San José de Maipo

Discover Cajón del Maipo on a day trip from Santiago. Relax in the medicinal hot springs, enjoy a traditional Chilean barbecue, and see the stunning Veil of the Bride waterfall. Leave Santiago early morning, and head into the Andes to see a majestic sunrise. Cross the old train line and the Maipo river to enter Cajón del Maipo. Drive past picturesque towns before stopping at a restaurant for a delicious buffet breakfast. As you eat, marvel at a view of the volcano. After breakfast, continue through the hills in a safari style Jeep to the natural hot springs of Termas Valle de Colina. Relax in any of the 7 pools with temperatures ranging from 130ºF to 86ºF, heated by the nearby volcano. When you're ready, continue to several viewpoints and enjoy panoramic vistas of the volcano and mountains. Head back to the restaurant to enjoy a Chilean barbecue or empanadas, depending on the season and weather. As you eat, drink wines from central and southern Chile. Once you've finished eating, drive to the roaring Veil of the Bride waterfall, fed by the water from a nearby glacier. Return to Santiago in the afternoon.

Depart Santiago and journey to the foothills of the Andes Mountains, where you will find the remote and peaceful Baños Colina. Depart at 07:00 for an estimated arrival time at San José de Maipo at 09:00. Admire the stunning beauty of the Maipo Canyon (Cajón del Maipo) along the way. Upon arrival at the volcano of San José de Maipo, take a 2-hour, 4-kilometer round-trip hike to a glorious viewpoint. Get breathtaking views of one of the most active volcanoes in the metropolitan region, and learn why the area is one of the world's most lively, geologically speaking. Stop for lunch and a glass of wine at 12:30 PM, and then continue to the hot springs of Baños Colina, located about 100 kilometers from Santiago at an altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level. Enjoy panoramic views of the Andes Mountains while sitting in a natural pool that can reach temperatures of 50°C. Return to Santiago at 3:30 PM for an arrival and drop off at approximately 7:00 PM.  

After a two-hour drive from Chile’s capital, arrive at a ranch in a small town on the banks of the Maipo River. Once there, get ready for a spectacular horseback riding adventure guided by “arrieros” (local cowboys). Enjoy the stunning views and admire the abundant flora and fauna from horseback. Scale narrow mountain trails and have a short break on a plateau while enjoying the gorgeous surroundings. Try to spot Chilean condors flying high in the sky. After horseback riding, have some free time for lunch. Then, visit internationally-renowned Concha y Toro Wine Vineyard in the picturesque town of Pirque. Walk around the gardens of the residence, discover the variety garden, visit their cellars, and taste a selection of three of their fine wines.

Start the day with a visit to Concha y Toro Wine Vineyard in the picturesque town of Pirque. The founder was Don Melchor Concha y Toro who brought the first vines from the Bordeaux region in France to Chile that grew prosperously in the Maipo River basin. Walk around the gardens of the residence, discover the variety garden, visit their cellars, and taste a selection of three of their fine wines. Then, have some free time for lunch at a quaint restaurant in the Andean village of San Jose de Maipo. In the afternoon, enjoy a 50-minute continuous succession of whitewater rapids, the longest rafting experience on the Maipo River. Get ready for adventure with class 3 and 4 rapids, spectacular Andes Mountains scenery, and relentless heart-pumping whitewater.