Ski Portillo Extends 2026 Season Into October Following 23+ Feet of Snow

In what has become one of the most dramatic seasonal turnarounds in modern South American skiing, iconic Chilean resort Ski Portillo has officially extended its 2026 winter operations through October 12. The extension comes on the heels of a massive mid-winter weather pivot that dumped over 23 feet (7+ meters) of snow across the Andes, transforming an initially delayed season into a historic powder stretch.

Originally scheduled to wrap up operations on September 26, the resort announced it will offer late-season skiers an extra fortnight of spring turns. To entice northern hemisphere powder chasers, Portillo is rolling out a 20% discount on week-long package bookings made between September 30 and October 12.

A Rollercoaster Winter in the Andes

Portillo’s 2026 winter narrative has been anything but smooth. The resort was initially forced to postpone its traditional June opening due to warm weather and a lack of early-season snowpack, finally opening its gates on July 4.

However, the drought quickly yielded to historic atmospheric rivers:

• The Mid-July Storms: A relentless series of Pacific systems battered the Andes throughout July. By July 24, Portillo recorded 183 inches (15 feet) of snow in just seven days, forcing temporary operational shutdowns for mountain safety and avalanche control.

• Road Closures and Helicopter Ingress: The mountain’s famous access route—a winding, steep switchback highway climbing up from Santiago—was repeatedly closed for weeks due to avalanche risk, mudslides, and heavy snow accumulation. While stranded hotel guests relied on private helicopter transfers to travel in and out, those marooned at the resort enjoyed virtually untracked, lift-served powder days with minimal crowd density.

• Industry Push: The extreme winter conditions prompted ACESKI (the Chilean Association of Ski Resorts) to issue statements urging regional infrastructure authorities to update weather-emergency responses to better support ski tourism logistics during major storm cycles.

A tale of Two Hemispheres

The stark conditions in the Andes contrast sharply with European glacier resorts, which faced severe heat waves and summer closures across the Northern Hemisphere. While Alpine glaciers were forced to restrict summer ski operations, Portillo is sitting on a near 10-foot base depth, ensuring excellent spring skiing conditions well into October.