[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":363},["ShallowReactive",2],{"/chile-tours/santiago/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate-wildlife-refuge/":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":282,"extension":283,"meta":284,"navigation":358,"path":359,"seo":360,"stem":361,"__hash__":362},"santiagoTours/chile-tours/santiago/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate-wildlife-refuge.md","Cajón del Maipo Private Day Tour: Wildlife Refuge & Casa Chocolate",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":279},"minimark",[9,17],[10,11,14],"tour-hero-section",{"breadcrumbs":12,"img-src":13},"chile tours","/images/chile-tours/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate/cajon-del-maipo-valley-panoramic-view-andes-chile.webp",[15,16,5],"p",{},[18,19,20,22,29,37,86,91,119,187,216,221,274],"tour-description-section",{},[15,21,5],{},[23,24,26],"template",{"v-slot:tour-location":25},"",[15,27,28],{},"Maipo Canyon, Santiago Region, Chile",[23,30,31],{"v-slot:tour-icon-section":25},[32,33],"tour-icons",{"duration":34,"from":35,"type":36},"9 hours","150","All Ages",[23,38,39],{"v-slot:tour-image-galery":25},[40,41,42,46,52,58],"tour-image-galery",{},[43,44],"tour-image",{"img-alt":45,"img-src":13},"Panoramic view of the Cajón del Maipo valley with Andean peaks, Chile",[23,47,48],{"v-slot:image-2":25},[43,49],{"img-alt":50,"img-src":51},"Casa Chocolate handmade chocolate shop in San Alfonso, Cajón del Maipo","/images/chile-tours/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate/casa-chocolate-chocolates-cajon-del-maipo.webp",[23,53,54],{"v-slot:image-3":25},[43,55],{"img-alt":56,"img-src":57},"Bird rescue exhibit at Refugio Animal Cascada inside Cascada de las Ánimas Nature Sanctuary","/images/chile-tours/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate/refugio-animal-cascada-bird-rescue-cascada-de-las-animas.webp",[23,59,60,64,71,76,81],{"v-slot:image-4":25},[43,61],{"img-alt":62,"img-src":63},"Maipo River winding through the Cajón del Maipo canyon with the Andes Mountains in the background","/images/chile-tours/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate/maipo-river-cajon-del-maipo-andes-mountains-chile.webp",[65,66],"img",{"src":67,"alt":68,"className":69},"/images/chile-tours/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate/casa-chocolate-handmade-chocolates-cajon-del-maipo.webp","Handmade chocolates and pastries on display at Casa Chocolate, Cajón del Maipo",[70],"hidden",[65,72],{"src":73,"alt":74,"className":75},"/images/chile-tours/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate/cascada-de-las-animas-entrance-andes-cajon-del-maipo.webp","Entrance to Cascada de las Ánimas Nature Sanctuary in Cajón del Maipo with the Andes behind",[70],[65,77],{"src":78,"alt":79,"className":80},"/images/chile-tours/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate/cascada-de-las-animas-suspension-bridge-san-alfonso.webp","Wooden suspension bridge leading into Cascada de las Ánimas sanctuary in San Alfonso",[70],[65,82],{"src":83,"alt":84,"className":85},"/images/chile-tours/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate/refugio-animal-cascada-rescued-birds-information-panels.webp","Information panels describing rescued native birds at Refugio Animal Cascada wildlife refuge",[70],[23,87,88],{"v-slot:tour-overview":25},[15,89,90],{},"This private day tour from Santiago is ideal for families with children. We head into the Maipo Canyon (Cajón del Maipo), the Andean valley where locals go to escape the city on weekends. Along the way we stop at Casa Chocolate for a chocolate tasting, visit the Refugio Animal Cascada wildlife refuge inside the 3,600-hectare Cascada de las Ánimas Sanctuary, do an easy hike good for all ages, and have a typical Chilean lunch at the restaurant inside the park.",[23,92,93,99,104,109,114],{"v-slot:tour-highlights":25},[94,95,96],"tour-highlights-item",{},[15,97,98],{},"San José de Maipo",[94,100,101],{},[15,102,103],{},"Cajón del Maipo (Maipo Canyon)",[94,105,106],{},[15,107,108],{},"Casa Chocolate",[94,110,111],{},[15,112,113],{},"Cascada de las Ánimas Nature Sanctuary",[94,115,116],{},[15,117,118],{},"Refugio Animal Cascada",[23,120,121,129,133,145,156,163,176,182],{"v-slot:tour-description":25},[122,123,126],"tour-day-part-description",{"day-title":124,"is-first":125},"Santiago","true",[15,127,128],{},"Hotel pick-up in Santiago, 9:30 a.m.