a trip operator and as a resource for travelers. With eight years of experience, CASA is still run and operated by company founders Jeremy Thomas and Aaron Bear Chan, best friends since high school. They both come from a guiding background, having led trips throughout South America.

 

CASA means home in Spanish, so you can bet that they take great pride in the homes they have selected for you while on tour. They make sure that you are comfortable and warm in each of the places you stay. Above that, CASA have hand picked their accommodation to offer you a wonderful community from which you can experience the amazing hospitality of the cultures visited. CASA has discovered many wonderful places to ski and snowboard all over the South American Continent. They've searched for the best terrain, accommodation, snow fall and communities that they could find – and now they bring these special places to you.

 

Accommodation ranges from independent ski cabanas equipped with wood burning stoves, to charming hotels. Room occupancy is based on double, however, single supplements can be requested. Couples traveling with CASA always have the privacy that they request.

 

With CASA Tours getting there is truly half the fun. For shorter distances, they typically use two large vans, driven by professional South American drivers, allowing their guides to be rested and at their best for safety on the mountain. The drivers are part of the team, and help to include a part of the local culture in the trip. What better way to get to know the locals? CASA makes sure there is plenty of room and comfort during your travels with them.

They also make sure not to leave out the cultural and physical beauty of the countries visited, by making roadside stops at some of their favorite places along the ride, such as wineries, waterfalls and some of the real local lunch stops. For long distances, such as the trip to the Argentine and Chilean south, CASA includes an internal flight on a commercial jet, typically Lan Chile or Aerolineas Argentinas.

 

CASA Tours includes breakfasts and dinners in the cost of their tours. Meals are prepared by the hotels you stay at except when in Santiago, and vary from simple to luxurious. Breakfasts tend to be simple, but ample. While the typical South American breakfast consists of toast and Nescafe, CASA go out of their way to provide things that “we gringos” are accustomed to like eggs and decent coffee.

CASA strives to provide excellent dishes at dinner, and give their guests a chance to sample the local food, like fresh seafood, famous South American steak and some of the finest wines in the world. They typically cap their tours off with a traditional Asado, a huge barbecue and party that is a typical custom in Chile and Argentina.

 

Are your ready for the ultimate in adventure? CASA Tours offers a Heli-skiing/boarding adventure in two of the most remote parts of the Andes - Shangrila in the Termas de Chillan area, and Cajon del Maipo, close to the Santiago area. Their trips are offered in conjunction with Powder South, professional operators of the highest quality helicopter skiing in Alaska and South America.

Trip Length: 8 Days
Skill Level Required: Advanced/Intermediate
Guides: Yes
Optional Activities: Heli-Skiing, Off-Piste Exploration
Group Size: Minimum group size 3-5 skiers / snowboarders per week

Note: Extra vertical meters of heli-skiing also available - in which case each additional thousand meters (3,300 feet) or additional run are charged at $230 USD.

 

Chile Skiing

The Classic Shortie
Days: 8 days
Resorts: Valle Nevado, El Colorado, La Parva, Termas de Chillan

The Endless Winter
Days: 15 days
Resorts: Valle Nevado, El Colorado, La Parva, Termas de Chillan, Pucon-Villarrica

The Southern Cross
Days: 12 days
Resorts: Termas de Chillan, Corralco, Arenales, Pucon-Villarrica

Las Lenas vs Portillo
Days: 16 days
Resorts: Las Lenas, Portillo

Argentina Skiing

The Argentine Powder Triangle
Days: 8 days
Resorts: Bariloche (Catedral), Chapelco, Cerro Bayo

Note: Prices in all CASA PDF Documents above shown in US Dollars