Photo: Tijs Michels / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0Mountains & volcanoes
Cerro El Plomo Ascent
A 3-day guided climb of Cerro El Plomo (5,424 m) from Valle Nevado, with a base camp at 4,100 m and mules carrying the heavy gear.
3 days
Snow · Central Andes
Heli-Skiing in the Andes
At a glance
A full day of helicopter-accessed descents on snowfields and glaciers in the Central Andes, with a certified mountain guide (UIAGM or national certification) and transfers from Santiago.
- Duration
- Full day
- Level
- Advanced (deep-snow experience required)
- Group
- 2–4
- Season
- Winter (July–September)
- Start
- Pickup at your hotel in Santiago, confirmed when you book
Overview
This is a day for strong skiers and riders who want terrain no lift reaches. A helicopter takes you to snowfields and glaciers in the Central Andes, up to about 3,000 m, and a certified mountain guide (UIAGM or national certification) leads every descent. You leave Santiago early, ski through the day and are back in the city in the evening.
The day starts at the base with a safety briefing and an ARVA (avalanche transceiver) check. Everyone carries avalanche safety equipment and an airbag backpack, both included. From there the flights and guided descents follow the snow. Lunch is a trail pack eaten in the field, between runs.
The mountains set the plan. Your guide chooses objectives and the number of descents on the day, based on snow, wind and visibility. Additional descents beyond the base package can be added. Groups are small, 2 to 4 people, which keeps the day focused on skiing. You will need real experience in deep, off-piste snow, and you will complete a health form and liability waiver before the activity.
Highlights
- Helicopter access to snowfields and glaciers with no resort access
- Descents in untouched powder, guided by a certified mountain guide (UIAGM or national certification)
- Avalanche safety equipment and an airbag backpack included
- Small groups of 2 to 4 people
- A full day with transfers from Santiago
The day
Early pickup at your hotel in Santiago
Pickup at your hotel in Santiago, confirmed when you book, early in the morning, and the drive to the helicopter base.
Safety briefing and ARVA check
At the base, your guide runs the safety briefing, checks every avalanche transceiver and fits the airbag backpacks.
Flights and guided descents
The helicopter drops the group on the snow and your guide leads each descent. Objectives and the number of descents depend on snow, wind and visibility.
Lunch in the field
A trail lunch pack, eaten on the mountain between flights.
Drop-off at your hotel in Santiago
After the last descent, you transfer back, with drop-off at your hotel in Santiago, confirmed when you book, in the evening.
Included and not included
Included
- Guided helicopter descents. The number of descents depends on snow, wind and visibility.
- Certified mountain guide (UIAGM or national certification)
- Avalanche safety equipment and airbag backpack
- Safety briefing and ARVA transceiver check
- Trail lunch pack
- Transfers from Santiago
Not included
- Powder ski rental (quotable on request)
- Additional descents beyond the base package
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities and personal expenses
What to bring and who it's for
What to bring
- Your own powder skis or snowboard and boots (powder ski rental is quotable on request)
- Your winter ski or snowboard clothing
- Travel insurance details
- Your completed health form and liability waiver
Who it's for
Advanced skiers and snowboarders with real experience in deep, off-piste snow. This is not a day to learn powder skiing. A maximum passenger weight applies under the helicopter operator's rules.
Good to know
- Snow, wind and visibility decide where you fly and how many descents you ski.
- A health form and liability waiver are required before the activity.
- The helicopter operator sets a maximum passenger weight; tell us your weight when you book.
- Avalanche transceiver, safety equipment and airbag backpack are provided, and the ARVA check happens at the base before the first flight.
Where it happens
The map loads from Esri when you open it.
- SantiagoPickup at your hotel in Santiago.
- Central Andes near SantiagoThe helicopter base depends on snow and weather.
- SantiagoDrop-off at your hotel in Santiago.
The helicopter base changes with the conditions, so it has no marker on the map.
Make it part of a trip
Combine it with other days in a trip designed around you.
Plan a tailor-made trip
Ready to go?
FAQs
Advanced. You need real experience skiing or riding deep, off-piste snow, because every descent is in ungroomed terrain away from any resort.
The number of descents depends on snow, wind and visibility on the day, and your guide decides the plan with the conditions in front of you. Additional descents beyond the base package are available at extra cost.
2 to 4 people, plus your certified mountain guide (UIAGM or national certification).
We run heli-skiing in winter, from July to September.
No. Helicopter flights and descents depend on snow, wind and visibility, and the plan for the day follows those conditions.
Avalanche safety equipment and an airbag backpack are included. Before the first flight you get a safety briefing and an ARVA (avalanche transceiver) check at the base.
Bring your own powder skis or snowboard if you have them. Powder ski rental is not included but we can quote it on request.
Transfers from Santiago are included, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Santiago, confirmed when you book. You leave the city early in the morning and are back in the evening.
SOURCES · Vertic field notes