General Information
Before departing for Ski Arpa
On the day of your visit you should make sure we are operating before you make the drive to Valle El Arpa
Please provide us with the name of your hotel where you will be staying so we can contact you in the event of closure
If it is raining in the valley chances are pretty good that we will not be operating. We will contact you by 8am as long as we have your contact number
Please check the Ski Arpa website for current snow and road conditions
We recommend the use of 4×4 vehicle to comfortably arrive to Ski Arpa. We recommend that you contact Santiago Adventures for transportation and lodging arrangements.
Ski / Snowboard Rental
We recommend all Ski Arpa guests come prepared with equipment.
In case you need to rent equipment, we recommend renting in DEFINE
Avalanche Safety Equipment
If you have your own avalanche beacon, shovel and probe please bring them
We require the use of avalanche beacons and provide them to all skiers and riders at no additional charge
While you are preparing for your day at the Refugio, your guide will provide you with an Avalanche Beacon and instructions on its use
You are responsible for care of our beacon and will be charged $300 for a lost or damaged beacon.
Arrival and Preparation
- Please arrive by 9:30AM to prepare for a 10:15AM departure in the first cat up
- We will wait 15 minutes but if you do not arrive by 10:30AM the cat will depart
- If you miss the first cat up your reservation will be considered a NO-SHOW and you will not be refunded
- Keep in mind the approximate arrival times with good road conditions:
- Los Andes/San Esteban (1hour)
- Santiago (2 hours 15 minutes)
- Portillo (2 hours 30 minutes)
- Ski Arpa to SCL Airport (2 hours 15 minutes) (flights after 8pm on the day of your visit are ok)
On the Mountain
- The cat ride from the Refugio to the top takes approximately 20 minutes. Each run lasts approximately 20-30 minutes. In total with loading and unloading each run takes approximately 1hour
- Please follow guide instructions at all times. Access to the slopes is controlled by the guides and you may only ski/ride where they indicate it is safe. All descents are led by a Ski Arpa guide
- If there are differences in skier levels we can split into smaller groups led by different guides.
- We normally have 2 guides per cat so you can expect approximately 1 guide per 6 persons
- When you arrive to the cat road STOP – never go down the cat road, wait there for the cat or for further guide instructions
- Our guides reserve the rights to dismiss any skier or rider for failure to follow their instructions
- The day typically ends at 3pm back at Refugio Avalancha
Lunch
- Lunch is NOT included in your program
- Snacks and beverage are sold in Refugio Avalanchas
- The cat might not return to the refugio for lunch so it is best to bring your lunch in your backpack
- You can leave your backpack on the cat while you ski
Water
- The tap water from Ski Arpa comes from our mountain spring and is not treated. We recommend you drink the bottled water we sell at the refugio.
Refunds
- If we are closed due to weather you have the following options:
a) 85% refund
b) Change your reservation to the next available day - If we are closed for mechanical reasons we provide 100% refund based on the number of runs missed