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Things to do in San José de Maipo

Our most recommended things to do in San José de Maipo

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

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

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.

Santiago: Cajon del Maipo/Embalse del Yeso Tour with Picnic

2. Santiago: Cajon del Maipo/Embalse del Yeso Tour with Picnic

Admire the stunning massifs, estuaries, and rivers of the Andes Mountains on a full-day trip to the Cajon del Maipo on this van tour. Enjoy a delicious picnic in a stunning natural setting along the way. See sights like the Tinoco Tunnel and pass by charming, traditional towns.  Depart Santiago and journey to San Jose de Maipo in a spacious and air-conditioned van. Listen as your guide tells you about the folklore of the area. Head towards the volcano and see small towns like Las Vertientes, El Canelo, El Manzano, El Melocoton and San Alfonso.  Learn the history of the Tinoco Tunnel as you make your way along a dirt road to the large lake of Embalse del Yeso. Stop at the reservoir to enjoy a picnic-style snack with cheese, olives, salami, juice, wine, and more.  Start back towards Santiago at around 3:00 PM and be dropped off at your hotel or in the city center at approximately 6:00 PM.

Santiago: Cajón del Maipo Hot Springs & Chilean Barbecue

3. Santiago: Cajón del Maipo Hot Springs & Chilean Barbecue

Discover Cajón del Maipo on a morning trip from Santiago. Relax in the medicinal hot springs, see the stunning Veil of the Bride waterfall and enjoy a traditional Chilean barbecue. Start your tour with pickup from your hotel in Santiago. Head into the Andes to see a majestic valley called Cajón del Maipo during sunrise. Cross the old train line and the Maipo river to enter Cajón del Maipo. Drive past picturesque towns before stopping at a nice lodge for breakfast at 8:30 AM. Then, go to the natural hot springs of Termas Valle de Colina. Relax in any of the 7 pools with temperatures ranging from 130ºF to 86ºF (55ºC to 30ºC), heated by the nearby volcano. Head back the hills to several viewpoints and enjoy panoramic views of the volcano and mountains. Discover our lounge in order to enjoy a Chilean barbecue of finger foods, including empanadas, pebre, olives, fruit, nuts, grilled vegetables, sausages, choripanes, and beef. Enjoy as much food as you can eat, along with wines from central and southern Chile, beer, juice, or hot beverages. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available. Once you've finished eating, lay down at the lounges. Afterward stop by the roaring Veil of the Bride waterfall, relax on the return journey to Santiago with drop-off at your hotel

Santiago: Cajon del Maipo and Termas Colina Trip with Picnic

4. Santiago: Cajon del Maipo and Termas Colina Trip with Picnic

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 Termas Colinas Hot Springs. 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, 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 Termas Colinas Hot Springs. Relax in any of the seven pools with temperatures ranging from 130ºF to 86ºF, heated by the nearby volcano. 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.

Santa Rita Classic Vineyard Tour

5. Santa Rita Classic Vineyard Tour

A journey through the cultural heritage and history of Chilean wine! This experience takes us to Viña Santa Rita, located on the foothills of the Andes just 45 minutes from Santiago, in the middle of a unique natural landscape set between vineyards with panoramic views of the Andes Mountain range. To commence, we shall visit the Santa Rita Centennial Park, a French design from 1883 and a National Historical Heritage since 1974, where you can see the largest bougainvillea in South America and one of the largest in the world. Then we will visit the storage cellar of one of the oldest wines in Chile, where we will learn about its history and the legend of "The 120" of Santa Rita. We will finish the visit to the winery with a tasting of 3 wines. For the conclusion of the trip, we will visit the Andean Museum, a modern construction that houses a collection of around 3,000 archaeological and ethnographic pieces from pre-Columbian peoples who lived in our territory along with expressions of the miscegenation of cultures from America and Chile.

Santiago: Whitewater Rafting Adventure with Winery Tasting

6. Santiago: Whitewater Rafting Adventure with Winery Tasting

Start the day with a visit to Concha y Toro Wine Vineyard in the picturesque town of Pirque. The founder was Don Melchor Concha y Toro who brought the first vines from the Bordeaux region in France to Chile that grew prosperously in the Maipo River basin. Walk around the gardens of the residence, discover the variety garden, visit their cellars, and taste a selection of three of their fine wines. Then, have some free time for lunch at a quaint restaurant in the Andean village of San Jose de Maipo. In the afternoon, enjoy a 50-minute continuous succession of whitewater rapids, the longest rafting experience on the Maipo River. Get ready for adventure with class 3 and 4 rapids, spectacular Andes Mountains scenery, and relentless heart-pumping whitewater.

Santiago: Andes Horseback Ride with Wine Tour and Tasting

7. Santiago: Andes Horseback Ride with Wine Tour and Tasting

After a two-hour drive from Chile’s capital, arrive at a ranch in a small town on the banks of the Maipo River. Once there, get ready for a spectacular horseback riding adventure guided by “arrieros” (local cowboys). Enjoy the stunning views and admire the abundant flora and fauna from horseback. Scale narrow mountain trails and have a short break on a plateau while enjoying the gorgeous surroundings. Try to spot Chilean condors flying high in the sky. After horseback riding, have some free time for lunch. Then, visit internationally-renowned Concha y Toro Wine Vineyard in the picturesque town of Pirque. Walk around the gardens of the residence, discover the variety garden, visit their cellars, and taste a selection of three of their fine wines.

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What people are saying about San José de Maipo

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 742 reviews

We absolutely loved this tour and cannot recommend it enough. It was our favorite tour of our time in Chile. From the great communication prior to the tour until the drop off at our hotel afterwards, this was a top notch team. First we stopped at a cute chocolate shop, then a waterfall before heading to the hot springs. Afterwards we made a sunset photo stop and then a wonderfully arranged BBQ with a beautiful setting. Although the tour was ten hours long, it went by quickly since we did so much but it never felt rushed either. We were blessed with a beautiful clear night for stargazing which was an added bonus. There is some bumpy terrain around the hot springs area which may be tough for someone with back issues.

Wow, we were transported by private car which was a great way to get to know other travelers and the guide. The drive was beautiful and there were many opportunities to stop and take in the scenery. The thermal waters were so relaxing with the mountains as a backdrop. The Bbq was delicious with plenty of great Chilean wines to choose from. The stars, moon, and Mars were all visible once the sun set. It was a magical day and evening.

To date this has been my best travel experience. It had everything! The drive to the Andes was interesting, the waterfall was beautiful as was the off road experience getting there. Fully enjoyed the springs - something that was unforgettable and then the barbecue under the stars was amazing. The food and wine were plentiful and very good - the beef and the empanadas!! I loved this tour and highly recommend

The tour was wonderful the driver we need a good driver in driving on this trip he was very nice guy fried his best but he is not a guid was an excellent driver but did not speak anguish all the time we travelled nobody talked to us we did not know where we are going how long, where we stand what is going to happened etc

Excellent experience! Gonzalo was a great guide :) super cool and amazing during all day.