Share in your social networks:

The Maipo Canyon

El Cajón del Maipo is one of the natural attractions of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile, located at the foot of the Andes mountain range. It is an Andean canyon where you can make very varied excursions and walks. The main city is San José de Maipo, capital of the homonymous commune and which covers most of the Andean sector of the Metropolitan Region.

The area also has a series of confluent rivers such as the Volcán, Yeso and Colorado rivers, and other estuaries such as San Gabriel, Manzanito, Coyanco, Sauce, Manzano and San José.

Maipo Canyon: how to go?

El Cajón del Maipo is located one hour from Santiago de Chile, being a frequent destination for followers of ecotourism and practitioners of hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, kayaking and rafting. Among the main attractions are the El Morado Natural Monument, the Lagunillas ski center, the Baños Morales, Baños Colina and Termas del Plomo hot springs, near the El Yeso reservoir, the main source of drinking water for the city of Santiago.

To get there by public transport, you have to go to the Metro station “Las Mercedes” and take a bus or bus that goes to the Cajón del Maipo. You also can rent a car, or take any of the available tours to the Maipo Canyon from Santiago de Chile

Maipo Canyon: Location Map

San José de Maipo is located around 1:10 hs from Santiago, after 56 km. Check our location map:

The Maipo Canyon: what to see? what to do?

Cajón del Maipo is one of the areas with the greatest tourist interest in the region. Located a little over an hour from Santiago, it offers beautiful natural landscapes that escape the bustle of the capital. Some of them are the El Morado Natural Monument, the Cascada de las Ánimas Nature Sanctuary and the Río Clarillo National Reserve. Suitable for the practice of adventure tourism, the destination also offers attractions aimed at relaxation with thermal baths and tours of vineyards and trails. It has protected areas and the Lagunillas Ski Center where it is possible to snowboard and ski randonne, among other activities. So, what to do?

In the Cajón del Maipo you will find endless activities of all kinds and of great tourist attraction, which are visited by thousands of tourists throughout the year. It is worth taking a couple of days to get to know the place and connect with the particular tune of the Cajón del Maipo, which has a totally different atmosphere than what it is to live in the capital. You will surely wonder where to stay on your trip, we leave you our selection of the best Camping and Glamping in the sector

Trekking to El Morado Glacier

It is one of the most popular treks and of greater tourist interest in the area, since it abounds in diversity of flora and fauna, it is also one of the most demanding. It is a reserve protected by Conaf and is located 93 km from Santiago, in the town of Baños Morales, crossing the river to the Valle de las Arenas. It can be visited from October to March since a lot of snow falls in winter and the park is closed. The excursion trail that can be done here is 8 km long and is approximately 3 hours up, where you can see mineral springs, the El Morado lagoon and the El Morado Glacier, or also known as the San Francisco Glacier.

Trekking to Condor Viewpoint

This trekking is located in the Alfalfal sector and is one of those that can be done during the day. The path will take you to the top of one of the great rocky cliffs, it is a protected area where condors and eagles lay their nests and it is very common to see them fly from very close. This is why it is one of the must-sees of the Cajón del Maipo. This place can be visited throughout the year, it is recommended to avoid going in summer due to the high temperatures, instead in winter the environment is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and makes it an incredible panorama very close to Santiago. Permits or payments are not required to enter, you can arrive independently or if you prefer to go safer you can hire a guided exit to the Mirador de Cóndores with an agency.

El Yeso reservoir (Embalse El Yeso)

A classic of the Cajón del Maipo is the El Yeso Reservoir, it is a beautiful place to visit, especially in the seasons when there is snow in the mountains that surround the turquoise lagoon. This place can be visited independently or with a day tour departing from Santiago and they will take you to see various places in the Cajón del Maipo. El Yeso waterfall is also a great place to visit. It is a very beautiful place to visit and it is located in the Salto el Yeso Park, very close to the reservoir and it is a site that offers facilities such as a picnic area, bathrooms, kiosk and the most important, from here the road to the viewpoint of the El Yeso waterfall. The place is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., where you can visit the place and reach the waterfall by a signposted path.

