Tour Cajón del Maipo: Natural Monument El Morado + Baños Morales Hotsprings
Enjoy a relaxing day at the Cajón del Maipo hot springs.
Santiago Tours offers you different excursions and programs in the largest green area of the Metropolitan Region, located in the south of the precordillera of Santiago, a wonderful place with a unique environment.
Trekking Natural Monument El Morado and Baños Morales hotsprings
You can enjoy a 5-hour hike to the San Francisco Glacier, where you will enjoy beautiful landscapes, rivers, flora and endemic fauna and the lagoon El Morado. This beautiful round hike takes place in the Natural Monument El Morado, natural enviroment protected by the National Forestry Corporation. One of the most characte ristic mountain areas of Cajón del Maipo and of greater tourist interest due to its rich natural architecture, its diverse flora and fauna and the interesting activities that can be enjoyed here. This protected area, managed 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.
Its Andean flora is composed of at least 300 species between native and exotic, where highlights the olivillo of the mountain range or franjel, species of the Andean sclerotic scrub that is in danger of extinction. Other common species are white grass, cloth grass, seven shirts, guindillo and foxtail.
The Park also has a rich wildlife, with mammals such as the cururo and silky mouse of Noah, and birds like the yal, the cometocino, the chirihue dorado, the black goldfinch, The mountain range goldfich, the tenca, The thrush, the Chilean Swallow, The sleepyhead friar, the giant hummingbird, the mountain range hummingbird, the mountain range tortolas, the perdicita and the perdicita cojón. In the aquatic environments is the piuquén or guayata and the juarjual duck.
It is recommended to visit this extraordinary place between October and March, due to its unfavorable weather conditions (below zero degrees 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 the village, is the daycare center of CONAF, where you must cancel a ticket to enter (Included in the tour). The first section of the walk reaches the Aguas Panimávidas (2.8 km). It lasts about 1 hour and is uphill, but quite friendly. At this stop you can see the permanent sources of mineral waters. Continuing the walk and after traveling 5 km (2 hours aprox.) You will find Laguna El Morado, located at 2,400 masl.From here the Cerro Morado can be seen to the north, to the northwest the Cerro San Francisco and its glacier (also called San Francisco Glacier).
If you are still not satisfied or are not tired, you can continue walking 1 km, walking along a path of wild flowers, ice in the heat of summer, stones and rocks until you reach the foot of the San Francisco glacier and to observe it from near, hearing the sound of the flow of the river the Morado in the absolute peacefullness that gives the landscape.
Practical information
Price $ 97
Season: October 1 th to May
Trekking: 4 hours and a half
Capacity: minimum 3 people. Up to 44 people
Degree of difficulty: physical conditions suitable for the height of the place (2800 masl)
Includes: transportation and guide
Itinerary:
8:00 am Hotel Pick up
10:00 am Arrival at Baños Morales
10:30 am Start of trekking
11:30 am Detention in Waters of Panimávidas affluents of mineral waters
12:00 am Detention in Laguna el Morado place where the collation is consumed
13:00 pm Arrive at the end of the San Francisco Glacier trekking
13:30 pm Return
15:20 pm He will arrive at the baths of Baños Morales
15:30 pm Upon returning, enjoy a relaxing bath in the baths Baños Morales
16:30 pm Return to Santiago
Cajon del Maipo is a natural zone with a special and diverse weather. Tours could be modified or some attractions could be avoided depending of the climate. This will be judged by the tour guide according to his experience in the area. In case some of the places mention in the description are avoided, 20% of the amount paid will be refunded.