While the Northern Hemisphere's ski season inches toward closing day, the iconic Ski Portillo, Chile, which has been named one of the 10 best ski resorts in the world, is preparing for a stellar season with specialty weeks designed to entice skiers and snowboarders of all types.

Family Weeks, Chilean Wine Week, Friends Week, and Wine Festival Week have all fast become can't-miss events on the Ski Portillo winter calendar. Ski weeks include the following: seven-nights accommodations, four meals daily in the Hotel Portillo dining room, lift tickets for up to eight days skiing, scheduled transfers from Santiago International Airport, and access to all resort amenities including the oversized hot tubs overlooking the Lake of the Incas, heated outdoor pool, fitness center and yoga and stretching classes.

Below are the dates and description of the specialty weeks:

CHILEAN WINE WEEK: Aug. 3-10 In celebration of Chile's world-renowned wines, this winter Portillo will host its 12th annual Top Wines of Chile Week. For no extra cost, guests will have the luxury of trying some of Chile's wines vineyards across the country. The winemakers will also hold information sessions in which guests may learn more about wine culture and the premium quality wines that Chile produces.

FRIENDS WEEK: Aug.17-24 Portillo invites friends, new and old, for a week of fun and bonding, a week to forget the world's troubles and enjoy life with good people, great skiing, in the beautiful Andes Mountains. Organized activities include après-ski at Tio Bob's, dance parties and pool parties so guests can enjoy, dance, relax, and meet new friends and create new memories. Most Friends' Week activities are no additional cost.

WINE FESTIVAL WEEK: Aug. 24 - 31 Based upon the success of Portillo's original Wine Week, Portillo now offers a second opportunity for guests to learn about the wonderful Chilean world of wine and, enjoy some of the best wine that Chile has to offer. Each afternoon guests will be able to wind down while sampling and learning about the various types of Chilean wine in a discussion with the winemakers. Like Wine Week, Wine Festival week's activities are at no additional cost.

2013 KIDS SKI FREE WEEKS During the following weeks of this season, a parent who is a paying guest in the hotel may bring one of their children between 4 and 11 years old (inclusive) for a completely free Portillo ski week. Restrictions apply and are detailed on www.skiportillo.com:One Child Skis free: June 16 - 23, June 23 - 30, Sept. 1 - 8, Sept. 8 - 15, Sept. 15 - 22. Two Children Ski Free: Sept. 28-Oct. 5.

FAMILY WEEKS:   July 6-13; July 13-20; July 20-27; July 27-Aug. 3Portillo has always been the perfect place for travelers with children, and during these four special weeks, Ski Portillo hosts activities designed exclusively for young children, teenagers, and adults, as well as activities where all members of the family can participate and have fun together.

SKI CAMPS & CLINICSIn addition to all of the special Portillo weeks, some of the finest ski professionals in the world visit Portillo in the summer to host special camps and clinics on Portillo's slopes including the following:
KIM REICHHELM'S SKI ADVENTURES August 3-10: All Ages-Family (intermediate - advanced/intermediate) August 17-24: Adults only (expert) August 24-31: Adults Only (expert)Former US Ski Team member and other hand-picked guides and instructors with years of experience including; teaching, guiding, big mountain skiing, helicopter skiing, first aid, EMT and long term relationships with the Portillo staff and family. Their goal is to create a ski experience unlike any other, laugh, have fun, and share a passion for skiing and a knowledge of Portillo with the guests.

NASTC/Adventure Ski Training Vacation - Aug. 16-25  Developed by Chris and Jenny Fellows in 1994, NASTC has helped improve the skiing and brought in more adventure into the lives of thousands of skiers over the last twenty years. NASTC specializes in full-immersion, comprehensive ski training programs for strong intermediate to expert skiers. Guests learn in small groups of 6 or fewer with the same Demo Team instructor all day, all week. This week-long course is suitable for skiers that have had little to no off-piste experience as well as for those whom have had more mileage in ungroomed conditions; terrain selection will be gauged according to the comfort level of each group. Backcountry tour options exist, as does group helicopter skiing. Levels 6-9 (intermediate - expert). 

Ski with the Superstars - Aug. 10 - 17Professional skier, guide, and camp operator Chris Davenport hosts the Ninth Annual Superstars Ski Camp at Ski Portillo, which will take place Aug. 10-17, 2013. Open to a maximum of 30 skiers. Professional coaches will  again include Mike Douglas of Whistler, BC, Ingrid Backstrom of Squaw Valley, CA, Wendy Fisher of Crested Butte, CO, and Chris Anthony of Vail, CO. The camp features a professional photographer, who will document in stills and video the entire experience for the guests. The Superstars Camp is geared towards expert skiers looking to take their skiing to the next level with expert coaching on the skills of steep skiing, terrain recognition and management, proper mechanics, as well as good old powder skiing techniques. 

Clendenin Ski Method - Sept. 7-15, 2013From beginners to experts, the Clendenin Ski Method goal is take skiers up a notch. The camp is hosted by champion freestyler John Clendenin and his team of instructors. 

Portillo Big Mountain Telemark Camp - July 21 - 28, 2013The Portillo Big Mountain Telemark Camp, developed in 2007 by Nick DeVore and Kayo Ogilby, is the first international advanced Telemark camp and is open to any age expert Telemarker (able to ski all blacks). Through on-piste and backcountry exploration, the camp focuses on technique, awareness, visualization, safety, discipline, determination, and having a great time ripping stunning lines. While perfecting the Telemark turn, clients will also learn about big mountain and backcountry travel, including precaution, line choice, route finding, equipment use, snow stability, and overall awareness while enjoying the majestic mountains.

Ski Portillo offers skiers a rare taste of a world long forgotten, rich in culture, family-owned hospitality and awe-inspiring beauty.  Located approximately two hours from Santiago and accessible via direct flights from numerous North American cities, Ski Portillo is the dream South American ski destination. Its incomparable setting - on the shores of the Lake of the Incas and surrounded by 19,000-foot Andean peaks - delivers an unsurpassed experience with world-class skiing and snowboarding and excellent service thanks to a one-to-one guest-to-employee ratio. Families, singles, couples, groups of friends - as well as many national ski teams- all love Portillo for its beauty, wide open slopes and ample snowfall.  

The resort accommodates a maximum of 450 guests a week, eliminating crowds and lift lines, and affording guests the sensation of skiing at their own, private Andean resort. Ski Portillo's 14 lifts, including the famed Va et Vient lifts found only at Ski Portillo, access terrain catering to skiers of all abilities. Ski Portillo's ski and snowboard school features the world's most qualified instructors; nearly 100 percent instruct year-round, teaching at the finest resorts in the Northern Hemisphere when they are not in Portillo. While less-experienced guests will find wide-open and uncrowded slopes, Portillo is famed for its steeps, and the area is surrounded by easily accessed backcountry terrain. Ski Portillo's instructors also provide expert off-piste guiding for experienced skiers.

2013 Season PricesPrices for the 2013 season begin at US$1,950 at Hotel Portillo; US$1,300 at the Octagon Lodge, or US$950 at the Inca Lodge. (Inca Lodge guests have their meals in the cafeteria instead of the Hotel Portillo dining room.)

For reservations call toll free 1.800.829.5325, or email Reservas@SkiPortillo.com. More information on Ski Portillo is available at www.SkiPortillo.com. Follow Ski Portillo on Twitter (@SkiPortillo) or Facebook.

Ski Portillo also owns and operates Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, located in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, and the new Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, which opened in December 2011 in Chilean Patagonia. 

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