Las Melosas

Another very beautiful place in the Cajón del Maipo is the Las Melosas sector, they are rocks with a very beautiful formation that is due to the erosion of the river and the wind that has given them this shape for thousands of years. This is on the road to the Volcano, at km 70, passing through the town of San Gabriel, continue along the detour to the right before reaching Baños Morales. Then you continue along the route indicated by the sign that says Los Queltehues and this is the one that reaches Las Melosas.

Valle de la Colina Hot Springs

This is undoubtedly one of the must-sees of the Cajón del Maipo, you must know when to go so that you do not have a day with many people. The Valle de Colina Hot Springs are located in the heart of the Andes Mountains and therefore are surrounded by incredible landscapes.

Morales Thermal Baths

This is another highly valued place for those looking to relax in contact with nature. It is located in the Baños Morales town, surrounded by multiple mountains of the magnificent mountain range. In this town, which is very small, you will find the Baños Morales Thermal Center, which has three pools of thermal waters, rich in minerals such as iodine, chlorine, sodium and potassium. The water temperature exceeds 25 degrees and they have quite deep areas.

Termas del Plomo (Hot Springs)

These are the most rustic hot springs in the entire Cajón del Maipo. Its waters come from the San José volcano, where the temperature is pleasant but not as hot as in other hot springs, the grace of this place is the wonderful and practically virgin natural environment. They are 68 km from San José de Maipo, in the high mountains. You must start the trek early since the route is long and somewhat heavy, it is two and a half hours walking. The beginning of the trail is on the side of the El Yeso Reservoir, passing through San Gabriel and a Police Station (you must warn that you are going to the hot springs), from there you head to the reservoir and you must continue along the path to the right that It is the one that leads to the hot springs, the path is marked with stones.

Warm clothing and all necessary camping safety items are recommended. The best time to visit is during spring and summer. If you do not have mountain experience, it is better that you go accompanied and do not go when the weather conditions are not favorable.

Adventure in the Maipo Canyon: Rafting and Horseback Riding

The Maipo river is born in the Andes mountain range, in the Nacimiento lagoon on the slopes of the Maipo Volcano, it also receives water from the Volcán, Colorado and El Yeso rivers, which continue through Santiago to the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the best rivers for rafting and other water sports, where you will feel the adrenaline rush as you go down the Maipo River and its incredible rapids.

El Cajón del Maipo also stands out for offering a wide variety of Horseback Rides for the day, from 2 to 4 days or even more than 5 days. Being able to reach incredible places in the Cajón and further afield to reach on foot, some of these destinations are the San José Volcano, the Valley of the Unicorns, Laguna del Indio or reaching the Tupungato Volcano. Live the experience of knowing the most remote places of the Cajón del Maipo on a horseback ride through the mountains.

Book an excursion to enjoy the Maipo Canyon from Santiago de Chile!

From Santiago, you can book the excursion to the Maipo Canyon

Visiting Santiago? check our best tours to enjoy Chile

#353 – Santiago, Atacama Desert & Easter Island – 9 nights
#351 – Santiago, Torres del Paine and Atacama Desert – 9 nights
#363 – Santiago, Atacama, Torres del Paine & Skorpios III Cruise – 12 nts
#360 – Chilean Patagonia and Atacama Desert – 12 nts

Tours in Chile with Argentina, Peru, and other destinations in Chile

It´s a nice list of four tours including the Santiago, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar in the itinerary. But, a great idea is to combine these places, with other destinations in Chile and why not… Argentina and Peru. Check some great options below:

#1052 – From Rio to Santiago via Iguazu, Buenos Aires and Atacama – 18 nts
#1081 – Colorful Argentina, Chile & Peru – 17 nights
#1004 – Argentina & Chile in 12 nights – Option IV – 12 nts
#1090 – The Great tour of South America – 26 nights