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Hi, I am studying in Valparaiso Chile, about an hour away from Santiago. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for good hiking around the area. Or hiking suggestions in general. Thanks.

Will

50km by the road east of Valparaiso: Parque Nacional La Campana

Hey man, I was just in Chile! You have quite a few options, the closest being La campana which really isnt far from Valpo. Youre best bet is to don snowshoes this time of year and bomb down to San Jose del Maipo for some killer snowshoeing. There you can take a bus to the trails that start at San Gabriel to the Cascada de animales (or something named like that) which are beautiful waterfalls frozen over at this time of year. You also could really push it and backpack into the Volcan de Maipo monument (-34.165795,-69.825668) and be awestruck by that monster. Another alternative if youre really craving altitude and craziness would be to catch a ride up to Valle Nevado (ski resort) and make a bid towards Cerro Plomo about 9 miles from the resort (11 in snow conditions). Anything else man, just shoot me an email <asieczk@gmail.com>, ill be glad to stock you with beta as I myself studied in Santiago de Chile about two weeks ago. Good luck mannnnn

Hello there !

* From Santiago, you could go to the Aconcagua National Park to hike to see the South Face. You start from Puente del Inca in Argentia, right after the border

* More south you can go to the Lake District or Isla Chiloe.
That requires a night by bus or a flight to Puerto Montt.

* Then you can go further south on the Carretera Austral to hike in the splendid Cordillera Castillo.
You need to fly , by bus it would take too long !

* And finally of course, you can go to Patagonia, to visit the Torres del Paine National Park and the Fitz Roy area in Argentina

Feel free to contact me, as I spend quite a bit of time in Southern Chile travelling and Hiking.

Will,

I'm actually in Valpo right now studying abroad through December. Are you at Catolica??

Anyway I'm planing on doing some climbing while I'm here, probably not Aconcagua but definitely something in the Andes. I could use a climbing partner.

tuckermottl@gmail.com, send me and e-mail if you want to do a trip.

Also does anyone know of good backpacking between Valparaiso and La Serena. I've got some friends who want to do a mellow trip without snow, and technical stuff.

Tucker