15 km southeast of Santiago, after passing La Florida and Puente Alto counties, Los Andes hypnotizes all looks. Mountains, with peaks over 5,000 meters, will increasingly narrowing on G-25 route that winds and climbs surrounded by Maipo river.

Cajon del Maipo has become a capital oasis for who want to breathe fresh air and avoid the hustle and bustle of Santiago. Impressive to see as a few kilometers from Santiago arise small and peaceful mountain villages where you can rediscover nature, eating traditional Chilean food and experience outdoor activities through various adventure sports groups in the sector.

Along the way, from west to east, villages are discovered as Las Vertientes, with several inns with swimming pool, El Manzano, with good picnic areas, San Jose de Maipo, the main town of Cajon del Maipo full of mud houses and neighbor to Lagunillas ski resort. Further, in San Alfonso, there are the best tour operators for Maipo river rafting and other adventure sports.

Nearby road end is Lo Valdes (Km 70), next to Valle de Colina hotspring, natural pools at 70 ° C and El Morado Natural Monument, 3,000 acres ideal for trekking and climbing in the main peaks in the area : El Morado and San Francisco.

Capital of wine, as it is called Pirque by its inhabitants, is located 22 km south of Santiago, and here you can appreciate all year how wine gives life to this little valley with peasant inheritance.

Pirque integrates Maipo valley, the oldest and most renowned wine area in Chile, where it enjoys watching vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon, most numerous strain and visit some of six wineries that are in place. You can also discover the village of artisans located in Vicente Huidobro park full of cueca sounds, Smell of homemade bread and traditional pies.

How to get there

To Cajon del Maipo. From Santiago downtown should be taken Vicuna Mackenna avenue and turn on to Departmental avenue east to reach La Florida avenue. Then continue until you reach Volcano Road and stop at destination. There are public transportation departing from Bellavista de la Florida subway station (Line 5).

To Pirque. From Santiago, take Vicuna Mackenna avenue and go southwest until it becomes Concha y Toro avenue, in Puente Alto town. Continue south to bridge that cross Maipo river (Concha y Toro bridge). Continue a few yards beyond bridge and meet Pirque's main square (Concha y Toro - Virginia Subercaseaux streets / Ramon Subercaseaux).

Activities and attractions

At end of  route across Maipo valley 93 km from Santiago, is El Morado Natural Monument, mountainous reserve of more than three thousand hectares and offers stunning views of Andean chain and possibility of mountaineering, climbing, trekking, horseback riding and camping under stars at more than 2,000 meters.

We recommend visiting this Natural Monument between October and March, when weather conditions are favorable and can be reached by car until ​​Banos Morales area prior to El Morado entrance. This place has several hiking trails. The best is that leads to Morales lagoon and San Francisco glacier, a distance of 8 km and can be walked in three hours each way.

For hiking lovers, there are options to move up to El Morado viewpoint (4,320 meters), San Francisco (4,320 meters, ice climbing technique) and El Morado (5060 meters, high difficulty mixed climbing). There are specialized guides and companies that can guide the way. It is not recommended to go alone.

For those who enjoy nature and observation of high mountain flora and fauna, El Morado Natural Monument is an ideal place. Over 300 plant species of Andean sclerophyllous scrub forest, endangered species, living with a variety of wildlife that has mammals like cururo silky mouse of Noah, birds like yal, cometocino, golden chirihue, black goldfinch , the giant hummingbird, Andean hummingbird and king heights: condor.

In Pirque, april's first days of every year takes place the Grape Harvest Festival that attracts hundreds of wine lovers who take advantage to discover heritage places like Concha y Toro vineyard, founded in mid-nineteenth century, Lo Arcaya, old house with its chapel declared National Monument, Las Majadas castle, a great size french renaissance mansion or Mackenna Park, with scenic great importance and old colonial house.

From Pirque you can discover Clarillo River National Reserve, located about 14 km from Pirque downtown and with 13 000 hectares protected, one of better preservation redoubts of typical sclerophyllous forest in central zone. It has picnic areas and facilities, trails and Clarillo river, where a dip is best to bear summer heat.