sports

Chile is not a sporty nation. Except for football-soccer, there are few teams of importance in any sport. Not surprisignly, the Chileans have never won a gold medal. All of that however is changing as a new generation of Chileans is eagerly taking on to

Ski & Snowboarding

The season for wintersports is from june to september, but the snow conditions are usually best in july and august. Chile offers a large number of ski resorts

Near Santiago

• Chapa Verde
• Farellones-El Colorado
• Lagunillas
• La Parva
• PortilloValle
• Nevado

Central & Southern Chile

• Antillanca
• Antucu
• Cerro Mirador
• El Fraile
• La Burbuja
• Llaima
• Corralco-Longquimay
• Termas de Chillán
• Villarrica-Pucón

Surf and Windsurf

About a zillion miles of coast-line from El Gringo in the north, to the frigid antarctic waters of the south... Chile is may be one of the greatest high surf venues on the planet.

The water is pretty cold everywhere all-year, due to the Humbolt Current; but go explore and you'll find pristine beaches and empty line-ups.

On the following linked page you will find much more information about all you need to know about surfing in chile.

Climbing

Chile has some of the most diverse geography in the world, there is everything except flatlands which makes it a great place for climbing. Hills and rock are everywhere, a rocky coastline provides for infite bouldering experiences and the Andes mountains give an excellent chance for alpine or ice climbing, rock climbing is mostly sport with some trad routes to be had. Due to it's extreme length chile is divided into 12 regions, if you are visiting and have a lot of free time you could conceivably visit all the climbing sites but since it requires a lot of traveling you may want to plan ahead if you ever decide to visit. However, many of the best climbing areas are very close to Santiago .

Chile uses mostly the Yosemite Decimal System to rate it's climbs. Chile 's regions are ordered from north to south and have been listed in that order here so you can plan a trip easily.

As an innovation, all outdoor climbing areas in Chile have been color coded to help you plan which areas to travel to.

Areas marked in RED , are areas that are unexplored, unclimbed and whose rock quality is usually doubtful but gives you a good chance of first ascents.

Areas marked in ORANGE , are areas that have been explored but remain relatively unvisited because of remoteness, dificulty of the routes, access issues and/or because they must be trad climbed. You should inquire as to whether or not it's worth it to travel to these areas on the forums before going there.

Areas marked in GREEN , are areas that are throuroghly explored and have a relatively large number of routes, for sport climbing this means that the areas have bolts set up and you need not carry protection to climb most routes. It also includes well known and climbed places that aren't sport climbing.

Flyfishing

Chile can offer you the fly fishing experience of a lifetime. Fly fishing in the heart of Patagonia is like stepping back in time. Custom and private guided tours to Torres del Paine National Park, the Atacama Desert and Patagonia are breathtaking experiences.

This is an unique and varied fishing adventure. It is also an exploration of remote areas amidst the unique culture of a less familiar country wich will test your fishing skills and provide memories for years to come.

Season

The inland season in Chile opens on 15 November, and closes on the first Sunday in May. A local fishing license is required wish cost US$ 20.. -

 Rafting and Kayaking

Whitewater rafting in Chile is some of the best in the world to those seeking outdoor recreation and adventure travel, soft or hard. Chile also has some of the best rivers in the world for kayaking.

Since it is such a short distance from the Andes to the Chilean coast you come across countless whitewater rivers suitable for kyaking, like the BioBio or the Futaleufu, which is the crown jewel of South America , set in Patagonia , is for the paddler looking for the most challenging river in the most spectacular setting. This is one of the best rivers in the world for kayaking and for aggressive rafting. The water is huge, clear and warm. It flows from a chain of sunny lakes in Argentina into rugged glaciated mountains in southern Chile . During February and March the river usually runs between 6.000 and 20.000 cfs. It is the crown jewel of South America, set in Patagonia .

Trekking

The Andes have an enormous, yet unknown potential for trekking routes. In the last years national parks and other organisations greatly improved trails and information. Moreover, the ambitious project of the Sendero de Chile , a 7800km long trail from the northern to the southern end of Chile, is under development and will be completed in a couple of years. Especially in the south, this trail will run through several of the most beautiful regions and give access to now still unreachable areas. Parts of the trail will be viable also for mountain bike .

Biking

The country offers many ideal locations for biking. Starting in the North, the dry, rustic and inhospitable landscape of the desert predominates. The routes and paths present big challenges for the aficionados of this sport, who must contend with the hot sun, dehydration, the high diurnal temperatures and the extreme low ones during the night. 

The central zone, on the other hand, offers a more pleasant, temperate climate, and a huge number of places to travel between the coastal and the low mountain areas, both urban and rural. The best options are the national parks and reserves and the secondary roads that pass through the zone.

In the South, Austral and Magellan regions, the temperature is much lower and the climate can present surprises. There exists a great variety of trails and secondary roads within each of these regions. The Austral Road is an excellent route to take during the summer.