\nWe meet you at your hotel and head southeast toward the Cajón del Maipo. The drive to San Alfonso takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic.",[122,130],{"day-title":131,"duration":132},"Transfer from Santiago to Cajón del Maipo (Casa Chocolate)","1.5 hours",[122,134,138],{"day-title":135,"duration":136,"stop-number":137},"Casa Chocolate: Chocolate Tasting","30 minutes","1",[15,139,140,141,144],{},"We start at Casa Chocolate, easy to spot by its fairy-tale wooden architecture and one of the most photographed corners of the valley.",[142,143],"br",{},"\nYou will sit down for a chocolate or pastry tasting and take a few photos before heading to the wildlife refuge.",[122,146,150],{"day-title":147,"duration":148,"stop-number":149},"Refugio Animal Cascada hike","2.5 hours","2",[15,151,152,153,155],{},"A short drive away, inside the Cascada de las Ánimas Nature Sanctuary, we join a guided visit to the native wildlife refuge. Refugio Animal Cascada works both as a rescue and rehabilitation centre and as an educational space focused on Chilean fauna, with groups limited to 12 visitors.",[142,154],{},"\nThe refuge is home to native birds and mammals, including a puma, and is one of the few places near Santiago where you can see Andean species up close.",[122,157,160],{"day-title":158,"duration":132,"stop-number":159},"Lunch at La Tribu","3",[15,161,162],{},"From there we head to La Tribu, the sanctuary's riverside restaurant, for a Chilean meal beside the Maipo River. The menu changes with the season and uses local produce from central Chile.",[122,164,167],{"day-title":165,"duration":132,"stop-number":166},"Trails inside Cascada de las Ánimas park","4",[15,168,169,170,172,173,175],{},"For guests who want more time outdoors, we can add one of two short trails inside Cascada de las Ánimas:",[142,171],{},"\nWaterfall Hike (Option A): a 2 km loop with a viewpoint over the Maipo Valley, recommended by the sanctuary as good for all ages and families. The waterfall is rain-fed and can run low between November and March in particularly dry years.",[142,174],{},"\nMeseta Viewpoint (Option B): a steeper trail climbing about 200 m to an open plateau with wide valley views and a good chance of spotting an Andean condor.",[122,177,179],{"day-title":178,"duration":132},"Return to Santiago",[15,180,181],{},"The drive back to your hotel takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Most guests are back between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., depending on whether you add the optional walk.",[122,183,184],{"day-title":124,"is-last":125},[15,185,186],{},"Arrive back in Santiago at 6:30 p.m.",[23,188,189],{"v-slot:tour-info":25},[190,191,192],"tour-info",{},[15,193,194,198,199,201,202,204,205,207,208,210,211,213,214],{},[195,196,197],"strong",{},"What to Bring:"," ",[142,200],{},"\nComfortable closed-toe walking shoes",[142,203],{},"\nA light, warm layer (mornings and evenings in the Andes can be cool, even in summer)",[142,206],{},"\nSunglasses, sunscreen and a hat",[142,209],{},"\nA refillable water bottle",[142,212],{},"\nFor families: a small snack and a comfort item for younger children, if helpful",[142,215],{},[23,217,218],{"v-slot:tour-faq-section":25},[219,220],"tour-faq-section",{},[23,222,223],{"v-slot:price-description":25},[224,225,226,259],"tour-price-description",{},[23,227,228],{"v-slot:include":25},[229,230,231,241,247,253],"ul",{},[232,233,234,240],"li",{},[235,236,239],"span",{"className":237},[238],"dot","●"," English Speaking Guide",[232,242,243,246],{},[235,244,239],{"className":245},[238]," Private Transportation",[232,248,249,252],{},[235,250,239],{"className":251},[238]," Bottled Water on Board",[232,254,255,258],{},[235,256,239],{"className":257},[238]," Entrance Fee toÁnimas Nature Sanctuary",[23,260,261,268],{"v-slot:exclude":25},[232,262,263,267],{},[235,264,239],{"className":265},[266],"dot-red"," Meals",[232,269,270,273],{},[235,271,239],{"className":272},[266]," Chocolate Tasting",[23,275,276],{"v-slot:tour-form":25},[277,278],"tour-form",{},{"title":25,"searchDepth":280,"depth":280,"links":281},2,[],"Private day tour from Santiago into the Cajón del Maipo: handmade chocolate at Casa Chocolate, a native wildlife refuge, and a Chilean lunch by the Maipo River.","md",{"seoTitle":285,"location":28,"slug":286,"countries":287,"regions":289,"canonical":291,"thumbnail":292,"ogImageAlt":293,"duration":294,"type":36,"from":295,"currency":296,"faq":297,"defaultTab":334,"tabs":335,"pricing":337},"Cajón del Maipo Private Day Tour from Santiago: Wildlife Refuge & Casa Chocolate","cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate-wildlife-refuge",[288],"chile",[290],"santiago","https://larustour.com/chile-tours/santiago/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate-wildlife-refuge/","/images/chile-tours/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate/ casa-chocolate-wooden-cottage-andes-cajon-del-maipo.webp","Casa Chocolate wooden cottage in Cajón del Maipo with Andes mountains behind","9 Hours",150,"USD",[298,301,304,307,310,313,316,319,322,325,328,331],{"q":299,"a":300},"Is this a good day trip from Santiago for families?","Yes. The pace is easy, the stops are short, and the optional walk is gentle enough for grandparents and small kids. One of the most popular \u003Cstrong>family day trips from Santiago into the Cajón del Maipo\u003C/strong>.