I spent this past weekend in Cajón del Maipo, a scenic region on the eastern side of the country. Considering the incredible view of el Río Maipo winding by the foot of the cordillera, or mountain range, leading up to the Andes, this destination is definitely one of my favorites outside of Santiago. Cajón del Maipo also features a number of recreational activities and points of interest, including camping, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, vineyards, traditional Chilean restaurants, and artesanía stores.
Even though it takes about 90 minutes to reach la Plaza de Armas de San José de Maipo, the commercial center of Cajón del Maipo, public transportation to get there only costs $3 USD and consists of a 35-minute subway ride and 50-minute "colectivo" shared cab ride. Not too shabby! (although I must admit my friends and I ended up having to pay $9 each to get back since we couldn't manage to find an available colectivo and were too impatient to get on the crammed and slow metro-bus for $1)
One highlight of my visit to the region was an afternoon spent river-rafting with a couple friends. After gearing up with wet-suits, life-jackets, helmets, water shoes, and rafting paddles, we were quite a sight! The river was a class 2-3 on a scale to 6, but reaches class 4 later in the year around April/May. I enjoyed going over the safety spiel and learning the paddling commands in Spanish. Our river guide was also quite energetic and entertaining.
Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera along since I didn't want it to get wet so you'll just have to picture a mental image for yourself. You can also check out the company pics at: http://www.chilerafting.cl/.
After rafting, we finished off the day with delicious made-to-order empanadas de camarones y queso (shrimp and cheese) and by perusing craft booths lining the sidewalks of la Plaza de Armas de San José de Maipo.
Cajón del Maipo
Stopping by a Roadside Vineyard
Fresh Grapes!
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