Cajon Del Maipo/embalse Del Yeso, Tradition Folk Picnic Included

We had an absolutely fantastic time on this trip! Our guide Ignacio was brilliant, and we were picked up on time. The scenery was breathtaking, and everything about the experience was amazing. Wine and snacks were included, although we had initially thought lunch was provided. That aside, we couldn’t fault the trip. We met some wonderful people and made some lovely memories. Would highly recommend this experience – it really was amazing from start to finish!

Tour was advertised at 8am, but tour operater (MTO Tour Chile) scheduled pickup from 5-5:30am. This was unnecessarily early.The canyon and El Yeso is pretty if you ignore the mine, mining trucks, industrial look and some terraced hillside. Tour operater told us to walk up without him....you could only reach the dam and were told it was not safe to go beyond due to rockslides. I wanted to see Andes....if you view it from right angle and with rose colored glasses, you'll be happy. Tour operated did everything through translated chat gpt. The traditional picnic was a roadside restaurant at our expense. Other stops were tourist traps. Stop and see goats, stop for chocolate, stopped at campground for glass of wine. It was cobbled together and lacking any charm. it felt transactional... except we got very little of value. Definitely disappointing and not worth it.

Very enjoyable way to visit the Andes close to Santiago. Lovely scenery and perfect amount of time in each location. Very friendly guide, Edison. Definitely a lovely day trip to do if visiting Santiago, nice to escape the city to the peaceful mountains.

Worst experience ever with a tour company. We were unable to complete part of the tour due to a landslide. We were informed there might be a possibility that this could happen. What we weren't told that it effect not one part of tour but most of the tour. Also we had to hire snow boots only to travel a short distance to find out the road was closed. Why the tour guide couldn't phone ahead I have no idea. Total waste of money. In my eyes all we did was drive around and saw nothing but a deserted ski lodge and why we were driven up there I have no idea. There was many angry passenger on this trip. It appears rather than cancel the trip so we could book something else MTO tours just took us on a drive to nowhere. I tried contacting MTO to discuss a refund for boots we dudnt use admission into a Chilean folk village show which we didnt attend abd a partial refund for the tour as we dud stop at the Chocolate factory only to purchase icecream at our own cost and we did get the picnic. So far no word from MTO tours. I also let Get Your Guide know of MTO tours service or lack of. I did get an acknowledgement from Get Your Guide offering a 20% discount on the next trip. This is more than MTO tours have done. Be very wary of this company they are dishonest and conviently uncontactable when there is an issue.

Love it! And Ivan, the tour guide was fantastic!!!

Too long most time spent at places to buy local products pick up time too early 5:45am

The experience was really bad. I never expected the entire tour to be so disappointing. First, I had to sit in a seat near the rear tyre, which made half the journey uncomfortable. Then, despite knowing that there had been an avalanche at one of the destinations the previous day, the organisers did not cancel the trip. The other stops and the picnic were boring. The vehicle was not clean, and the pickup time was changed from 7:00 AM to 5:50 AM. Additionally, I had to take an Uber to reach the pickup point myself and back to my hotel. Overall, it was a very disappointing experience.

Thank you Edison - for a wonderful day. We all loved especially the reservoir walk. Edison told us so much and drove so well!!

Ivan was a great driver/guide however the actual tour had a few variations from what is listed. Pickup was at 05:00am not 07:00am. There was no folk traditional session, games and picnic. We did have a wine tasting with cheese, salami and crackers. The first stop was at a lodge for breakfast & coffee (own expense). We had to rent snow gear for Embalse del Yeso since the path is icy. Lunch (own expense) is at a restaurant stop. In hindsight, I could have worn a thicker jacket and taken a packed breakfast/lunch.

The visit to the lake was great, the other stops were a bit random - chocolate house? The pick time was not as described, it states from 7am in the description, but we got a message at 9pm the night before saying our collection time was 5.05am! The tour company was very “matter of fact” and didn’t offer any explanation as to why the collection was 2 hours earlier than expected. Edison the guide was very knowledgeable.

A nice day trip to view the mountains and learn some of the history of the valley. Our guide Iván was very nice and attentive and the small group added to the experience. The tour itself could have included more guiding, and some more time at the damn would have been nice. The opportunity to rent snow appropriate clothes and shoes was extremely appreciated!

