El Morado Hanging Glacier

Many people think that to see a glacier you have to travel all the way to Patagonia. Surprisingly, just a few hours from Santiago, in the Cajón del Maipo, you can admire one of the most stunning glaciers in central Chile: El Morado Hanging Glacier, a tongue of ice that drops vertically from 4,647 meters above sea level. This is a small-group experience, with a maximum of 12 people, so the pace adapts to you. The drive from Santiago takes about 2 hours through spectacular Andean scenery, with views of the San José Volcano (5,856 m), ancient rock walls, fossils and Andean condors. Once at Arenas Park, we begin a 9 km round-trip hike to the glacier lake, led by a Sernatur-certified bilingual guide trained as a Wilderness First Responder. Quick Facts Activity: Hike Duration: Full day Difficulty: Moderate Season: Year-round, weather dependent (snowshoes required in winter) Hiking length: 9 km (5.5 mi) round trip Max altitude: 3,260 masl (10,695 ft) Elevation gain: 660 m (2,165 ft)