Cajón del Maipo tour from Santiago: Andes spa and mountain lodge

A chocolate house built from recycled wood and mud sits halfway up the canyon.

This 10-hour guided tour from Santiago takes you into the Cajón del Maipo canyon in the Andes, starting at the village of San José de Maipo (declared a National Monument in 1992), moving through the Chocolate House for artisan sweets and hot chocolate, and ending at El Morado Lodge & Spa for lunch and swimming pools at almost 1,000 meters elevation. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. Round-trip transfer from your chosen Santiago pickup point is included, as is a glass of wine or pisco sour before the meal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cajon del Maipo and El Morado Lodge

• Visit San José de Maipo village
• See Parish San José de Maipo
• Explore Casa Chocolate and taste treats
• Have lunch at El Morado Lodge & Spa
• Enjoy swimming pools and spa
• Admire Andes Nevada mountain views

The experience

The day starts with pickup from one of six Santiago locations: Vitacura, Mall Parque Arauco, Providence, Hotel Sheraton, Plaza de Armas, or Av. Ricardo Lyon, and a drive into the Andes foothills. San José de Maipo appears first, a village founded in 1792 with a Parish church built in 1854 and the square itself both declared National Monuments for their Andean character. You walk through the colorful square and its surroundings before the route climbs higher.

The Chocolate House comes next, a structure of carved wood, curved ceilings and recycled materials (mud, rocks and timber) that looks handmade from a storybook. You stop here to browse artisan chocolates, vegan options, ice cream and hot chocolate or coffee, a break before the canyon steepens. As the elevation rises, snow appears on the mountainsides and the rivers running below become visible through the valleys.

El Morado Lodge & Spa sits in the shadow of the Cordillera de los Andes at the day's highest point. Lunch is served here, along with a glass of wine or pisco sour. Afterward, you have time in the swimming pools set into the landscape with views of the mountain range, and access to the spa facilities. Bring your own swimming suit and cap. The lodge provides the pool and spa ticket as part of the tour. The return drive to your Santiago pickup point closes the day.

What’s included

• Round-trip transfer from your choice of six Santiago pickup locations.
• bilingual guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• lunch at El Morado Lodge & Spa.
• glass of wine or pisco sour.
• pool and spa facility access.

Options for this experience

5 options

Plaza de ArmasGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 07:45Meeting point: Monjitas 879, 8320000 Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile

Av. Vitacura 2653, Las CondesGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 07:45Meeting point: Av Vitacura 2653, 7550191 Las Condes, Región Metropolitana, Chile

Hotel SheratonGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 07:30Departure from Sheraton Santiago Hotel and Convention Center, Av. Sta. María 1742, 7500000 Santiago, Providencia, Región Metropolitana, Chile

See 2 more options

Mall Parque AraucoGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 08:15Meeting point: Av. Pdte. Kennedy 5601, 7560356 Las Condes, Región Metropolitana, Chile

ProvidenceGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 07:30Pickup point: Diego de Velásquez 2131, 7510187 Providencia, Región Metropolitana, Chile

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 07:45 and 08:15

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Turistik

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a guided day combining mountain views, a heritage village, and a thermal spa: the set itinerary connects all three stops with transport included, so you move between them without gaps.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Chocolate House and what can I eat there?

Casa Chocolate is a uniquely designed structure built from recycled materials (carved wood, mud and rocks) that serves artisan chocolates, vegan sweets, ice cream, and hot chocolate or coffee. It sits partway up the canyon and is a stop on the tour route.

How high does this tour go, and will I see snow?

El Morado Lodge & Spa sits almost 1,000 meters above sea level in the Andes. As you climb through the canyon, snow becomes visible on the mountainsides and surrounding peaks, especially the Cordillera Nevada range.

Is lunch included, and what about drinks?

Lunch is included at El Morado Lodge & Spa, along with a glass of wine or pisco sour. You bring your own swimming suit and cap. The pool and spa ticket are part of the tour.

Which Santiago locations offer pickup for this tour?

Round-trip transfer is included from six pickup points: Av. Vitacura 2653 in Las Condes, Mall Parque Arauco, Providence, Hotel Sheraton, Plaza de Armas, or Av. Ricardo Lyon 32.