From a turnoff just south of San José [1], a winding dirt road leads 19 kilometers northeast to Lagunillas, a scenic but no-frills beginners’ ski area rather than a high-powered resort such as Valle Nevado [2] or Portillo [3]. At the final approach, there’s an oddball sculpture 3–4 meters high apparently intended as Jesus Christ, but it could as easily be a Rasta (someone even scribbled “legalize it” on one of its legs).
In ski season, lift tickets cost around US$20 weekdays, US$25 on weekends. For details, including accommodations information, contact the Club Andino (Alameda 108, Local 215, tel. 099/8638504, www.skilagunillas.cl [4]), which also provides transportation from San José de Maipo.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/vicinity-santiago/cajon-del-maipo/san-jose-de-maipo
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/vicinity-santiago/ski-resorts/valle-nevado
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/-aconcagua-valley/portillo
[4] http://www.skilagunillas.cl