Friday, 23 December 2011 15:20 Written by Emilia Rojas

One of the advantages of Santiago is that it is close to everything. In just a short amount of time one can be surrounded by trees and hills, breathe the fresh air, and feel completely disconnected from the hustle and bustle of city life.

One the most popular destinations for these "express" get-aways, because of the time that it takes to get there (approx. 1 hour), is the Cajón de Maipo.  Accredited with 24 locations, this area is something a "capital" to San José de Maipo, and features rivers and estuaries, the Natural Monument El Morado, Los Baños Morales, los Baños Colina, and the Embalse del Yeso, among other attractions.

As one can expect, there is an area with cabins that offer touristic services, activities such as Trekking, horse-back riding, kayaking, and rafting. The best part for me, however, is to grab a backpack and a tent, and to go exploring. After climbing for a long time way up in the hills -being full of beautiful places- nothing beats setting up camp in a nice spot and enjoying the solitude and nature. If you are prone to getting lost, this option could be a little dangerous as it is easy to lose oneself here. It might be a good idea to go as a group with a good amount of food, candles, and a little bit of alcohol -which is always good to help get your blood flowing.

Though I have never gone camping in the Cajón during Christmas, I have gone for the new year. The sensation of being far away, surrounded by nature, away from the over-rated festivities, appeals to me.  If you are someone who doesn't NEED to be with family during the holidays, or if you are one of those people who believes that gifts can be given at any time; do something different. Have an adventure and get some fresh air.

How to get to Cajón de Maipo
If you travel by public transportation, you can take metro line 5 and get off at the station Bellavista la Florida, then take one of the interurban buses Metrobus Nº 72  in the direction of the Plaza de Armas of San José de Maipo.

Another option is to take the metro line 4 and get off in the Las Mercedes station, then exit through Vicuña Mackenna Poniente and take the collective a Cajón de Maipo or the Metrobus Nº 72. You can get off at the Plaza de Armas or keep going higher. (until you can get off of the collectivo or bus) where you can go exploring.

In total, it will not cost more than $2,000 CLP.

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