Chile Forum

Hi all,

Does anybody know of a good place to go (near to Santiago) to spend a day just frolicking about in the snow? I don't want to go skiing but just want to mess about in the snow before it disappears. I have heard that going down to San Jose de Maipo then to San Gabriel is a cheap and nice option but wanted to know if there's anything else out there.

Any ideas or information about the snow on San Gabriel or near San Jose de Maipo would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

me too!... so when does the snow "go away" about??
I would like to go up for some snow play, sledding, and trekking around... does anyone have suggestions or know anyone who can take a few people up?
mj

I don't have a car and am looking for a budget option to get there so how do I use public transport to get to San Gabriel? I heard you can take the metro to Bellavista de La Florida, then take a bus that goes straight to San Gabriel which passes through San Jose de Maipo.

Can anyone clarify this?

Take a drive up the road to the pass over to Argentina (Mendoza). I went with some Santiaginos once and we built a snowman, had a snowball fight, etc. right at the first switchback going up the Chilean side. It's a beautiful drive besides. Enjoy!

I went to Cajon de Maipo in a bus a couple of weeks ago with some Chileans. We went to San Jose de Maipo in the bus and went up Camino Las Lagunillas on foot. It is a 16 km walk uphill to get to the snow (well, it might be different now), but our group of 10 or so hitchhiked once we got too tired to continue on foot. The bus left from Metro Las Mercedes (it actually starts at B. La Florida, but my friends advised me to skip the first part as it winds through town). If you do this, take food and beverages. There were sleds for rent at the top. This was the first time I went to the snow here, so I have no other options to compare it with. The Mendoza pass was covered with snow today (just did my visa run), but it would cost more than the little bus to Cajon de Maipo. I'm sure there are others with more experience who'll weigh in.