The most appealing hiking destination easily reached by public transportation. The Camino El Ventisquero is a two-hour hike on a good trail through a high alpine environment to a small glacier beneath the park's namesake peak, and rental horses are also available for about US$6 per hour. The park offers a range of activities ranging from relaxing hikes to technical ice climbing on the well know San Francisco Glacier.

Baños Morales:
A modest hot springs resort adjacent to El Morado National Park. This could more properly be called a luke-warm spring.

Termas del Plomo:
Rustic thermal baths outside in their natural state. Follow Cajon del Maipo road 3 kms past San Gabriel, where pavement ends. Take left towards Embalse del Yeso. Follow dirt road up and up until it ends at the hot springs.

Termas de Colina:
Rustic thermal baths. Follow the Cajon del Maipo road through the San Gabriel police check (have your documents in order), where the pavement ends. Go through the town of El Volcan and continue on the right side of the river, up, up and up. Go past the mine and continue to the end of the road.

El Manzano:
This huge 12,000 hectare ranch encompasses an entire tributary valley that leads into the Cajon del Maipo. There is a US$5 entrance fee to use the ranch property. The ranch has excellent picnic areas alongside a river amidst grass and trees. It also has three superb bolted areas for rock climbing.
Piedra Rommelis an area with two massive boulders hidden among trees on a riverbank. The bolted routes are 5.7 to 5.12c. The routes are short but challenging and the setting is priceless.
Las Pallestras is the area of fat slabs visible from the canyon road. It has longer routes on the faces high up above the road (Camino el Volcan). There are excellent 1 pitch bolted routes from 5.7 to 5.13. Many unbolted possibilites exist. You do not have to enter the picnic area and pay. Drive 200 meters past the sign and park. Then bushwack up to the faces above. Access takes about 40 minutes.
Torricilles is the area of massive faces up the El Manzano tributary valley. It can be seen from the road but requires an arduous 2 hour bushwack. Those who arrive will be treated to two 200 meter high rock faces, one in front of the other with numerous 3 pitch bolted routes (beware, bolts are often 5 meters apart!) and infinite possibilities if you have a rack. Routes range from 5.5 to 5.13. All routes come with soaring condors and falcons (no joke!).
How To Get There:
The ranch is located 1 hour from Santiago, ten to fifteen kms into the Cajon del Maipo on the Camino El Volcan. Go past the small community of El Canelo and ten or so minutes later, in El Manzano, you will see the rock faces rising up on your left. There will be a large blue sign on the left that advertises "Picnic El Manzano."

Located in the town of San Alfonso, this private nature reserve offers day hikes up to two picturesque waterfalls, whitewater rafting on the Rio Maipo, and horseback riding on their mountain trails. There is a quaint restaurant with an amazing view of the hills and river valley, plus adoreable cabañas available for lodging. Wonderful people, shady campsites, picnic spots... highly recommended as a place to relax or to adventure.