As the North American ski season rolls on, it’s now time to start thinking about the upcoming ski season down in South America. Ski Portillo, Chile’s season is scheduled to run from June 16 – October 6, 2007. Ski weeks begin at $1,600 a person at Hotel Portillo and include seven nights’ accommodation, seven-day lift tickets, and four meals daily.

Named one of the Top 10 Ski Resorts in the World, Portillo is the oldest and most exclusive resort in South America and combines old-world elegance, breathtaking scenery and epic skiing.

Portillo is an intimate resort that accommodates only 450 guests a week, offering an exclusive and hassle-free winter vacation. There are no lift lines or crowded slopes, and stretches of untouched terrain and freshly groomed runs beckon skiers of all abilities.

Portillo receives an annual average of 450 inches of snowfall and nearly 300 days of sunshine.

Despite the demand for real estate development, Portillo owner Henry Purcell chose to forgo the gains from growth and has adopted a no-sprawl ethic. Purcell’s philosophy is to maintain the pristine beauty of Portillo, including the Lake of the Incas, which is Portillo’s centerpiece. There is only one main hotel with no condominiums or shopping centers. There are no TVs in guest rooms to encourage a social atmosphere. In a world quick to commercialize, Portillo proudly remains unique, private and grand.