The verdict
Our pick
Cajón del Maipo day trip: Embalse El Yeso & folk picnic★ 4.49 (3,099) · 9h–10h
Best value
Cajón del Maipo tour from Santiago: El Yeso Reservoir★ 4.74 (554) · 10h
Top rated
Cajón del Maipo: Andes Volcano Hike & Wine Day Trip★ 4.88 (677) · 12h
All 10 options, side by side
✓ 2026-08-12Real price per person across the 10 options: US$ 38–US$ 298 (median US$ 99). With an extra fee to pay on site: 1 of 10. With 100+ reviews: 8 of 10.
Default order: real price per person — the group price divided by the seats it includes.
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Cajón del Maipo: Andes Day Trip with Wine, Picnic & EmpanadaYou’ll ride deep into Cajón del Maipo from Santiago with a local guide, feel mountain air by Embalse El Yeso’s blue water, share Chilean wine at a picnic spot few tourists find, and taste fresh empanadas in San José de Maipo. It’s not just scenery — it’s laughter over lunch and quiet moments you’ll remember long after you’re back in the city.
Santiago: Cajón del Maipo Hot Springs, Waterfall & BBQYou’ll leave Santiago behind for an afternoon drive through Cajón del Maipo valley, pausing at a quirky chocolate house before feeling the spray of Veil of the Bride waterfall. Sink into volcanic hot springs as dusk falls over snowy peaks, then gather for a slow Chilean barbecue dinner with local wine under an Andes sky full of stars—you might find yourself thinking about it long after.
Cajón del Maipo tour from Santiago: Andes spa and mountain lodgeThis 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.Is it for me?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.
Cajon del Maipo & El Yeso Dam: Day Trip with Picnic & WineYou’ll ride out from Santiago into Cajon del Maipo’s wild valleys, walk through an old railway tunnel (if weather allows), then share a simple picnic with local wine beside El Yeso Dam’s unreal blue water—all with stories from your guide along the way. Expect cold air on your cheeks and maybe some laughter over spilled juice.
Embalse del Yeso tour: Andes glacier, mountain wine tastingA nine-hour guided tour from Santiago into Cajón del Maipo reaches Embalse del Yeso, a reservoir set high in the Andes, with stops at a waterfall, a tunnel carved through rock, and a millennia-old glacier. Hotel pickup is included, and the guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. Gourmet sandwich, appetizers and a glass of Chilean wine round out the day.Is it for me?Most day tours from Santiago stick to the lower valleys and return by mid-afternoon. This one climbs to the glacier and the reservoir itself, which is why the nine hours exist—the altitude and the distance are what make the Andes views and the millennia-old ice possible, and the wine comes at the end of the climb, not as a substitute for it.
Cajon del Maipo Day Trip: Flexible Mountain RoutesA private full-day mountain adventure in Cajon del Maipo, southeast of Santiago, where you choose the route—panoramic drive, moderate alpine hike, or demanding glacier trek—based on your fitness and the day's conditions. Your bilingual guide adapts the pace and stops to your interests, and the day includes box lunch, hiking poles, and accident insurance.Is it for me?Choose this trip if you want to shape the day around your fitness and interests rather than follow a fixed itinerary—the guide adapts the route, pace, and stops to the conditions and what appeals to you, so a casual scenic day and a serious glacier hike are equally possible on the same tour.
Tour Embalse El Yeso: Private Andes day trip from SantiagoYou get picked up from your hotel and driven into the Andes foothills in a private minivan with a guide who knows the canyon's history and the local stories. You see the El Yeso Reservoir, walk through a historic railway tunnel, visit the Chocolate House, and eat lunch in San José de Maipo. Hotel drop-off is included, and the whole thing takes about eight hours from start to finish.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to see the Andes foothills without arranging your own transport or timing the stops yourself — the private minivan means the pace is yours, and the guide handles the route and the restaurant. Plan for a full day out: eight hours includes the drive, the walking, and lunch, which is what makes seeing the reservoir, the tunnel, and the town possible in one trip.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book with free cancellation?
Yes: 9 of the 10 options offer free cancellation, so you can book now and confirm your plans later.
How long do these experiences last?
Most options last half a day or longer.
Which one is the travelers' favorite?
Cajón del Maipo day trip: Embalse El Yeso & folk picnic is the travelers' favorite, rated 4.49 out of 5 across 3,099 reviews.
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