Wednesday, 23 November 2011 15:36 Written by Emilia Rojas

Finally, the nice weather has arrived to the capital which allows us to spend more time outside for sports, walking etc.  and there's a perfect place for all this: The San Cristóbal Hill

Some time ago we told you about all the places to do trekking in Santiago, where we also included this incredible second highest point of Santiago - the highest one is the Cerro Renca - we also talked about the Virgen on top of the hill, but we have never dedicated an entire article to this green spot of the capital.

The San Cristóbal Hill is part of a group of mountains: the Tupahue, Chacarillas, La Pirámide and Los Gemelos Hills, including all of the Metropolitan Park of Santiago, one of the biggest parks of the world! The part that belong to the San Crisóbal Hill includes hiking trails, picnic areas, swimming-pools, a zoo, and transportation means such as the cable car or cable railway.

Still, in my opinion, the best way to enjoy the hill is by foot. I take a backpack with some fruit and a blanket and go uphill until I find a nice spot to lay down underneath some trees and have a picnic or read. The view on the city is beautiful and as the hill is located in a sector where the residential neighborhoods get separated from the "business center", it's possible to see both residential and the high buildings of the "financial" sector of the city.

During weekends it's recommendable to climb the hill doing some sports, walking, jogging or biking and on top you may enjoy a delicious mote con huesillos! If you have more time and money, you might want to have a dip into the Tupahue swimming-pool - $6.000 CLP entrance fee - as a grande finale to the excursion.

Without a single peso it's possible to enjoy all the options that offer San Cristóbal Hill and its nature which makes you feel as if you are far from the city. It's a small forest to discover, to have a barbecue with friends, to take the kids and pets out, to do sports, to bike and go downhill, to read quietly underneath some trees, to contemplate Santiago.

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