Cajón del Maipo — Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
The enticing Cajón del Maipo canyon lies right on the doorstep of Santiago — only 25km southeast to be exact. Set against the sublime backdrop of the Andean foothills and with soaring 6,000m peaks visible in the distance, it is the ideal place for hiking, adventure sports, wildlife spotting and simply breathing the fresh air of the countryside. For locals and visitors alike, it is a destination for all tastes, a place that offers both adventure and relaxation, and somewhere you can do just as much or as little as you please.
Tour Highlights
- Challenge yourself with one of many rewarding treks and hikes. Trails are available for all levels, but all of them offer exquisite mountain scenery. The Mirador del Morado trail and the El Morado Glacier high-altitude trek are among the most famous.
- Get your adrenaline fix with adventure sports such as canyoning, white water rafting, ziplining, bungee jumping and more. Horse riding and fly fishing are also available for those who prefer activities of a more sedate nature.
- Give your tired bones a soak and benefit from the rejuvenating properties of one of the natural hot springs in the area, the perfect end to your Cajón del Maipo holiday.
- Treat your taste buds with a tour of the famous Concha y Toro vineyard — and sample some of their delicious Casillero del Diablo wine.
- For a family trip to Cajón del Maipo, the laidback and traditional town of San José de Maipo and its surroundings offer welcoming restaurants and attractive picnic spots that are ideal for kids and parents alike.
Travel Tips
- The gateway to Cajón del Maipo is the town of San José de Maipo. From there, you can make your way to any of the other points of interest in the valley.
- Traveling to Cajón del Maipo is simple, and the area is easily accessible from Santiago by public transport. Rural buses run from several metro stations within the city; alternatively, you can take a colectivo (shared taxi), which is only marginally more expensive.
- Another option is to drive to San José de Maipo with your own vehicle, which you can do in a regular road car. However, to reach many of the attractions beyond San José de Maipo, you will need a 4x4.
- Perhaps the easiest way to tour Cajón del Maipo is to join an organised trip. This way, the agency will provide a guide, organise transport and take care of everything else that is required, leaving you to simply make the most of your day out.
- In the summer, all areas are easy to reach by road car or 4x4. In winter, some more inaccessible parts can only be reached by snowmobile, on skis or on foot with snowshoes — although this can make for an exciting adventure in itself.
For more on what to do in the destination, check out some of the Chile trips.
