Andes & Central Valley


Casa de la Moneda

The Andes Mountains rise to the east with peaks over 6,600m. The landscape is semi-arid in the foothills, with permanently snow-capped mountains. This sector's small population works in the mines, the hydroelectric power plants or looking after animals. Nevertheless, in the Maipo river valley there are beautiful and picturesque villages and it has become one of the main destinations for the people of Santiago and tourists who wish to live side by side with nature.

Beyond the first row of hills of the Andes there are beautiful forests, canyons, glaciers, lakes and white water rivers. Several roads lead to national parks, protected areas and places where the most varied open-air activities take place, from walks, horseback riding and trekking, to mountain biking or rafting.

Attractions
History
Chile's popular culture derives more from the Central Valley than from the Andes, the elevation and relative inaccessibility of which complicates inhabitation - or even passage. The rare moments in which the range appears in Chile's history are among the country's greatest, such as when José de San Martin Liberation Army crossed the range from Argentina to defeat the Spanish in the name of independence, in 1817.

Geology
The greater part of the Central Andes is composed of crumbling volcanic depositions, and continued subsurface activity results in the presence of no fewer than 35 documented hotsprings, including Colina and Cauquenes hotsprings. Tectonic uplift is another important factor in local geography, and marine fossils are often found on Andean peaks exceeding 5000m.

Flora and Fauna
While the Central Valley has been modified from its natural state into a patchwork of irrigated agricultural lands, the Central Andes have retained their native flora and fauna. Cactus and other drought- resistant species thrive on sunny, north-facing slopes, while river bottoms and shaded slopes provide habitat for drought- resistant trees similar to the California chaparral. Above a certain elevation, trees and shrubs disappear altogether, though in November and December, the high Andean valleys of El Morado National Park and the Yerba Loca Nature Sanctuary fill with blooming wildflowers. The remoteness of the high Andes protects habitat for Andean condors, torrent ducks, foxes and pumas.

Activities
Skiing
Just over an hour's drive from the capital, three well-equipped ski areas high in the Andes serve as summer training ground for the Swiss and Amedean national teams, and provide groomed and off-piste skiing for all ages and abilities. Further south, the Chillán hotspring combines world- class skiing on the slopes of an active volcano with one of the country's premier hotspring resorts.

Horseback Riding
A variety of horse trips, ranging from easy afternoon rides to multi-day crossings of the Andes, combine sport, nature, and culture in one of the world's most spectacular mountain ranges. Top destinations near Santiago include the Santuario de la Naturaleza and the Cajon del Maipo.

Mountaineering
The Central Andes concentrate dozens of 5,000m peaks and several which top 6000m, all within a day or two of Santiago. At 5,424rn, Cerro El Plomo is often climbed as an acclimatization peak for 7,021 m Cerro Aconcaqua, the highest peak in the Americas.

Rafting and kayaking
Just over an hour from the capital, the glacial-fed Maipo river provides incomparable thrills for experts and novices alike. Further south, the picture-perfect waterfalls of the Siete Tazas of Claro river attract expert kayakers from around the globe.