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Trade the bustle of Santiago for two days of high-Andes hiking: glaciers, a lagoon with icebergs, and an evening soaking in Colina hot springs beneath a clear star field. This guided overnight pairs strenuous ascents with restorative thermal pools.
Trade the bustle of Santiago for two days of high-Andes hiking: glaciers, a lagoon with icebergs, and an evening soaking in Colina hot springs beneath a clear star field. This guided overnight pairs strenuous ascents with restorative thermal pools.
You step out of the van as the city melts behind you and the Andes rise like a wall of stone and wind. The path climbs through volcanic scree and hard-packed dirt, trees thinning to scrub, until the skyline is dominated by the Morado massif and a hanging glacier that pins blue ice above a lagoon. At night, the hot springs steam under constellations you rarely see from the valley below.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Andes Explora · Santiago, Región Metropolitana de Santiago
You step out of the van as the city melts behind you and the Andes rise like a wall of stone and wind. The path climbs through volcanic scree and hard-packed dirt, trees thinning to scrub, until the skyline is dominated by the Morado massif and a hanging glacier that pins blue ice above a lagoon. At night, the hot springs steam under constellations you rarely see from the valley below.
This route takes you into Monumento Natural El Morado and the Colina hot springs, places forged by uplift and repeated glaciation: granite peaks carved by ice, moraines littered with rock, and lagoons fed by seasonal melt. The Cajón del Maipo area has long been part of mountain culture for Santiago’s outdoor community and local mountain guides who know how quickly weather changes at 3,000 meters.
Practically: day one is ~8 km round trip with ~573 m ascent to 2,400 m, followed by an evening at hot springs and a campsite. Day two pushes higher — roughly 9 km one-way, 1,000 m gain to ~3,150 m — to a hanging glacier and iceberg-strewn lagoon. Expect rocky trails, occasional snow patches, and thin air; guides provide tents, pads, sleeping bags, poles and park fees.
Pack layers, water treatment, and a headlamp. Pace yourself on ascents, hydrate early, and keep sunscreen handy — high-altitude sun bites faster. This is a guided, moderate-to-challenging alpine camping trip best for fit hikers comfortable with long days and variable mountain weather.
challenging.
2 days (approx. 8–10 hours hiking total).
Good aerobic fitness with experience on sustained uphill hikes; comfortable with full-day efforts at altitude.
You should have moderate to strong fitness: expect sustained climbs of 500–1,000 m in a day and 4–7 hours of hiking each day at altitude.
No technical glacier climbing is planned; guides supply poles and snowshoes if necessary — specialized crampons are not typically required.
Three-season tents, sleeping pads and bags are included; the itinerary provides two lunches, dinner and breakfast at camp and transport from Santiago.
Cell coverage is intermittent; carry your own water and refill from guide-supplied sources or treated water — park facilities are limited.
Cajón del Maipo has long been used by local mountaineers and shepherding communities; the natural monument protects glacial and alpine ecosystems east of Santiago.
Stay on designated trails, pack out all trash, and follow guide instructions to protect fragile high-altitude vegetation and water quality.
Andes Explora operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step out of the van as the city melts behind you and the Andes rise like a wall of stone and wind. The path climbs through volcanic scree and hard-packed dirt, trees thinning to scrub, until the skyline is dominated by the Morado massif and a hanging glacier that pins blue ice above a lagoon. At night, the hot springs steam under constellations you rarely see from the valley below.
You step out of the van as the city melts behind you and the Andes rise like a wall of stone and wind. The path climbs through volcanic scree and hard-packed dirt, trees thinning to scrub, until the skyline is dominated by the Morado massif and a hanging glacier that pins blue ice above a lagoon. At night, the hot springs steam under constellations you rarely see from the valley below.
This route takes you into Monumento Natural El Morado and the Colina hot springs, places forged by uplift and repeated glaciation: granite peaks carved by ice, moraines littered with rock, and lagoons fed by seasonal melt. The Cajón del Maipo area has long been part of mountain culture for Santiago’s outdoor community and local mountain guides who know how quickly weather changes at 3,000 meters.
Practically: day one is ~8 km round trip with ~573 m ascent to 2,400 m, followed by an evening at hot springs and a campsite. Day two pushes higher — roughly 9 km one-way, 1,000 m gain to ~3,150 m — to a hanging glacier and iceberg-strewn lagoon. Expect rocky trails, occasional snow patches, and thin air; guides provide tents, pads, sleeping bags, poles and park fees.
Pack layers, water treatment, and a headlamp. Pace yourself on ascents, hydrate early, and keep sunscreen handy — high-altitude sun bites faster. This is a guided, moderate-to-challenging alpine camping trip best for fit hikers comfortable with long days and variable mountain weather.