Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the best time to ski in South America?
The season runs from mid-June to mid-October. Although every year is different, and it comes down to Mother Nature, the best time for dry powder is June, July, August, and up to the 2nd week in September. After that, you should consider good Spring conditions.
Ski Touring the Volcanoes in Chile is good into November.
The last two weeks in July are student holidays, so resorts get crowded, but nothing like North American or European resorts over the holidays.
Q: How do I choose the best PowderQuest tour for me?
PowderQuest offers you 4 distinct "Tour Focuses" to fit your needs:
Resort Focus, Off Piste Focus, Backcountry Focus, Self Guided Adventures
Each "Tour Focus" has different trips to choose from varying in number of days, dates, and areas we visit.
Firstly, decide what "Tour Focus" best fits what you are looking for:
» If you are not interested in hiking with your skis and would prefer to take full advantage of the ski lifts and ski guides that know the resort and secret spots like the locals, choose our Resort Focus Tours.
» If you want the perfect mix of off-piste, backcountry and resort freeriding using both ski lifts and hiking to get to the best snow, and do not have alpine touring equipment, choose our most popular trips, Off Piste Focus Tours.
» If you are looking for a backcountry experience and enjoy ski touring to access fresh tracks outside of the ski resort, yet still having the option to explore the local ski resorts and nearby off-piste, choose our Backcountry Touring Focus Tours.
» If you are looking for a non-guided trip, yet having most of the logistics pre-arranged for you, you should choose our Self Guided Adventures
Once you have selected which "Tour Focus" is best for you, then you have a selection of trips within that "Tour Focus" to choose.Trip dates, costs, amount of time you will spend on your vacation, and the areas we visit will most likely be the main factors of your selection. If you have any questions, our experts are here to help you make the best decision. Contact us!
Q: What if we cannot ski backcountry due to weather or other factors?
Inbounds skiing in the Andes has excellent advanced and expert powder freeriding.
Q: Are your tours more for snowboarders or skiers?
These trips are open for skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers. However we do offer one "snowboarders only" tour, Snowboarding Argentina
Q: Do I need to be in good shape to come on these trips?
We believe the better shape you are in, the more fun you will have! You do not need to be an uber-athlete, but these are physically active road journeys. It is important to us here at PowderQuest that you read over the requirements for each of our focus tours and be honest with yourself about your riding level as well as your overall fitness level.
Please do not sign up for a Backcountry trip if you find skining uphill with your touring or split board gear a grueling experience. This not only will be a disappointment to you but also to the others in the group who will be obligated to wait for you. In order to maximize enjoyment of our tours you should ensure that you are in good shape.
Please also make sure that when you fill out PowderQuest’s pre tour questionnaire you are as detailed as possible when answering the questions so your guides can give you the best experience possible.
Q: What age are most of the guests that go on these tours?
We do not have any age restrictions on our trips. The majority of our clients are between the ages of 25 and 50, but we also have many clients who are older and younger than this. Clients 18 years old or younger need to have full parental consent and preferably be accompanied by an adult.
Q: What type of ski should I bring?
We suggest an "all mountain" style ski with a waist between 80-95 mm.
On most trips, yes! If you have a group of 8 ready to fill a tour, the 8th guest is free! Contact us to see what trips offer this great deal.
Q: Do I need a Visa to enter Chile or Argentina? The following countries require Visas:
To enter Argentina:
Countries outside of the EU, Switzerland, Canada and the USA may require visas.
Check with the Argentine Consulate in your country for the latest requirements.
| To enter Chile:
New Zealand
China
India
Russia
Egypt
Attention USA, Canadian, and Australian Passport holders:
*Although no Visa is required, there is a reciprocity fee to enter Chile and Argentina.
This is charged in USD cash at the airport upon arrival. Argentina accepts credit cards.
The fee is good for the life of your passport in Chile. In Argentina, for USA passports, the fee is good for 10 years regardless of the passport expiration date.
The fee fluxuates, but recently was $50 for Australians, $110 for Canadians, and $130 for USA. |
Q: I am an expert skier, but my girlfriend is an intermediate snowboarder. Can we both go on the same trip?
Yes, our Resort Focus Tours cater to all skier and rider levels. However our Backcountry Touring Focus Tours and Off Piste Focus Tours are only open to Advanced and Experts.
Q: Is airfare to Chile and Argentina included with the trip price?
No, you are responsible for the cost of your flight to Chile or Argentina. We work with agents that are able to secure very good rates out of the USA and Canada. Should you need any assistance booking your flight, please let us know.
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