ADVENTURE TRAVEL: 2016 Ski Holidays in Chile Resorts

ADVENTURE TRAVEL: 2016 Ski Holidays in Chile Resorts
By Jorge Jefferds April 9, 2012

Winter wants to stay in several parts of the United States. For ski enthusiasts, the white sport is never something to pack for the next season. On the contrary, whenever spring announces the snow melting, they just travel to the South Pole or anywhere, in order to vacation more. Chile, in South America, is preparing to start the winter 2016 ski season. Proudly, they offer an interesting list of excellent ski centers. Have a look at them.

Heli Skiing in Chilean Andes

Valle Nevado
This center is located 27 miles from Santiago, by the Farellones road, and was inaugurated in 1988. Its three hotels have a lodging capacity for 800 people (there are not refuges), it also possesses complete equipments that turns it into the biggest ski resort in Chile. Ski season occurs between June, July, August, September and October 2006. Distance to the resort is just 35 miles from Santiago's International airport.

Ski Portillo
Portillo is located 92 miles from Santiago, in the same road that leads to Mendoza, crossing The Andes Valley. Portillo is one of the most famous ski resorts and the only that has been host of the Ski World Cup in South America. The Speed World Record was beaten in its run. With an outstanding environment, surrounded by high Andean picks, Portillo is placed in front of Del Inca Lagoon, characterized for dust-snow in winter and spring.

Valle Nevado

El Colorado
El Colorado Ski Center (2,430 - 3,333 meters above sea level / 7,970 - 10,930 feet above sea level) is formed of two interconnected villages, each one with hotels and refuges. Next to La Parva and Valle Nevado, it is the major and best ski surface of South America. Due to its location close to the city of Santiago, services offered, convenience and ski slopes, the resort has been transformed in the ideal center for the practice of white sport among families and young people during each winter season.

La Parva
La Parva is located in a beautiful area, 38 kilometers (23.6 miles) from Santiago. La Parva has an impressive view to the valley of Santiago and it is the winter center with major population, due to the great variety of refuges and private apartments, which are rented during the ski season. Snowboard and heliskiing practices are implemented for those who enjoy these activities.

La Parva

Corralco
Corralco is the newest ski center in Chile, and offers new alternatives when it comes to ski and snowboarding for Chileans and tourists from all over the globe. The center has two hundred hectares, with tracks for beginners and experts, with the best snow in the area and in the middle of a simply wonderful landscape.

Termas de Chillán
This ski resort is Chile's most complete Ski and Spa Center, featuring an assortment of 28 meticulously groomed runs. The area kindly nourishes unmatched snow conditions, and pristine native forests with South America's longest run of 13 kilometers (8 miles). For an incomparable cross-country experience, Termas de Chillán has a professionally groomed Nordic trail system. In the magnificent Southern Andes Mountains of Chile, on the slopes of the majestic Chillán volcano, the resort offers spectacular ski terrain and breathtaking views, ideal for skiers, snowboarders, dog sledding and Randonee enthusiasts.

Termas de Chillán

Ski Pucón
Ski Pucón Chile, located 20 minutes from the town of Pucón, has an excellent infrastructure for the practice of this sport, with specific facilities for the organization of the most important international competitions. Pucón is one of the destinations with the major variety of tourist attractions in Chile.

Antillanca
Antillanca ski center is located 80 kilometers (49, 7 miles) from Osorno, between Rupanco and Puyehue lakes. Antillanca counts with excellent tracks and ski during the winter season (June to October). This winter center is characterized to have the best conditions ski outside tracks and emphasizes by its slopes and cornices.

Antillanca Ski Resort

It is important to let you know that advanced reservations are mandatory in these resorts. Chile’s arrival airport is always Santiago. You can search on flights with American Airlines, LAN, and Delta Airlines. For domestic flights to cities like Osorno, Pucón, Chillan, and many other cities in the south of the country that connect you with the ski centers, LAN and Sky Airlines offer the best deals in tickets.

RESTAURANT DESTINATION: When It's Dinnertime, Tbilisi Shines in the Gourmet

RESTAURANT DESTINATION: When It's Dinnertime, Tbilisi Shines in the Gourmet
By Jorge Jefferds April 6, 2016

A couple of days ago, upon your arrival to Tbilisi, in Georgia, you immediately organized your time to visit the city without missing any important landmark. You have been eating in fast food restaurants, mainly because you don't want to waste precious minutes that you could use sightseeing in this wonderful trip. 

Before your departure, you want to treat yourself with such a special moment reviewing pictures, and thinking that maybe you could come back. Your question is where in Tbilisi you will find that moment. 

Thanks to Trip Advisor, I will introduce you to the ten best restaurants.

Tbilisi at Night

1) g.Vino (phone no. +995 322 93 21 21): It is a wine bar that offers international and Georgian food, with prices that ranges between $5 and $25 dollars. It is described as a place to meet and socialize, providing a glass or more of rare, natural wine and Georgian tapas in a casual setup. The restaurant is open from 1pm until 1am, and you will find it at this address: Erekle II str. no. 6.

