Things to do in San José de Maipo

Discover the magnificent Andes Mountains on a guided day trip from Santiago. Pass by the Tinoco Tunnel, admire the picturesque Cajón del Maipo gorge, and enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the El Yeso Dam. Start your tour early in the morning with a convenient pickup directly from your accommodation. Hop into the air-conditioned van and set out towards the Maipo Canyon. As you travel, admire the wonderful views of this natural landscape full of high mountain passes, lakes, and forests. Hear about the area's traditions and listen to folktales told by your guide. Along the way, you'll pass the Tinoco Tunnel, a dark disused train tunnel that runs along the Camino Al Volcán, a remnant from the region's railway days. Listen as your guide tells you about the history of this unusual attraction and the tragic story behind the shrines located at the tunnel's entrance and exit. Not far from here, you'll reach the El Yeso Dam. This large reservoir was created in 1964 by damming the Yeso River and now serves as one of the major sources of water for Santiago. Stop here to enjoy a picnic-style lunch served with a glass of wine and some juice. Then, sit back and relax as you set out on your return journey to Santiago, where your driver will drop you off directly at your accommodation.

Discover the magnificent Andes Mountains on a guided day trip from Santiago. Pass by the Tinoco Tunnel, admire the picturesque Cajón del Maipo gorge, and enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the Termas Colinas Hot Springs. Start your tour early in the morning with a convenient pickup directly from your accommodation. Hop into the air-conditioned van and set out towards the Maipo Canyon. As you travel, admire the wonderful views of this natural landscape full of high mountain passes, lakes, and forests. Hear about the area's traditions and listen to folktales told by your guide. Along the way, pass the Tinoco Tunnel, a dark, disused train tunnel that runs along the Camino Al Volcán, a remnant from the region's railway days. Listen as your guide tells you about the history of this unusual attraction and the tragic story behind the shrines located at the tunnel's entrance and exit. Not far from here, you'll reach the Termas Colinas Hot Springs. Relax in any of the seven pools with temperatures ranging from 130ºF to 86ºF, heated by the nearby volcano. Stop here to enjoy a picnic-style lunch served with a glass of wine and some juice. Then, sit back and relax as you set out on your return journey to Santiago, where your driver will drop you off directly at your accommodation.

Admire the stunning massifs, estuaries, and rivers of the Andes Mountains on a full-day trip to the Cajon del Maipo on this van tour. Enjoy a delicious picnic in a stunning natural setting along the way. See sights like the Tinoco Tunnel and pass by charming, traditional towns.  Depart Santiago and journey to San Jose de Maipo in a spacious and air-conditioned van. Listen as your guide tells you about the folklore of the area. Head towards the volcano and see small towns like Las Vertientes, El Canelo, El Manzano, El Melocoton and San Alfonso.  Learn the history of the Tinoco Tunnel as you make your way along a dirt road to the large lake of Embalse del Yeso. Stop at the reservoir to enjoy a picnic-style snack with cheese, olives, salami, juice, wine, and more.  Start back towards Santiago at around 3:00 PM and be dropped off at your hotel or in the city center at approximately 6:00 PM.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Santiago city, and enjoy a day to remember as you embrace the magic of the Andes Mountains on a small-group tour for no more than 16 people. Be picked up at your accommodation and travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan on a scenic drive to Cajon del Maipo. Once there, connect with nature in a peaceful environment of fresh, clean mountain air. Visit the enchanting village of San José del Maipo to admire the colonial-style architecture, and see the church and main Plaza de Armas, where fans of adventure travel often gather. From there, continue the drive following the Maipo river.  Make your way to discover the amazing lagoon at Embalse El Yeso Dam. Take amazing pictures and a relaxing walk, and savor a delicious picnic with wine or juice. Head back toward Santiago at around 3 PM and get dropped off at your hotel or in the city center at approximately 6 PM. In the winter season from June to September we make a stop at the snowwear rental store before and after the tour depending on the weather condition.

Discover Cajón del Maipo on an afternoon trip from Santiago escaping from the crowds and heat. Relax in the medicinal hot springs, see the stunning Veil of the Bride waterfall and enjoy a traditional Chilean barbecue while stargazing. Meet at one of several pickup points in Santiago and head into the Andes to see a majestic valley called Cajón del Maipo. Cross the old train line and the Maipo river to enter Cajón del Maipo. Drive past picturesque towns before stopping at the roaring Veil of the Bride waterfall, fed by the water from a nearby glacier.  Continue through the hills to several viewpoints and enjoy panoramic views of the volcano and mountains, before heading to the natural hot springs of Termas Valle de Colina. Relax in any of the 7 pools with temperatures ranging from 130ºF to 86ºF (55ºC to 30ºC), heated by the nearby volcano. When you're ready, Head back to the lounge in order to enjoy a Chilean barbecue. As you eat, drink wines from central and southern Chile, beers, juices, or hot beverages. Once you've finished eating, lay down at the lounges around the campfire while stargazing. Afterward, relax on the return journey to Santiago with drop-off at your hotel.

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.

A journey through the cultural heritage and history of Chilean wine! This experience takes us to Viña Santa Rita, located on the foothills of the Andes just 45 minutes from Santiago, in the middle of a unique natural landscape set between vineyards with panoramic views of the Andes Mountain range. To commence, we shall visit the Santa Rita Centennial Park, a French design from 1883 and a National Historical Heritage since 1974, where you can see the largest bougainvillea in South America and one of the largest in the world. Then we will visit the storage cellar of one of the oldest wines in Chile, where we will learn about its history and the legend of "The 120" of Santa Rita. We will finish the visit to the winery with a tasting of 3 wines. For the conclusion of the trip, we will visit the Andean Museum, a modern construction that houses a collection of around 3,000 archaeological and ethnographic pieces from pre-Columbian peoples who lived in our territory along with expressions of the miscegenation of cultures from America and Chile.