If you like hiking this is the most popular place in Santiago. Hike til the summit in 1 hour,…read moreexpect 1 hour to go down. Excelent view of the city.

This natural park located just on the outskirts of Santiago. It is a great hiking area that follows…read morea long streaming river. In several areas rock formations fill up creating small natural pools to swim in. You can literally hike up into the mountains, or pick a natural pool to spend the day sunbathing and picnicking. This would be my personal get away spot if it wasn't for one big factor. Unfortunately Quebrada de Macul is one of the dirtiest natural parks I have ever visited. The actual terrain is so beautiful and it is really unfortunate that it's visitors leave all their trash behind. It is ridiculous the amount of plastic bags and used mini BBQ"s that are all over this place. I actually felt depressed on my hike back in just seeing all the dumping people did. This place needs a serious community clean up and fast / good hiker education on how to respect the environment.

This is a great site to visit. You get beautiful views at the top of the mountain. We enjoyed…read moreriding the rail car going up and then the gondola going down. There's some vendors selling souvenirs. We bought ponchos for about $35. There's some walking involved but nothing strenuous. The restrooms at the top were fairly clean. There's also a snack shop at the top selling coffee, ice cream and snacks. I highly recommend this place.

Cerro San Cristóbal has a little something for everyone! Trails for running/hiking, paved pathways…read morefor walking/cycling, and even a cable car for killer views (plus less huffing and puffing for the ascent). The hill offers beautiful views of Santiago from the higher points, but there are also plenty of interesting stops along the way, including side trails, small cafés, and even playgrounds in some of the parks. The city has done a fantastic job making this an accessible public attraction, and access is totally free! Definitely one of my favorite stops in Chile.

If you need to escape the hustle and bustle (and pollution) of the city, I highly recommend this…read morespot. We've been twice now, and it never disappoints. It's pup and kid friendly with an opportunity to hike, swim, BBQ, bike, and more. The prices recently increased, so now a car with two people will pay $14.000 clp to enter. Definitely take sunscreen, a hat, towel, good hiking shoes, and water. They also have bathrooms. Arrive early to claim a spot for your group, but honestly, there are so many good options! Getting here can be daunting because there isn't a paved road for much of it, or it is one lane with blind curves, but if you can brave that, it is worth it! The best days to come are weekdays since it can be totally packed on the weekend with bottlenecks at the entrance. The hiking is pretty tame and not far at all--very kid friendly.

Rafting, canopy, horseback riding, a full day of adventure is what you will find at Cascada de los…read moreAnimos. Therir canopy stretches all the way across the Maipo river, making it both a thrilling (and for me) terrifying experience all at once. Located in the beautiful Cajon del Maipo Cascada de lo Animos is perfect for a sunny day out in the woods with your friends, or you can also arrange for a corporate adventure and take the time to get even closer to your work mates. The team of people who work here are all mostly bilingual, very bright, and have a sweet demeanor. I loved hiking through the woods with our guide, trying out the various obstacles and challenges including el Salto de Confianza (the jump of confidence). It is like most tourist attractions in Chile very pricy and that is the only down side. They have a restaurant as well where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner while looking out at the river and endless redwoods.

This place is beautiful. The food however is very overpriced and that would be ok if it was good…read more It's not. It is bland and worse the portions are so small you will not get full. Note: There were 4 tables in the dining area. We were seated in the worst one. I asked to be moved and was told the other tables (all empty) were reserved. We were there for 1.5 hours no one else ever came to sit at empty tables. Would NOT return to this place. Would NOT recommend this place.

Cerro Pochoco is not for beginners. Parts of the hike is quite steep and not well-marked. We…read morehiked for about 30 minutes and were able to see fantastic views of the Andes mountains. It probably takes 2 hours to climb to the top. While I did not make it to the top, I was told that the hike becomes rock climbing, and that getting down was even more difficult. As a novice hiker, I was quite impressed by the athleticism of the local Chileans. Many brought their dogs and toddlers along with them, and they seem quite fearless and basically ran down the mountain.