Description

Cajón del Maipo Tour: El Morado Natural Monument + Baños Morales Natural Pools

5 – 6 hour hike to El Morado Natural Monument + Private transportation + Natural wells Baños Morales + Options: a la carte lunch – Asado.

Enjoy a healthy day of mountaineering and medicinal baths.

A 5-hour hike to the San Francisco glacier, where you will enjoy beautiful landscapes, river springs, endemic flora and fauna and the El Morado lagoon. This beautiful circuit takes place in the El Morado Natural Monument, an area protected by the National Forestry Corporation.

One of the most characteristic mountain areas of the Cajón del Maipo and of great tourist interest for its rich natural architecture, its diverse flora and fauna and the interesting activities that can be developed here. This protected area, administered by CONAF (National Forestry Corporation), is located 93 km from Santiago in the town of Baños Morales and has an area of 3,009 hectares, in which its Andean flora consists of at least 300 native and exotic specieswhere the olivillo de la cordillera or franjelspecies in danger of extinction, that inhabits the Andean sclerophyllous scrublands. Other common species are white grass, cloth grass, seven shirts, chili pepper and foxtail.

The Park also has a rich wildlife with mammals such as the cururo and Noah’s silky mouse, and birds such as the yal, the cometocino, the golden chirihue, the black goldfinch, the cordilleran goldfinch, the tench, the thrush, the chilean swallow, the friar sleeper, the giant hummingbird, the cordilleran hummingbird, the cordilleran picaflor, the cordilleran turtledoves, the partridge and the cushion partridge.

In aquatic environments, the piuquén or guayata and the juarjual duck are found. It is recommended to visit this extraordinary place between the months of October and March, since due to its unfavorable weather conditions (temperatures below zero and snow up to 2.8 meters high) the park is closed the rest of the year.

After crossing the bridge over the Morales River, arriving at Baños Morales, you will find the CONAF nursery. The first section of the hike reaches the Aguas Panimávidas sector (2.8 km), lasts approximately 1 hour and is uphill but quite pleasant. At this stop you will be able to observe the permanent mineral springs. Continuing the hike and after traveling 5 km (2 hours approx.) you will find El Morado Lagoon, located at 2,400 meters above sea level. From here you can see Cerro Morado to the north and to the northwest Cerro San Francisco and its glacier (also called San Francisco Glacier).

If you are not tired yet, you can continue walking 1 Km. along a path of wild flowers, ice in midsummer, stones and rocks until you reach the foot of the San Francisco glacier and observe it from close by listening to the sound of the flow of the Morado river and in the absolute tranquility that the landscape transmits.

Practical information private tour El Morado

Season: all year long if the weather allows the excursion

Duración: 10 hours

Capacity: Mínimum  person. Maximum  persons

Difficulty: for all the family

Includes: 

Price Tour El Morado Natural Monument from Santiago

1 person $210.000 CLP or US $ 247.05 per person

2 persons $170.000 CLP or US $ 200 per person

3 persons $120.000 CLP or US $ 141.17 per person

4 persons or more  $95.000 CLP or US $ 111.76 per person

Includes: Private transportation, Tour Guide, Monumento El Morado tickets. itinerary

Additional Services          

Horseback: $32.000 CLP or US $ 37.64 per person

A la carte lunch in restaurant  $22000 or US $ 25.88 per person 

Country Barbecue 6 people max.  $23000 or US $ 27.05 per person

Restaurant buffet lunch   $30000 or US $ 35.29 per person

For purchasing the park tickets every passenger must provide the following information

Name:

Date of birth:

Dni / passport:

Country and originary address:

Itinerary Private tour Trekking Monumento Natural El Morado

07:00 am Hotel Pick up

9:30 am arrival to Baños Morales

10:00 am trekking starts

11:30 am Stop at “Aguas de Panimávidas” Mineral water tributaries

12:00 am Stop at Laguna el Morado in this place we´ll have the snacks

13:00 pm last Stop of the trekking  at “Glaciar San Francisco” (at present is only possible to get to “El Morado” lagoon owing to rock sliding in the rest of the glacier route)

13:30 pm Return

15:20 pm Back in Baños Morales visit to  “Termas de Baños Morales” (available between October to February).

15:30 pm relaxing time to enjoy a bath at natural pools in Baños Morales.

16:30 pm Return to Santiago.

Cajón del Maipo is a natural area with a very diverse and special climate. Tours may be modified or some of the points described may be reached when road or weather conditions do not allow it. This will be evaluated by the guide according to his experience.