Good morning,- we had a tour on 10/11/2026, to visit Embalse del Yeso. I have repeatedly reached out to the tour company- they have received my messages and haven’t attempted to respond to my request all. I had hoped for a response before posting my review. The fact that they are not responding to my repeated messages confirms with me that they are not as reputable as I would hope a tour company would be. I was extremely disappointed with the tour experience. The road to Embalse El Yeso had been closed four days before our tour. We were not informed of the change or given the opportunity to cancel before the tour began. We were only told that the itinerary had changed, and where we were going, after the final passenger pickup. If I had known that the replacement destination was only a ski resort, I would have cancelled the tour. I understand that the tour company has no control over a road closure. However, the tour terms state that when something happens beyond the company's control, customers will be given the option to rebook or cancel for a full refund. This option was not offered to us. The tour information also stated that the group would be capped at 15 people. There were 17 passengers, plus the driver, in the van. According to Diego, the road had already been closed for four days. Since the closure and itinerary change were known before the tour, I believe I should have been notified as soon as the tour was booked or before pickup, so I could make an informed decision. The replacement tour was not the experience I purchased, and it was a significant waste of our day.

My sister and I loved Cajón del Maipo, it was such a beautiful landscape away from the big city. Iván was an amazing tour guide and super welcoming. He made jokes throughout the trip and brought a very friendly energy with him. I’m especially grateful for his driving, as our route back to Santiago was flooded due to the heavy rain. He made us feel safe and got us back to our destinations. My favorite part was the baby goats we got to held! Great experience.

Driver was nice, knowledgeable. It felt overcrowded. We had to pay for lunch. The lady at the chocolate house was rude. The toilets were disgusting at the walking to the dam base. The additional costs for paying for disgusting toilets. It seemed rushed.

This tour operator needs to be sanctioned or removed from Viator’s network. It was not until we were all loaded into the van that we were told that we would not be visiting the lagoon that was the headliner and the whole reason for taking the tour! An honest operator would have told us that very key piece of information before the tour so that we could choose to cancel. The tour ended up being a drive to a small ski resort where the snow had largely melted, leaving sticky mud to walk in. The views of the Andes were obscured by trees. Since there were no scenic stops along the way, I didn’t even get good pictures out of the deal. The stops along the way were simply opportunities to spend money-breakfast, lunch, a chocolate place. My reason for booking this tour was to see the lagoon. The tour did not come close to delivering a positive experience.

Diego, the guide, was really fabulous on this tour and we enjoyed his commentary and knowledge but it was not at all the tour advertised. The Embalse del Yaso lagoon wasn't accessible, which we get if the roads aren't open but that was known for 2 days before we booked and this only told to us when we were en route and we were still allowed to book this when it was known that we couldn't have the advertised experience. We didn't get any lagoon or traditional folk experience as advertised. Instead we had a lunch at an ok place, a lot of driving and not much else. We did get the fabulous Chocolate house but even the top of the Andes experience wasn't great as there was nothing to do and not even really seats for the hour we spent there and you had to pay some local to use the restroom. If the tour as advertised wasn't available, for whatever reason, we shouldn't have been allowed to book it or it should've been clear at booking and we could have made the choice.

Do not book or cancel if you have. This company is unprofessional. They won’t announce pickup time until after 9:00 the night before. The tour was advertised as starting at 7. When I questioned why I was being picked up at 5:30, I received a condescending message about this being a “SHARED experience” which did not answer why they chose to begin the tour over an hour early. Overnight the itinerary was completely changed including not advising with time that Embalse de Yeso (one of the places and experiences I was most looking forward to) was closed. There was no response to ask questions or option cancel with a refund. Our substitute itinerary was a joke. We did not receive what was advertised and what we paid for. I have booked Viator excursions in multiple locations. I have never experienced anything like this. This is the first time I have asked for, and deserve, a full refund for a terrible experience. If you do book, expect there to be last minute changes and unprofessional contact. I have since seen more reviews with the same experience hence would not recommend since this doesn't seem like a one time thing.

Diego was a fantastic driver and host :) I highly recommend this tour if you want to escape Santiago for a day and see the majestic sights of Cajon Del Maipo along with seeing some rustic Chilean culture along the way.

