The 2025 winter season is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic for Chilean inbound tourism. SKY Airline, the Chilean low-cost airline, estimates that more than 214,000 passengers will travel between different cities in Brazil and Santiago de Chile between July and September, a figure driven mainly by the growing interest of Brazilian tourists in snow destinations.
According to data provided by the company, the São Paulo – Santiago route will lead air traffic, with a projected 71,979 passengers, followed by Rio de Janeiro (61,893), Florianópolis (54,269), Porto Alegre (13,441) and Belo Horizonte (12,819).
The 2025 winter season in Chile is not only marked by an unprecedented boom in the arrival of Brazilian tourists, but also by a business milestone that reconfigures the ski map in South America. As we recently published in I Love Ski, the snow industry has taken a historic turn with the entry of the U.S. company Mountain Capital Partners (MCP), which has acquired a majority stake in Andacor S.A., operator of the El Colorado, Farellones Park, Pillán and Osorno Volcano resorts. This operation, part of the ambitious Project Mantra, consolidates the domain of the Three Valleys of the Andes under a single operator, just at a time when inbound tourism, especially from Brazil, is reaching record figures.
Brazil and the “magic of the Chilean winter”.
This remarkable growth responds to a phenomenon that has been consolidating in recent years: the strong attraction that Chilean ski resorts generate in the Brazilian public. The combination of snowy landscapes, geographical proximity, air connectivity and diversified mountain experiences has turned Chile into the main winter destination in the Southern Cone.
“The snow season has become a real magnet for Brazilian tourism, and we are proud to be the bridge that connects thousands of people with the magic of the Chilean winter,” said Benjamin Cox, Deputy Sales Manager of SKY Airline.
SKY, which has consolidated its position as one of the airlines preferred by tourists in the neighboring country thanks to its low cost model, punctuality and efficient services, has reinforced its seasonal strategy with exclusive temporary flights from Porto Alegre and Belo Horizonte, active from June 23 to September 14.
In Cox’s own words:
“These projections reflect the growing interest in Chilean tourism and the preference for flying with SKY thanks to our affordable fares, punctuality and in-flight experience.”
A favorable context for inbound tourism
This aerial dynamism is part of an upward trend in Chilean inbound tourism. According to figures from Fedesud, the first semester of 2025 was a milestone, with international tourism revenues close to US$ 1,683 million, representing an inter-annual growth of 25.6%. Brazil positioned itself as the second most important market in terms of arrivals, with 787,000 Brazilian tourists (an increase of 62% over the previous year) and an average expenditure of US$ 851 per visitor.
Chile has managed to attract not only experienced skiers, but also travelers seeking to enjoy the mountainous environment, typical gastronomy and family activities offered by resorts such as Valle Nevado, El Colorado, La Parva and Portillo.
Chile as a snow hub for South America
The push of snow tourism has become a strategic piece for the diversification of the national tourist offer. Thanks to the investment in air connectivity, infrastructure and international promotion, Chile has managed to reposition itself as a competitive winter destination at continental level, attracting visitors not only from Brazil, but also from Argentina, Peru, Mexico and the United States.
In addition, the seasonality of the routes implemented by SKY is evidence of a concrete effort to adapt to tourist cycles and reinforce the role of Santiago as the gateway to the Andes Mountains.
Projections and challenges
With this trend underway, the challenges for the future are to strengthen hotel capacity, improve access to winter resorts and promote a more sustainable and diversified offer. It also opens a window for emerging destinations in southern and central Chile to take advantage of this boom to expand their notoriety and attract tourism investment.
