Maipo Cajon & El Yeso Reservoir tour: Breakfast, chocolate

Breakfast, turquoise water, a 568-meter tunnel, chocolate tasting, and a mountain picnic in one morning and afternoon

This eight to nine hour tour from Santiago takes you to Maipo Cajon and the El Yeso Reservoir with private transportation, a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, and all meals included. The itinerary moves through the Tinoco Tunnel (a 568-meter railway passage built in 1914) stops at Casa de Chocolate for local tastings, and ends with a picnic at the reservoir. Your guide explains the geology, history and local flora and fauna as you move through the canyon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour Maipo Cajon and El Yeso Reservoir

• Breakfast
• Visit Gypsum Reservoir
• Explore Tinoco Tunnel
• Taste at Casa de Chocolate
• Enjoy picnic in nature

The experience

Eight to nine hours is long enough to leave the city, reach the mountains and return without cutting the day short. You start with breakfast before heading into the canyon, then spend the middle hours moving through the landscape: the Tinoco Tunnel is a historic 568-meter passage built in 1914 for the old Santiago-Valparaiso railway, now a place to walk and photograph. Casa de Chocolate, an artisan shop in San Alfonso surrounded by nature, offers tastings of typical Chilean sweets. The route ends with a picnic table set up at the El Yeso Reservoir, where the water is turquoise and the mountains rise on all sides.

Private transportation means your group travels together from your accommodation in Santiago, and the guide travels with you, not meeting you at a trailhead. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese and shares the geology and history of the area, plus details about the local flora and fauna as you move. Breakfast and lunch are included. You bring nothing except a camera and layers for the mountain air. The reservoir sits at altitude, so the operator notes the tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, though it suits all fitness levels otherwise.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Santiago accommodation.
• breakfast and lunch (picnic).
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese who explains the geology, history, flora and fauna.
• entry to the Tinoco Tunnel and Casa de Chocolate.
• a picnic table at the reservoir.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 80

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Morandé Turismo & Transporte

Is this one for you?The eight to nine hour commitment means you leave early and return by late afternoon, so you can fit the tour into a single day without sacrificing the rest of your Santiago itinerary. If you have only a morning or an evening free, this one does not compress.

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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 (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): 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.

How long is the drive from Santiago to the Maipo Cajon?

The full tour runs eight to nine hours from pickup at your accommodation, including all stops, meals and time at the reservoir. The drive itself is part of that window, but the operator does not break out the travel time separately from the time spent at each site.

What is the Tinoco Tunnel?

The Tinoco Railway Tunnel in San José de Maipo is a historic 568-meter passage built in 1914 for the Santiago-Valparaiso railway. You walk through it as part of the tour and can photograph it.

What happens at Casa de Chocolate?

Casa de Chocolate San Alfonso is an artisan chocolate shop in Cajon del Maipo surrounded by nature. You stop there to taste and purchase typical Chilean sweets and local products.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Breakfast is served before you leave Santiago, and lunch is a picnic set up at the El Yeso Reservoir with a picnic table provided.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the tour meeting point?

No. Private transportation from your accommodation in Santiago is included, so the driver picks you up and drops you back at your hotel.

What is the El Yeso Reservoir like?

El Yeso Reservoir sits in the mountains at the end of Maipo Cajon, surrounded by towering peaks. The water is turquoise, and the tour finishes with a picnic at the water's edge where you can relax and take photographs.