What to do in the snow if you don't ski: activities near Santiago

Turista con enterito de nieve disfrutando la vista de la cordillera de los Andes sin esquiar

Editor's note: activities, hours and prices are from the 2026 season and may change in 2027. Confirm them through each resort's official channels before heading up.

There's a common idea that going up to the snow means skiing. So whoever doesn't ski stays behind, or goes up and spends the day watching everyone else from a café.

It doesn't have to be that way. Near Santiago there are activities designed precisely for people who want to experience the snow without skis: sliding down on inflatable tubes, flying across a zipline, riding a gondola to see the Andes or watching the sunset from a summit. Here's what the resorts offered in the 2026 season.

Traveling with a tour agency? Ask which activities your package includes and which resort you'll be visiting. Your agency will walk you through the details of the day, and this guide will help you choose what to do up there.

Parques de Farellones: an amusement park in the snow

It's the most complete option for non-skiers. It sits above 2,300 meters and about 36 kilometers from Santiago, and works like a real amusement park in the snow. Its main attractions:

  • Tubing: sliding down snow runs on large inflatable tubes for several people. It's one of the park's most popular experiences, with a minimum height of one meter.
  • Zipline (canopy): two circuits with five zipline runs, from 180 to 540 meters.
  • Panoramic chairlift: a ride through the air to take in the mountains without skiing.
  • Sledding: the classic tray sled on prepared slopes.
  • Mini park: a kids' area with games, a climbing wall and slides.
Parques de Farellones tickets (2026 season, in Chilean pesos)
TicketHigh seasonLow season
General (over 1.20 m)$61,000 online / $74,000 on site$51,000 online / $61,000 on site
Child (1 to 1.20 m)$26,000 online / $31,000 on site$22,000 online / $26,000 on site
Under 1 mFree

Buying online is noticeably cheaper.

For food, there are the Los Andinistas and El Iglú restaurants, plus food trucks. The park is at bend 40 of the road to Farellones.

Valle Nevado: gondola, summit sunset and high-altitude terraces

Panoramic gondola ride

Valle Nevado sells a Panoramic Ride ticket for non-skiers. The gondola leaves from the resort base and goes up to the Bajo Zero restaurant, mid-mountain. It's the easiest way to be up on the mountain without any gear.

Sunset Snowcat: the sunset from the summit

It's the most special experience for non-skiers. A snowcat (the slope-grooming machine) takes you up to the Ancla summit to watch the sunset with a cocktail. In 2026:

  • It left at 5:30 p.m. from the Hotel Platform and returned between 7 and 7:30 p.m.
  • It cost between US$160 and US$210 per person, depending on group size.
  • It required at least 4 passengers and a booking 24 hours in advance.

Eating with a view of the Andes

Valle Nevado has several on-mountain restaurants: El Montañés, on Plaza La Góndola at 3,025 meters (grill, pizzas and tapas); Bajo Zero, with terraces overlooking the mountains; Valle Lounge, with a terrace; plus Rincón La Leñera and La Creperie. Lunch in the sun above 3,000 meters is, for many, the best memory of the trip.

Après-ski and events

In the 2026 season, the resort organized activities such as afternoon après-ski on Plaza La Góndola and special events throughout the season. Check the official calendar before you go, since it changes every year.

El Colorado and La Parva: mountain views

At El Colorado, highlights include the Cururo panoramic chairlift for mountain views and the Mirador restaurant for lunch at altitude. La Parva offers views of both the mountains and the city.

Even if you don't ski, you need snow clothing

This is the most common mistake of people who go up "just to look": wearing jeans and sneakers. Tubing, sledding or simply sitting in the snow for a photo, you're going to get wet. And it's cold on the mountain and the sun is strong, even if you're not doing any sport.

The minimum to enjoy it without freezing:

If you'd rather sort it all out at once, you can choose one of our kits, like the Adult Snowsuit Kit or the Adult Jacket Kit.

And if you want to go sledding on your own, you can also rent a sled. If it's your first time on the mountain, we also recommend reading First time in the snow: what to expect and How to get to the snow from Santiago.

Now go live the snow your way

You don't need to ski to fall in love with the mountains. Sliding down on a tube laughing your head off, flying across the sky on a zipline, having lunch in the sun facing the Andes or watching the sunset paint the peaks orange: these are experiences that stay with you forever.

Bundle up, take lots of photos and enjoy every minute up there. The snow is for everyone. Dress to live the snow.

At Andes Premier Rental we rent snow clothing for the whole family in Las Condes, on the way to the mountains. We open at 5 a.m., so you can pick everything up the same day before heading up; many agencies stop by with their groups before 6 a.m. See real photos of our clothing in the Winter 2026 Catalog.

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