Where to find snow in September 2026: the resorts with the most snow in Chile and Argentina

In September 2026, Portillo is the ski resort with the most snow in Chile and Argentina: 2.26 metres of accumulated base, against 1.79 m at the Tres Valles resorts near Santiago and 1.50 m at Cerro Catedral, in Bariloche. The figures come from a measurement taken on 7 September 2026. And yes, you can still ski: most resorts stay open all month, some into October.

Where is the most snow in September 2026?

This is the accumulated snow base at each resort, measured on 7 September 2026 with elevation correction, that is, the snow on the mountain, not in the valley:

• Portillo (2,880 m): 2.26 m base. It leads comfortably, almost half a metre ahead of second place. It is also the only one still getting meaningful fresh snow: the forecast points to another 20 cm over the following seven days, which would take the base to 2.42 m.
• The Tres Valles, that is Valle Nevado, El Colorado and La Parva (2,750 to 3,000 m): 1.79 m base. They sit in the same stretch of the Andes, about an hour and a half from Santiago, and share almost identical conditions. Another 7 cm is expected in the following week.
• Cerro Catedral, Bariloche (1,800 m): 1.50 m base. Argentina's largest resort, with 24 lifts. Another 4 cm expected.
• Cerro Bayo, Villa La Angostura (1,700 m): 1.45 m base. Another 3 cm expected.

Note the pattern: the higher the resort, the more snow it holds in September. That is no coincidence. By September spring is arriving in the southern hemisphere and the snow line rises. Portillo and Valle Nevado, above 2,800 metres, hold their snow far better than Bariloche and Villa La Angostura, which sit below 1,800.

Is September still a good time to ski?

Yes, and it has real advantages that July does not: as long as you pick the right resort.

In its favour:

• Price. September is low season at most resorts. Passes, hotels and lessons cost considerably less than at the July peak.
• Fewer people. School holidays in Brazil and Argentina are over. Short lift queues and emptier runs.
• Longer, sunnier days. The sun rises earlier and the day goes further. It is the month of the best mountain photos.
• Softer snow in the afternoon. With the sun on it, the snow softens and becomes far more forgiving for beginners.

What needs attention:

• The snow changes through the day. It is hard, almost icy, in the morning and softens by afternoon. The best hours are usually between 10am and 2pm.
• Lower elevations suffer. At the lower resorts, the runs at the base of the mountain can be in worse shape than those up top.
• Not everyone stays open all month. This is the most important point, and it is the next section.

Which resorts are still open in September 2026?

Here is the information that decides your trip, because the gap between resorts is almost a month:

• Valle Nevado, until mid or late October (estimated around 19 October). The longest season in the region and the safest bet if you are travelling in late September.
• Cerro Catedral, Bariloche: until at least 30 September, with the possibility of extending if the snow holds. It also has snowmaking.
• Cerro Bayo: until 27 September, within the low season that began on 30 August.
• Portillo, until 21 September. It has the best snow right now, but it also closes earliest. If Portillo is the plan, the trip has to fall in the first three weeks of the month.
• El Colorado, Farellones and La Parva: until mid-September, depending on snow conditions.

In short: in the first half of September everything is open. In the second half the options narrow to Valle Nevado, Cerro Catedral and Cerro Bayo. From October, essentially only Valle Nevado.

Chile or Argentina in September?

If the only criterion is how much snow there is, Chile wins: the Chilean resorts sit higher and, in September 2026, hold between 30 and 80 centimetres more base. Portillo and Valle Nevado handle the end of the season best.

But snow depth is not the only criterion.

Choose Chile if you want the strongest guarantee of good snow, if you are travelling in late September, or if you want to pair the mountain with a big capital city, vineyards and the coast at Valparaíso. Santiago is an hour and a half from the resorts, so you can sleep in the city and head up only on ski days.

Choose Bariloche if you want a complete snow destination rather than just the runs. Cerro Catedral is the largest resort in South America by skiable area, but the town offers far more: chocolate on Mitre street, the Circuito Chico, the Swiss Colony, boat trips. With a 1.50 m base in September, there is more than enough snow both to ski and simply to play in.

How much snow is enough to ski?

A practical reference, because "1.50 metres" means little if you have never been:

• From 30 cm, a resort can open runs, but with limited coverage and rocks showing through.
• Between 80 cm and 1.20 m is a normal season, with most runs operating.
• Above 1.50 m is a good season, with the mountain almost entirely open.
• Above 2 m, as Portillo is now, is an excellent season.

So every resort in this guide is in good or excellent condition in September 2026. The question is not whether there will be snow: it is which resort suits your kind of trip and your dates.

How to plan a September snow trip

Five things that make the difference:

• Confirm the closing date before booking flights. It is the most expensive mistake: arriving on 25 September with Portillo already shut.
• Book lessons in advance. Even in low season, ski schools have limited places, and in September they run with fewer instructors.
• Rent gear down in town, not on the mountain. In Santiago and Bariloche rental is cheaper than at the resorts, and you can take your time choosing.
• Bring factor 50 sunscreen and sunglasses. The September sun is strong and the snow reflects it. It is the month when most people come home burnt.
• Brazilians enter Chile and Argentina with just an ID card, as long as the document is in good condition, has a photo that allows clear identification and is not too old. The physical version is mandatory: the digital one is not accepted at immigration.