Santiago: Cajon del Maipo & Embalse El Yeso Trip with Picnic

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
1196 reviews
Activity provider:
Aprendi a Viajar Chile
Add to wishlist
Santiago: Cajon del Maipo & Embalse El Yeso Trip with Picnic
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
1196 reviews

Breathe in the fresh mountain air of Cajon del Maipo on a guided tour from Santiago. Learn about the folklore of this volcanic area and enjoy a picnic with wine in Cajon del Maipo.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 10 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English, Portuguese, Spanish
Pickup included
Your driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Santiago. Please wait in the hotel lobby 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. Your driver will not be able to wait for you for longer than 5 minutes after the scheduled pickup time. Hotel pickup service is only available for accommodations located in Santiago Centro, Providencia, and Las Condes. Depending on the exact location, even within these areas, the agency may indicate a meeting point if the address is outside the regular pickup route.

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

5
5 out of 5 stars
M
Manjula – United States

Alvaro was an incredible guide. He was able to navigate both Spanish and English extremely well. We never felt rushed and he was able to pick up on what each person wanted to know more about. The driver (I unfortunately don’t remember his name) was the smoothest driver I’ve had in most of my South American travel!

5
5 out of 5 stars
L
Lara – Germany

I had an amazing experience. We had wonderful weather and our tour guide Francisco was super friendly and knew a lot about the places. In comparison to what others have written, you are not “forced” to rent winter clothes. It’s the first stop and a great offer, but you don’t have to. Yes, it was very cold (around 3°C), but from around 9am on it wasn’t freezing cold anymore, thanks to the sun. If you have enough clothes to wear in an “onion layering” kind of way, renting out clothes isn’t necessary, as long as you also have a thin rain coat and pants, which especially protect against the wind and from getting wet from the snow, which I highly recommend. Yes, there’s also a longer stop at a restaurant, but you can also sit outside, enjoy the sun and bring your own snacks, which I also did and was perfectly fine with. In the end, all of it was absolutely worth it, the early start pays off as we were always leaving when most people when just arriving.

Select participants and date

Itinerary

  • 5 pickup location options:

    Vitacura, Santiago, Providencia, Las Condes, Santiago

  • Van

    (2 hours)

  • Cajón del Maipo

    Breakfast (1 hour)

    Extra fee

  • El Yeso Dam

    Visit, Walk, Scenic views on the way (80 minutes)

    Tinoco Tunnel

    Visit (30 minutes)

    Optional

    Casa Chocolate, San Jose de Maipo

    Visit, Shopping (30 minutes)

    Optional, Extra fee

  • Cajón del Maipo

    Picnic (1 hour)

  • 5 drop-off locations:

    Providencia, Santiago, Santiago, Vitacura, Las Condes

Main stop
Other stop

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

Highlights

  • Marvel at picturesque landscapes on a day trip from Santiago
  • Discover the natural beauty of the Maipo Canyon in the Andes
  • See the large El Yeso reservoir, a major water source for Santiago
  • Enjoy a light picnic in our private area in Cajon del Maipo.
  • Breathe in the fresh mountain air as you sip on a glass of wine

Full description

Discover the magnificent Andes Mountains on a guided day trip from Santiago. Pass by the Tinoco Tunnel, admire the picturesque Cajón del Maipo gorge, and enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the El Yeso Dam.


Start your tour early in the morning with a convenient pickup directly from your accommodation. Hop into the air-conditioned van and set out towards the Maipo Canyon.


As you travel, admire the wonderful views of this natural landscape full of high mountain passes, lakes, and forests. Hear about the area's traditions and listen to folktales told by your guide.


Along the way, you'll pass the Tinoco Tunnel, a dark disused train tunnel that runs along the Camino Al Volcán, a remnant from the region's railway days.


Listen as your guide tells you about the history of this unusual attraction and the tragic story behind the shrines located at the tunnel's entrance and exit.


Not far from here, you'll reach the El Yeso Dam. This large reservoir was created in 1964 by damming the Yeso River and now serves as one of the major sources of water for Santiago. Stop here to enjoy a picnic-style lunch served with a glass of wine and some juice.


Then, sit back and relax as you set out on your return journey to Santiago, where your driver will drop you off directly at your accommodation.

Includes

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation in an air-conditioned van
  • Guide
  • Picnic snack
Save up to 10%

From $40 $36 per person

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.5 /5
4.5 out of 5 stars

based on 1196 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.6/5
  • Transportation
    4.5/5
  • Value for money
    4.5/5

Customer photos

+344
Filter
By star rating
Sort by:
5
5 out of 5 stars
M
Manjula – United StatesJuly 6, 2025 – Verified booking
Alvaro was an incredible guide. He was able to navigate both Spanish and English extremely well. We never felt rushed and he was able to pick up on what each person wanted to know more about. The driver (I unfortunately don’t remember his name) was the smoothest driver I’ve had in most of my South American travel!
5
5 out of 5 stars
L
Lara – GermanyJuly 2, 2025 – Verified booking
I had an amazing experience. We had wonderful weather and our tour guide Francisco was super friendly and knew a lot about the places. In comparison to what others have written, you are not “forced” to rent winter clothes. It’s the first stop and a great offer, but you don’t have to. Yes, it was very cold (around 3°C), but from around 9am on it wasn’t freezing cold anymore, thanks to the sun. If you have enough clothes to wear in an “onion layering” kind of way, renting out clothes isn’t necessary, as long as you also have a thin rain coat and pants, which especially protect against the wind and from getting wet from the snow, which I highly recommend. Yes, there’s also a longer stop at a restaurant, but you can also sit outside, enjoy the sun and bring your own snacks, which I also did and was perfectly fine with. In the end, all of it was absolutely worth it, the early start pays off as we were always leaving when most people when just arriving.
5
5 out of 5 stars
K
Kiralee – AustraliaJune 17, 2025 – Verified booking
A long day but enjoyable, we really appreciated the guide's dedication to getting us to El Yeso which involved waiting for a mudslide on the road to be cleared by an excavator, everyone on the bus having to get out on two other occasions to clear rockslides, and then finally walking the last 20 minutes from where the road was closed. If you have thermals, some layers, and thick socks you don't need to rent any gear. I will say that the picnic didn't add anything, we'd only just had lunch so weren't hungry (which was lucky because it was only a few nibbles of cheese and fruit per person) and it wasn't at a scenic spot, it was just an empty campground so there was nothing to see. I would have preferred to just head straight back to Santiago after lunch and have it not be quite such a long day.

Product ID: 430531

Activity provider:
Aprendi a Viajar Chile

Top Attractions in Santiago, Chile

Experiences in Santiago, Chile

Tours in Chile

Things to do in Chile

Top destinations

Top attraction categories

Popular Attractions