El Morado Natural Monument

The Morado Natural Monument is one of the hotspots in the Cajon del Maipo. It is a protected area covering 3000 acres between 1750 and 5060 meters of altitude. Immerse yourself in this alpine scenery situated in the backyard of Santiago.

Just 90 kilometers from Santiago lies the village of Baños Morales, the gateway to the El Morado monument. This area is protected by the CONAF and has 3000 acres with peaks over 5000 meters high. The trail that we’ll take is of low difficulty. Even though good physical condition is required as we will walk a total of 12 kilometers reaching 2500 meters of altitude.

From the departure point, you will reach the area of Aguas de Panimávida after an hour's walk. This site is an intense copper sparkling mineral water source. From here we have another 3 km to reach the El Morado Lagoon, where we will enjoy the wonderful natural attractions like the San Francisco Glacier and Cerro San Francisco. Surrounded by many other gorgeous summits. This area has a very peculiar and special geography, a very ancient area, and a great paleontological and geological richness.

This hike is suitable for anyone who enjoys the outdoors since it is home to endemic wildlife. We will see local animals like charismatic cometocino, Andean cururo, and rodents. And endemic flora like the Olivillo of the Cordillera, an endangered species, and other native species. Come and join us in this one-day adventure in the heart of the famous Cajon del Maipo.