The embalse de Yeso is beautiful but the guide we had (Mauro) was not engaged and hardly told us any info or stories about the places we were visiting or passing by. Some of the activities indicated in the itinerary did NOT take place such as the traditional Chilean dance and the traditional games

This Cajón del Maipo tour was significantly different from what was advertised. - The tour was supposed to be in English, but our guide relied on an AI translator that frequently didn’t work due to lack of service. Additionally, there was very little commentary in both Spanish and English. - The Embalse del Yeso reservoir, which was the main attraction, was inaccessible due to a rockslide. The road had reportedly already been closed for several days, but we were not informed beforehand or given a chance to not partake in the tour. Instead the guide parked along side the road before the road closure and we stayed there for 2hrs. Tour members were able to get out and take photos of the mountains on the side of the road during this time. However, it was unclear why we stayed so long and didn’t proceed with the remainder of the tour. -There was no Folk Traditional session or traditional games and dances. - The website and confirmation emails state pickup is to be scheduled between 6:30–7:30 AM but we were picked up at 5:25 AM. Items that did occur include: -The “taste fresh goat cheese”. Be aware it is singular wafer with a small dollop of cheese. Cheese was available to purchase - We believe the tour company considered the “native wildlife” experience to be a single alpaca in a small fenced in area at the lunch restaurant. - There was sufficient time at the lunch restaurant. The food was fine but it is the only option tour members have and the pricing reflects this. We recommend bringing your own lunch. - We did stop at the chocolate house. - The tour bus did have AC/heating Overall it was a very disappointing experience and we feel it wasted a whole day of the limited time we had on our trip.

Diego was a wonderful guide for the day, and the tour was packed with goodies, the scenery was just stunning, highly recommended.

We had a wonderful experience with Ivan. Trip was very pleasant and with beautiful views. Ivan kept us informed at all times of our surroundings and any related history of it. I absolutely recommend this tour and congratulate Ivan on a job well done. 100% recommended.

No one notified us that the Cajon del Maipo is closed. They said that when we got on the bus at 5:40 in the morning (although when we booked the trip there was information that we'll be picked up at 7am). I understand that there is nothing they can do if there is a huge rock blocking the road, but the accident had happened 2 weeks ago, earlier than we booked the tickets. There was nothing provided as replacement for the excursion - we just drove until the road was blocked and the guide let us out of the bus for 30mins to basically breathe some mountain air. The guide spoke no English, he used AI translation on a speaker which was so silent we couldn't hear it from the back of the bus. So basically there was no information along the way. We spent the money to sit in a crowded bus to see nothing and hear nothing for a lot of money... The goats were very fun tho. Enjoyed that part.

It’s a scam…they can’t take you to the lagoon and they know they can’t but still sell you the excursion. They moved pick-up up an hour (to 5:30a) and didn’t tell us until 930p the night before. Also we were advised that the tour would be in English but it was not…the guide had a translator app that worked until we got onto the mountain…from there on out no more English. I emailed them complaining about not being able to see the lagoon and not having an English as purchased and promised…no one responded. Save your money…DONT BOOK THIS TOUR

The tour was very interesting and enjoyable. Carlos was our driver and guide. He is very knowledgeable and was very helpful. The tour had some changes due to the weather and closure of road. Otherwise all the spots included in the tour was impressive.

The tour was very good experience. The weather was great. We had enough time at each point. Carlos was our driver and guide. He is very knowledgeable and was very helpful. It was good that we left early in the morning so we could get there early before the crowd started.

In winter early spring you cannot get to the reservoir! That was what we had seen on YouTube! I wanted to see the blue water against the snow! Our guide Ivan didn’t speak much English at all!

The service was awesome, food it was very tasty . Rosana Martinez was great nayely and Felix as well

I booked this tour and it was clearly stated a 07.00 pick up time from my accommodation. The evening before the tour took place, the local operator informed me the pick up was to be 1h 40m earlier at 05.20. I was only informed of this conveniently outside of the free cancellation period, so either had to go on the tour with little sleep, or cancel and lose my payment. If I had the option to cancel with a full refund then I'd be fine. The tour operator gave feeble excuses for the change in timings. More stress than it's worth 🙄

Had a really good stay at Sreeja Myst. The room was clean, comfortable and well maintained. The location is really good and it’s very close to Athirappilly Waterfalls, which makes it a convenient place to stay when visiting Athirappilly. Overall, a nice and comfortable stay. I would definitely recommend Sreeja Myst.

great! Our guide took good care of us all day and made sure we were comfortable and safe. Much appreciated.

