Easy hikes near Santiago to get started (with today's status)
🥾 Hikes📅 Updated October 8, 2026⏱ 4 min read
Cover: Santiago and the Andes from the foothills of Las Condes. Photo: Naniatlas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
In Santiago the Andes are visible from almost every street, and many trails start a few minutes from a Metro station or the last houses of the city. If you have never hiked a hill here, you don't need to start with a summit: there are short walks with little climbing, some of them shaded, that are perfect for getting to know the native sclerophyll forest and seeing the city from above.
This guide brings together the easiest trails near Santiago and three for your next step. At the end you'll find today's status for each one, as published by the parks themselves.
To start: walks of an hour or less
Puya in bloom, Parque Natural Cantalao. Photo: M6NU31D162, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Cantalao: El Litre–Guayacán, in Peñalolén, is the easiest on this list: a 1.5 km loop at the foot of Cerro La Cruz to the Plaza del Quillay, with 80 m of elevation gain and shade the whole way. It takes 30 minutes to an hour, and the Asociación Parque Cordillera recommends it for children, families and older adults. Mind the time: the last entry to the trails is at 12:00.
In Parque Natural Aguas de Ramón, in Las Condes, the Canto de Agua trail is another option with kids: 1 km, about 30 minutes. You can get there by public transport, on bus D15 from Plaza Egaña Metro station to the park entrance.
Yerba Loca valley. Photo: OutCrow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Higher up, in the Yerba Loca Nature Sanctuary, is the Mirador del Águila: a 1.1 km family trail that takes about 35 minutes, with views of the valley and the Manchón, del Medio, Altar and Falso Altar peaks. The walk is short, but the drive is not: the park is 25 km from Plaza San Enrique along the road to Farellones, followed by 4 km of dirt road to Villa Paulina. There is no public transport, and tickets are sold online only.
A half day without big climbs
Andes foothills in Lo Barnechea. Photo: Naniatlas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Las Hualtatas: El Maqui and Cascada Uchuy, in Lo Barnechea, climbs a valley of quillay, peumo and maqui trees to the Cascada Uchuy waterfall, where the Maqui and Las Hualtatas creeks meet. It's 5 km round trip with about 100 m of elevation gain, in around 3 hours. Along the way you cross the creek twice; it carries little water. The last entry to the trail is at 16:00.
Your next step
Salto del Peumo, Aguas de Ramón. Photo: Lycaon.cl, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
When the short walks start to feel too easy, here are three good next steps:
- Aguas de Ramón: Los Peumos: a 6.5 km hillside loop that ends at small waterfalls and pools in a peumo forest. About 4 hours and 270 m of elevation gain; last entry at 14:00. Swimming is not allowed.
- Cerro Manquehue: the summit is 2.6 km away, with about 500 m of climbing. For a first attempt there's the Manquehuito summit, 1.8 km and designed for families. Entry is free, and the park is open from 8:00 to 20:00 in spring and summer.
- Yerba Loca: Refugio Alemán: 9.4 km round trip from Villa Paulina on a family-friendly trail. The Mirador del Cóndor viewpoint, 1.8 km in, is a good turnaround if you only want to do part of it.
View from Cerro Manquehue. Photo: HederdTD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Before you go
Parks can close because of risk or emergencies, such as landslides, heavy snow or fires, and their hours change with the season. Check today's status (above) and today's weather in Santiago before heading out.
Have you hiked one of these trails? Tell other hikers how it was in the comments below.
Official sources
- Asociación Parque Cordillera: Parque Natural Cantalao
- Asociación Parque Cordillera: Parque Natural Aguas de Ramón
- Asociación Parque Cordillera: Parque Natural Las Hualtatas
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Yerba Loca
- Outlife: Parque Manquehue
Community experiences
User experiences, not official information. Always check the official status before you go.
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