Aguas de Ramón

Why it's worth the trip

Because it proves the whole premise in a single morning: you don't need a long trip to change landscape. It's the place to find out whether you enjoy walking with a group before committing to anything further away.

Landscape

This is the first step of the Andes and the easiest one to climb: you can reach it by public transport from eastern Santiago, and twenty minutes into the walk the city has already gone quiet. The Ramón ravine climbs through sclerophyll forest — quillay, litre, peumo — following the stream up to the Apoquindo waterfall, which appears all at once at the head of the valley.

• Forest
• Water
• Mountain

What the trip could look like

A half-day outing for a small group: an uphill walk at conversation pace, a long stop at the waterfall and coffee in the neighbourhood on the way down.

A possible format, not yet a trip with a date.

Worth knowing

• The waterfall's flow varies a lot with the season.
• The park has regulated access and opening hours: check them before going.