The tour itself was fine. I wish they had of told us the highlight wasn't going to happen in advance as I would have cancelled it. The driving got worse as the day went on and I spent all the drive feeling nauseous. Worst driving ive experienced from a tour

Important: check directly with local authorities on current access, rather than relying on the operator. When I asked days before our tour whether El Yeso was open, I was told it depended on the weather. However, access has reportedly been closed to general traffic since 1 April 2026 under an official Chilean government notice (Delegación Presidencial Provincial de Cordillera, Resolución Exenta N° 5615), which wasn’t mentioned to me at any point before booking. El Yeso Reservoir, listed as included, wasn’t visited on our tour. I was told the night before (9PM), after the cancellation window had closed. When I later asked the operator whether they hold a permit for winter access, I didn’t receive a direct answer, despite following up more than once. The stops we did visit felt quite touristy and lacked much cultural depth. The rest of the tour ran smoothly, and Viator issued a full refund when I raised it with them directly.

Ivan made this experience exciting and wonderful. He was playful and knowledgeable about the history. I will definitely recommend this tour to all my friends

Very disappointing experience. At 9:37 p.m. the night before (too late for the 24 hour cancellation window), I was informed via WhatsApp that the main attraction, El Yeso Reservoir, was inaccessible due to a rockslide. As soon as I saw the message I requested to cancel and receive a refund, but the operator didn't respond until the next day to tell me I was a no-show. Despite the tour being significantly changed, which TripAdvisor’s terms and conditions outline as a valid reason for a refund, neither TripAdvisor nor the operator provided a refund. The tour was also advertised as starting at 7:00 a.m., while pickup was actually at 5:25 a.m. I ultimately did not go on the tour, was unable to cancel, and lost the full amount I paid. Very frustrating and not recommended.

I did the Cajón del Maipo / Embalse del Yeso tour with the Traditional Folk Picnic included, operated by MTO Tour Chile and booked through Viator. I had originally booked with another operator who cancelled at the last minute the night before the tour. Thankfully, MTO Tour Chile were extremely responsive and easy to communicate with. They confirmed my booking immediately for the next day and were very honest from the outset: before I paid, they told me the road to Embalse del Yeso was closed due to weather conditions, so that part of the itinerary wouldn’t be possible. I appreciated the transparency, and of course, weather is beyond anyone’s control. The guide was very good and still ensured we had a great day. Dress appropriately, especially in winter — it was freezing in some areas and warm later on, so layers are best. It was a nice small group, and the scenery was lovely. Two small negatives. The tour is advertised to start at 07:00 with a duration of 9–10 hours. I understand there’s usually a ±30‑minute flexibility, but my hotel pick‑up was at 05:30, and others were collected at 05:00. I didn’t mind, but the listing really needs to be updated. The tour lasted 12 hours in total, and we returned around 17:00. The second negative was the number of eating and drinking stops. I’m a tiny eater, but it felt like every stop was food‑related: first a stop to buy snacks and water, then breakfast, then goat‑cheese tasting, followed shortly by lunch, then Casa Chocolate, and finally a small picnic. How much can you realistically eat in one day? I would have rather done some sort of activity instead. If you have plenty of time in Santiago, it’s still a nice experience. Otherwise, I would recommend Valparaíso or Inca Lagoon instead.

Good value however the lunch spot was disappointing and expensive. My advice is to take your own lunch and drinks. Our guide Diego was brilliant.

I great experience for knowing the community out of the city. And the beauty of the Andes is breath taking.

Astonishing views, amazing nature, and a very lovely trip. A bit of culture and nice conversation with our tour guide.

