Chile National Parks Guide: El Morado Natural Monument

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Located an hour and a half from Santiago, in the Cajón del Maipo (canyon of the river Maipo), this protected area encompasses the Rio Morales canyon and the adjoining hills, part of the Andes mountain range.

Due to the climatic conditions the park is closed between May and September. The best months for visiting, whether for daytrips or longer camping trips, are between December and March. Of the hills which surround the canyon, El Morado is the highest at 5,060 m (16,596 ft) above sea level, and you simply cannot miss it. It dominates the landscape of the park. The fauna of the reserve is rich in bird species, some of the most notable are the large hummingbirds, the cometocino and the austral thrush. The flora is composed mainly of Andean hard-leaf thickets, but in the lower areas of the park there is also the mountain olive, the white herb and the green foxtail plant, among others.

Some of the more spectacular places in the park are the El Morado lagoon and the San Francisco glacier. A trail leads to both of these areas, taking approximately 2 hours to hike.

Other nearby attractions
Morales hot springs, Lo Valdés, Colina hot springs.

Activities
Trekking, wildlife observation, horseback-riding, mountaineering, climbing, camping. Activities Section

Climate
Icy climate with average daily temperatures fluctuating from 10°C to 25°C (50° to 77°F) from December to March. Precipitation measures from 1,200 to 2,000 mm (47 to 78 in) in the form of rain and snow, concentrated between the months of April and September. In the winter the snow can reach 2.8 m. (9 ft).

Services
Trails, food, rangers.