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Three things to decide before going up
Nevados de Chillán is an active volcano with a ski centre, three thermal sites and a hotel on its slope. Before booking you have to look at the state of the volcano, of the resort and of the road.
The volcano is on yellow technical alert and can have explosions without warning. Access to the crater area is closed, with a safety perimeter around the emission centre. If you plan to walk in the mountains, notify Carabineros first and go with a guide.
A fire closed the Hotel Alto Nevados and the plaza Otto sector. They are cordoned off, no one can enter and the operator has not given a reopening date. The Hotel Nevados, Valle Hermoso and the thermal water park remain open, but their hours and the state of each site change with the day's conditions, so confirm with the operator the week you travel, and more so if your lodging was in the closed zone.
The road up
You go up by route N-55 and the Carabineros checkpoint is at the Las Trancas station, a few kilometres before the resort. In winter there is an uphill window in the morning and a downhill one in the afternoon, and they move with the state of the road. Whoever arrives late for the climb does not go up that day.
Chains are mandatory to carry all year, also on a 4x4. With snow or ice, Carabineros orders them fitted. Buying a resort product gives vehicle access at no extra charge, but does not guarantee parking, and you park only in the designated areas.
Without a car there is a bus that leaves Chillán for the hot springs. Confirm with the bus company whether in winter it goes up to the resort.
Skiing is a winter thing
The snow lifts only operate in winter and are closed outside that season. The ski season runs from July to September, but opening and closing dates change every year: confirm them with the operator. The ticket is loaded on the Nevados card, which is bought only at the ticket offices in the centre. High and low season rates depend on the date, and next winter's may change: confirm the price before going.
Those who do not ski can buy a single-ride lift ticket to sightsee, and there is a snow park with tubing, skating and a zip line. In winter you have to be on the mountain early because of the checkpoint and parking, and that includes anyone who is only going to the pools.
Hot springs and bikes outside the ski season
Valle Hermoso has three outdoor pools, the water park has four, three open and one covered, and the hotel sells a day pass with pools and lunch. In the water sites a swim cap is mandatory and the park does not admit pets. Valle Hermoso closes one day a week.
The bike park runs in summer on its own calendar and does not open every day. Next season's is not yet published, so confirm with the operator which days it opens before planning the trip around it. On event days there may be restrictions. You go up with a ticket loaded on the Nevados card. There are also camper and motorhome sites, a pilot programme tied to the bike park zone; confirm with the operator whether it operates on your date.
To sleep up there is the Hotel Nevados, with thermal pools and spa, and apartments for five people in Valle Hermoso and in the Refugio sector, steps from the slopes.
How to get there
From Santiago you reach Chillán by train or by Ruta 5 Sur, and from there continue by bus or car on the N-55. The Las Trancas valley is about 8 km from the resort, on the same road, and has lodging and restaurants.
The place
Facts
- Full entry
- Nevados de Chillán
When to go
- Temperature
- Rainfall
- Best time
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 14°
- Rainfall
- 14 mm
What the route costs
Prices checked on Oct 5, 2026. They may contain errors, so confirm them at the source before you pay.
- Daily ski ticket, high season
Open July to September, every day: lifts 09:00 to 16:45 and ticket offices 09:00 to 16:00.
Online purchase. At the ticket office it costs CLP 90,000. Same price from age 6; children under 5 and under 120 cm do not pay. High: winter holidays and August weekends.
Closed in spring, summer and autumn: the snow lifts operate only in winter.
The Nevados card is needed to load the ticket, and it is only bought at the centre's ticket offices. Chains must be carried on the road up.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 80,000
- Hotel Nevados daypass: pools and lunch
Open Pools 10:00 to 18:00; lunch is 13:00 to 14:00.
Adults aged 13 and over; children 6 to 12, CLP 48,000; up to 5, CLP 15,000. Includes assisted-line lunch. Private tub for two, one hour: CLP 30,000; with lunch, CLP 96,000.
