“In this lifetime – see the Andes once.”

⛰️Same-Day Santiago Escape: Cajón del Maipo Full Tour 📌 How to Book Platform: Booking / IG vendors → search “Cajón del Maipo full-day tour” Price: USD 42 (must purchase ≥1 day ahead; sales close ~19:00 the evening before) Inclusions: 11-seat business van, hotel pick-up/drop-off, picnic (red wine + pastries), stops at Embalse El Yeso reservoir & Maipo Canyon + viral Casa Chocolate 📌 Why Go Cajón del Maipo = glacier-carved canyon SE of Santiago; upper Maipo River snakes through 60+ km of Andes walls. Peaks overhead: San José, Maipo & Marmolejo (world’s southernmost 6,000 m / 20,000 ft summit). Result: empty, Zelda-like plateau + turquoise reservoir = instant altitude therapy. 📌 What to Bring (summer) Sun-shirt + long pants (UV is fierce at altitude) Windbreaker / light down (2,500 m mornings ≈ 5 °C) Sunglasses + SPF 50 (snow reflection + thinner air) Reusable bottle (refill at ranger hut; no plastic sold on-site) 📌 Tour Day Flow 07:30 Hotel pick-up → 09:00 enter canyon (coffee stop) → 11:00 Embalse El Yeso (3,000 m) – 1 hr lakeside walk / photo frenzy → 13:00 Maipo River canyon picnic (wine + pastries on boulders) → 14:30 Casa Chocolate (artisan tasting / souvenir) → 17:00 back in Santiago. 📌 Photo Spots El Yeso dam – turquoise lake vs snow-capped peaks = desktop wallpaper. Ridge trail – 15-min climb for 360° Andes panorama. Casa Chocolate – cocoa beans drying under 6,000 m peaks = unique altitude-chocolate shot. 📌 Altitude Tips Walk slowly; headache = normal at 3,000 m. Coca-candy (legal in Chile) helps acclimatization. No alcohol before lake walk – save wine for picnic. 📌 Budget Add-Ons Hiking poles: rent $5 (van driver carries). Extra water: buy in canyon (cheaper than city). Chocolate purchase: 70% cacao bars = perfect altitude souvenir. Lock the date, let the Andes delete your city stress. Cajón del Maipo = same-day passport to glacier lakes + 20,000 ft peaks—and nobody told the crowds. #Chile #Andes