Awesome day. Our guide, Diego, made it even better

Nothing short of amazing. I hate when reviews don't capture the essence of an experience, but you will be so extremely fulfilled after this experience. I booked this sporadically the night before and the price was unbelievably reasonable. Like please tip, they deserve more for all the work they put in. You couldn't get this price like anywhere else in the world for all that's included.. (wine, goat cheese, chocolate, snacks, the tour, etc) They communicated so well. They called me, waited for me to come out, and Edison and his team were so inviting. I had the best time of my life. We went literally everywhere, we laughed, we got to experience it to the fullest. The group was a perfect size, not too overwhelming and you have room to ask questions freely. When booking, the length sounds long but it breezes by so fast, (sadly)..You can genuinely tell Edison loves his job. He's passionate about what he does and he made the experience almost 10x better. If you're questioning going on this excursion, please take it from me; DO NOT MISS IT!!! I had the best time of my life and I plan on coming back. Edison your warmth changes lives, please don't lose it💓💖💞 I hope to do this again soon. So grateful.

Loved the experience and everyone should see the beauty of Cajun del maipo at least once in their life. Im thankful for our tour guide Edison for being an excellent guide and giving us a once in a lifetime experience. He was extremely helpful, considerate and patient.

When we booked the trip to the Andes. Communication and updates were given right away. All the questions that we had were answered immediately by the tour company. Me and my husband had a beautiful experience that we will never forget. Everlasting memories were created. The experience is electric.

We ended up doing the alternative route due to an avalanche but it was fantastic, so much packed in the day definitely recommend!

We had an excellent time yesterday visiting Cajón de Maipo with our friendly and informative tour guide Ignacio and driver Mauricio! Despite there being some changes to our route due to the weather, he ensured we still had the opportunity to really take in the whole area, from goats cheese tasting to visiting a beautiful waterfall. The transport was perfectly on time, and overall I would 100% recommend this experience to one of Chile’s many amazing landscapes!!

This was an amazing tour!!! We had a great tour guide, Diego!! He was prompt on the morning pickup and kept us informed and comfortable the entire drive. We were notified the night before of the change, not visiting the lake or the cultural show due to the weather and flooding; but we still had an amazing time at all the stops! We were not rushed, like some tours. We had time to explore and take pics and eat with calm and actually enjoy every stop! I cannot say enough about this tour value for the price! I have traveled all over the world and taken many tours and really enjoyed this one!

I am extremely disappointed with this experience. The itinerary was changed the night before because of the weather, which I understand is beyond anyone's control. However, what is unacceptable is that we were never given any options or asked whether we agreed to the changes. Our original tour included a picnic, but instead we ended up paying for all of our meals out of pocket. At the very least, the company should have offered discounted lunches, meal vouchers, or some other form of compensation for what was removed from the itinerary. Overall, this was a complete waste of time and money. The lack of communication, flexibility, and customer service made for a very frustrating experience. I would not recommend this company to anyone. Save your money and book with a company that values its customers.

Do not book or cancel if you have. This company is unprofessional. They won’t announce pickup time until 9:00 the night before. The tour was advertised as starting at 7. When I questioned why I was being picked up at 5:50, I received a condescending message about this being a “SHARED experience” which did not answer why they chose to begin the tour over an hour early. Overnight the itinerary was completely changed. There was nothing opportunity to ask questions or cancel with a refund. Our substitute itinerary was a joke. We did not receive what was advertised and what we paid for. This is how the day went: We drove for 90 minutes and were dropped off at an open air shelter in the pouring rain and freezing There was nothing to do at this stop: No hikes. No remarkable views just overpriced coffees. We were told we had to spend an hour there and everyone was miserable. We couldn’t even find our driver/guide during this time. From there we were told it was an hour’s drive to a “ski resort/lodge”. After an hour, we were told the area was too busy so the driver pulled over to the side of the road and said we could walk around for an hour. That was it. We were told to wander around in mud in the freezing cold for an hour. There were no bathrooms, no place to warm up. It was ridiculous. We never saw the lake as promised. We never received the picnic. Instead, we were taken to a disgusting, pricey, roadside restaurant for lunch we were forced to buy. That, and a stop at a tourist trap candy store, was the entirety of this “tour”. I have booked Viator excursions in countries all over the world. I have never experienced anything like this. This is the first time I have asked for, and deserve, a full refund for a disaster of a day. You will be miserable on this tour.

Pick up was on time and we'll communicated by Diejo.Diejo drove carefully was extremely knowledgeable and looked after the group well.Good to have the chance to hire waterproof boots and have lunch at a basic but excellent cafe for a decent price.