2) Organique Josper Bar (phone no. +995 593 735 083): The restaurant offers steakhouse and European styled food, with prices between $20, and $30 dollars. It is the perfect place for those in search of Georgian specialties prepared from the best local and organic ingredients. Differentiating itself through its cooking philosophy, Organique Josper Bar is also the only venue of its kind in the Caucasus that uses an Enomatic Wine Dispenser to present its collection of rare organic Georgian wines, allowing enthusiasts to taste by glass a large variety of wines while keeping intact the drinks’ quality and flavour. The food menu features grilled and roasted dishes prepared with a meticulous attention to detail: choose from the delectable prawn Caesar salad, succulent lamb burger and fresh beef tartar. 

Organique Josper Bar Terrace

3) Gabriadze Theatre Café (phone no. + 995 322 986 589): Located in the historical part of Tbilisi, in the building of Gabriadze Theatre, this café is not to be missed by visitors interested in discovering the cultural side of the capital while enjoying local dishes. Similar to the theatre, the café bears an evident touch of Rezo Gabriadze, one of Georgia’s most important contemporary artists. A screenwriter, stage director, painter and puppeteer, Rezo Gabriadze designed every single element of this artistic spot, including the wine bottle labels, and painted the chairs and tables with scenes from his most accomplished films..

4) Phaeton (phone no. +995 322 452 013): It is one of the most popular restaurants in Tbilisi and a great choice for expats or tourists who would like to get a taste of the Georgian cuisine in an original setting. Situated outside the city centre, Phaeton invites curious travellers to step off the beaten track into a special space where they can eat at low tables typical of the Georgian countryside or observe the traditional techniques of vodka and bread-making. The menu goes hand in hand with this unique atmosphere, offering specialities like trout fillet with pomegranate sauce and traditional pork and veal dishes.

Picturesque Entrance to the Phaeton Restaurant

5) Funicular (phone no. +995 322 980 000): Offering the best view in town, Funicular is a restaurant not to be missed for visitors with a preference for sophisticated dishes. Located on the Mtatsminda Plateau, the history of this venue’s location goes back to the early 20th century when the funicular was constructed. A familiar sight for locals, this Tbilisi landmark appeared in many Georgian movies during the country’s time in the former USSR. The menu compliments the panoramic scenery offering ‘classic Georgian dishes with a twist’ prepared from the finest ingredients and specialities such as seafood soup or veal shin with tomato, carrots and white wine.

6) MacLaren’s Irish Pub (phone no. +995 555 654 646): Bringing a touch of far-away Ireland to the heart of historic Tbilisi, MacLaren’s Irish Pub is a top choice for a fun night out in the Georgian capital. Serving large portions of tempting steaks and strong beers such as Murphy’s Irish Stout, Newcastle Brown Ale or the Czech Gambrinus, this Irish pub is one of the most popular late-night spots in Tbilisi, frequented by locals and expats alike. Like any respectable Irish venue, MacLaren’s has live music five nights a week and its vibrant atmosphere makes it a great place to explore while visiting Tbilisi.

Romantic Interiors in the Funicular Restaurant

7) Piano Italian (phone no. +995 322 983 008): It is a good option for those in the mood for crispy pizzas, soft tiramisu, tasty homemade pastas and live piano music while visiting Tbilisi. A winner of Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence in 2013 and Georgia’s Best Public Interior Design in 2010, this restaurant is renowned for serving some of the best pizzas in town alongside delicious organic Georgian wines provided by local producers. Specialties include fresh tomato soup with Parmesan and home-made flatbread, mushroom soup, pasta with shrimp and zucchini or spinach-stuffed ravioli quattro formaggi. All ingredients are fresh, bought from local farms or ‘from Italy to keep the taste as Italian as possible’.

8) Pur Pur (phone no. +995 322 477 776): Defined by its eclectic style and authentic atmosphere, Pur Pur is a small restaurant in the old city center of Tbilisi, close to the Freedom Square. A favorite for many expats and locals drawn to its bohemian-style ambiance, Pur Pur is a great choice for enjoying live jazz concerts and for anyone who would like to experience another side of life in Tbilisi. The restaurant menu is as eclectic as its design, with dishes ranging from the beautiful local trout with pomegranate to roast pork loin with mustard sauce or tempting nougat ice cream.

Pur Pur Restaurant's Warmth

9)  Café Linville (phone no. +995 593 322 221): With its chic and intimate ambiance, Café Linville caters to the needs of a more artistic group of locals and tourists, offering a memorable and alternative experience in Tbilisi. Its vintage furniture and chandeliers, flowery wallpapers and tablecloths recreate a dreamy and nostalgic atmosphere in all three small rooms of this romantic café. Adding the surrounding jazz music and its mixed Georgian-European menu, including their delicious and renowned crepes, Café Linville is definitely the place where you can discover one of the many layers of Tbilisi’s vibrant local life.

10) Book Corner Café (phone no. +995 322 232 430): A small art café with a charming garden, Book Corner is a low-key location for families and groups of friends looking for a moment to relax, quality service and delicious dishes, all in one single place. The warm atmosphere is complemented by a variety of European and Georgian recipes ready to satisfy any palate. The menu includes salmon and mushroom soups, diverse salads from liver salad to Viennese, piadina flatbread with goat cheese and mint or Greek tiropitas, which are small, layered pastries. Make sure you try the cheese dumplings known as varenyky, a popular dish in Georgia and other countries of Eastern Europe.