Buying in person carries a surcharge from CLP 10,000 per product. In winter you must be on the mountain before 10:00.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 68,000
- Daily ski ticket, low season
Open July to September, every day: lifts 09:00 to 16:45 and ticket offices 09:00 to 16:00.
Online purchase. At the ticket office it costs CLP 75,000. Same ages and free entry as high season. Low: August weekdays and until the end of the season.
Closed in spring, summer and autumn: the snow lifts operate only in winter.
The Nevados card is needed to load the ticket, and it is only bought at the centre's ticket offices. Chains must be carried on the road up.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 65,000
- Thermal water park, daily entry
Open Every day. Monday to Thursday and Sunday, 09:00 to 16:00; Friday, Saturday and public holidays, 09:00 to 19:30.
Full day, adults aged 13 and over; children up to 12 free. Entry until 10:30, CLP 25,000; from 16:00 Friday and Saturday, CLP 20,000. Spring rate; may change.
Swim cap required; pets not accepted. In winter you must be on the mountain before 10:00 because of the Carabineros checkpoint and parking.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 35,000
- Camper or motorhome site
Open Check-in between 12:00 and 16:00; check-out between 09:00 and 11:59.
Per site, up to four people; each additional person pays CLP 9,000, maximum of two. Five sites with electricity, water and waste disposal.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 35,000
- Valle Hermoso, daily pool entry
Closed Mondays. Tuesday 09:00 to 16:00; Wednesday to Sunday, 09:10 to 18:00.
From CLP 17,000 per adult, entering from 14:00; all day, CLP 25,000; with lunch, CLP 38,000. Children up to 12 free. Spring rate.
Swim cap required in all pools. Three outdoor pools from 35 to 42 degrees. In winter you must be on the mountain before 10:00.
Unconfirmed at the source
from CLP 17,000
- One-ride ticket: sightseeing or randonnée
Open In winter, on the lift schedule: 09:00 to 16:45.
A single lift ride up, with no getting off on the way. Valid for sightseeing or for randonnée, going up with equipment. No card needed, except for randonnée.
Closed outside the winter season.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 16,000
- Bus from Chillán to the hot springs
Open Departures from Chillán at 08:00 and 14:00; returns from the hot springs at 09:50 and 16:30. Every day and public holidays.
Per leg, adult. Senior, CLP 2,250. The same bus passes through the Las Trancas valley.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 4,500
- Adventure Park: tubing, skating and zip line
Open In winter, every day 10:00 to 15:30. Sold at the Plaza Tata ticket office.
Closed in spring, summer and autumn: it is a snow park.
Skating from 1 metre in height and over 5 years old; zip line from age 12. For tubing you must arrive to validate the QR before the time block.
Unconfirmed at the source
Price not published
- Bike Park Nevados
Open November to April, only the days on its calendar, Thursday to Sunday and public holidays. Lifts 10:00 to 16:45.
Closed from April until it opens next summer; days not on the calendar are also closed.
You go up with a ticket loaded on the Nevados card, bought at the Plaza Tata ticket office. There may be restrictions on event days.
Unconfirmed at the source
Price not published
- Access road to the complex, route N-55
Open In winter Carabineros control the road: going up 08:00 to 14:00 and coming down 14:30 to 19:00. Hours change with road conditions.
Buying a product (hot springs, lodging or ticket) gives vehicle access at no extra charge, but does not guarantee parking. In winter you must be up there before 10:00.
Chains must be carried all year, also on 4x4s; with snow or ice Carabineros order them fitted. The checkpoint is at the Las Trancas station. Park only in designated areas.
Unconfirmed at the source
Price not published
- Volcán Nevados de Chillán
Access to the crater area is closed: there is a two-kilometre safety perimeter around the emission centre.
A yellow technical alert is in force: the volcano may have explosions without warning. Confirm the alert level before you go, tell Carabineros your route, and going with a guide is advisable.
Unconfirmed at the source
Price not published
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