\n",{"q":302,"a":303},"How far is Cajón del Maipo from Santiago?","About 60 km south-east of central \u003Cstrong>Santiago\u003C/strong>, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by car. \u003Cstrong>San Alfonso\u003C/strong>, where this tour takes place, is one of the closest Andes destinations to the city.\n",{"q":305,"a":306},"Can we do the refuge visit and a short hike on the same day?","That's the longer 8-to-9-hour version of the \u003Cstrong>private day tour from Santiago\u003C/strong>. The visit to \u003Cstrong>Refugio Animal Cascada\u003C/strong> is fixed at 2.5 hours and the sanctuary walks have their own start times, so we plan the day around both.\n",{"q":308,"a":309},"Which optional walk is better for kids?","The \u003Cstrong>Waterfall Hike\u003C/strong>. It's a flat 2-km loop and the sanctuary itself recommends it for families. The \u003Cstrong>Meseta trail\u003C/strong> is steeper and feels more like a real hike.\n",{"q":311,"a":312},"Will the waterfall have water when we visit?","Not always. It's rain-fed and can run low between November and March in dry years. The loop and the valley viewpoint are still worth it.\n",{"q":314,"a":315},"How much walking is there overall?","Without the optional trail, very little. \u003Cstrong>Casa Chocolate\u003C/strong> is a few steps from the car, and the \u003Cstrong>wildlife refuge\u003C/strong> visit is an easy stroll between exhibits. Add the trail and you get roughly another 2 km of gentle walking.\n",{"q":317,"a":318},"What's the weather like, and how should we dress?","The \u003Cstrong>Cajón del Maipo\u003C/strong> is cooler than central Santiago. Andean mornings and evenings are crisp, days are dry and bright. Bring layers, closed shoes, sunscreen and a hat.\n",{"q":320,"a":321},"Does the tour run year-round?","Yes. On rare snowy or rainy winter days (mostly July and August) we may swap higher sections for safer alternatives. The core of the day stays the same: chocolate, native wildlife and a Chilean lunch in the mountains.\n",{"q":323,"a":324},"Is the chocolate made from Chilean cacao?","Cacao doesn't grow in Chile. The beans come from Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, and the chocolate is made locally. \u003Cstrong>Casa Chocolate\u003C/strong> has been doing it this way since 2015 and is one of the best-known stops in the \u003Cstrong>Cajón del Maipo\u003C/strong>.\n",{"q":326,"a":327},"Will the scenery look like the Alps?","No, and that's part of the appeal. The \u003Cstrong>Chilean Andes\u003C/strong> are drier and more dramatic - cacti, native shrubs, seasonal wildflowers. Snow on the higher peaks is most reliable from late May to early September. The \u003Cstrong>Maipo River\u003C/strong> runs strong and silty, ranging from turquoise to grey by the season, and is famous locally for rafting.\n",{"q":329,"a":330},"Where in Santiago do you pick up from?","Hotels and apartments in central \u003Cstrong>Santiago\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Providencia\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Las Condes\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Vitacura\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Lastarria\u003C/strong>. If you're staying further out, just let us know when you book.\n",{"q":332,"a":333},"What might we see in the sanctuary?","A representative slice of central Chilean nature inside the \u003Cstrong>Cascada de las Ánimas Nature Sanctuary\u003C/strong>. Among the most likely sightings:\n\n\u003Cstrong>Plants:\u003C/strong> Quillay, Bollén, Colliguay, Litre, Roman cassie, Quisco cactus, Turquoise puya, Guayacán, Glory of the Sun, Chilean climbing gazania, parrot-beak orchid, three-coloured Indian cress, painted-tongue plant and añañuca amaryllis.\n\n\u003Cstrong>Reptiles and amphibians:\u003C/strong> Arriero toad, Chilean tree iguana, Chilean lizard and long-tailed snake.\n\n\u003Cstrong>Birds:\u003C/strong> striped woodpecker, southern house wren, grassland yellow-finch, grey-hooded sierra-finch, torrent duck, giant hummingbird, Chilean flicker, tufted tit-tyrant, black-chested buzzard-eagle and Harris's hawk.\n\n(A full field guide with Latin names is available on request.)\n","default",[336],{"id":334,"label":334},{"default":338},{"duration":294,"type":36,"from":295,"currency":296,"priceList":339},[340,344,347,350,353,356],{"pax":341,"price":342,"label":343},1,580,"guest",{"pax":280,"price":345,"label":346},300,"guests",{"pax":348,"price":349,"label":343},3,350,{"pax":351,"price":352,"label":346},4,200,{"pax":354,"price":355,"label":346},5,180,{"pax":357,"price":295,"label":346},6,true,"/chile-tours/santiago/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate-wildlife-refuge",{"title":5,"description":282},"chile-tours/santiago/cajon-del-maipo-casa-chocolate-wildlife-refuge","uesBjxtEwp6NTaFqFSWdgHuMY0KkS9HGlCwL6eagqrw",1778290603745]