El morado hiking tour with transport from santiago

Enjoy awe-inspiring views of San Francisco Glacier in Chile’s El Morado Natural Monument. On this full-day outdoor excursion from Santiago, take an intermediate 7-hour hike with an experienced guide along mountain paths and wetlands of the Andes. You’ll admire the abundance of native flora and fauna, plus discover the Aguas Panimavidas — a natural source of mineral water — and Lagoon El Morado. Lunch and bottled water are included.

El Morado Natural Monument — in the Andes’ Maipo Canyon — is a national park, home to more than 300 native species of plants and animals. Located just 57 miles (92 km) from Santiago, in total, a 2-hour drive on some rugged unpaved roads, this is an excellent day-trip destination.

Start your excursion with pickup at your hotel by air-conditioned vehicle. Then hop on the trail for an easy, 7-mile hike with an expert guide, learning as you go about endangered animals like the cururo and the silky ratón de Noé.

First, walk for 1 mile (2.8 km) up a gentle incline to Aguas Panimavidas. Notice the colors of this mineral-rich natural spring, encrusted with red and yellow from the iron-carbonated water. Keep an eye out as well for the park’s extensive bird life, such as the giant hummingbird (picaflor gigante), which measures 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) in length!

After snapping a few photos, continue another 3 miles (5 km) through wetlands to Lagoon El Morado. Relax and take in the panoramic views of this pristine landscape; you might even see wild horses gallop across it. In the distance, El Morado’s snowy peak reaches higher than 16,000 feet (5,000 meters) above sea level. With the base of San Francisco Glacier just half a mile (1 km) away, you’ll feel like you can almost reach out and touch it!

Take a break to eat lunch (included), and then follow your guide back down the trail. Your tour ends when you are returned to your hotel.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, warm layers and sun protection (hat, sunglasses and sun block), as temperatures in the Andes can vary.