Overview

Arpa is Spanish for harp, and this resort plays sweet sweet music. South America’s only catskiing operation is a must ski destination.

Ski Arpa is based approximately 100kms from Santiago and with little infrastructure, no accommodation & no lifts, ‘resort’ isn’t the best description; a powder playground for the serious skiers would better describe the true experience at Ski Arpa, with untouched virgin top-to-bottom powder runs all day long.  

The vision of Austrian born long-time skier, Toni Sponar, Arpa is service by two Pisten Bully Snowcats with a total capacity of 22 riders; accessing backcountry terrain that is spread over 4,000 plus acres (1,619 hectares) receiving around 7 metres of snow each year.

The terrain is treeless with huge powder bowls, cliffs slopes and chutes, Arpa suited for the advanced will test even the best skiers; but the main purpose for a visit…there’s lots of powder and not a single track as far as the eye can see.

Ski Arpa is about unbelievable vistas, unbelievable amounts of vertical and unbelievable snow. The 2 valleys of Ski Arpa, “Valle el Arpa” and “Valle la Honda”, are unlike anywhere in the world.

After the cat drops you off at 3740m (12,500 ft), from the summit you can see the Pacific Ocean and Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak of the Americas in one panoramic sweep. Below your feet awaits 1,000 metres of vertical virgin powder.

Season: Mid-June to mid-October

Annual snowfall: Up to 5 meters

Equipment: Two Pisten Bully Snowcats with a total capacity of 22 riders

Terrain: 4,000+ acres of rideable terrain

Elevation: Between 2,700 and 3,740 meters / 9,000 and 12,500 feet

Location: Only 108 km from Santiago, making for a great day trip

Can be closed after heavy snowfall due avalanche risk.