The tour of Puerto Chaco, Buco, and the surrounding territory was beautiful. We enjoyed seeing the glaciers, the mountains, and the waterfalls. Our guide, Mariana spoke good English, but she had to read many of the informational talks. There were several people on the tour who couldn’t seem to be satisfied with any alternatives that meant the group was not very congenial. The driver was excellent. he managed to navigate very narrow and difficult roads.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- All taxes, fees, and handling charges
- Guides: One guide for every four clients
- Hiking poles
Excludes
- Small backpack (rent available)
- Personal insurance
- 30 USD fee for airport pickup and drop-off
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Great views of the Andes to the east and amazing views of the Santiago Valley and city to the west. Native flora and fauna. Intense steep hike of 3 hours up plus 2 hours downhill. Our groups are small and we respect the speed of the group. Reach summit is not necessary to enjoy the amazing view and enjoy the surroundings. We are focus in the experience not just the summit.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
wonderful experience to mountain region, unique view, friendly and funny guide, highly recommanded tour !
The Andes hike was fantastic and Martin was a great guide. He is knowledgeable and very personable. His English is excellent.
I (34 f) really enjoyed my hike up Alto del Naranjo. I’m from a sea-level city so I don’t get much opportunity to hike, but I try to keep in shape. The most challenging bit for me was the ascent due to altitude but it was totally doable by keeping a sustainable pace. There are parts that looked intimidating at first but again if you’re in shape and willing to try, you’re in for an enjoyable experience. Martin was an outstanding guide. He pointed out condors, hawks, and other birds and he had a lot of insight on the area. (He and his dogs do the trail regularly - sometime at dusk!) I could not have asked for a better companion - a massive and heartfelt thanks to Martín for helping me reach the top! Aside from the breathtaking view we also saw cows and horses. We had perfect weather. The previous reviews made me nervous about the hike down but that was a breeze. I fell on my butt twice and knee once, but nothing painful - made for a good laugh. Would totally recommend this hike and Martin to anyone who asks.
Great trip. My guide, Frank, made sure everything went well and that we were moving at a pace I was comfortable with. The hike is definitely a challenge but manageable if you're in good condition. And the views as you get near the top make it all worth it. I'd definitely recommend it.
This is a challenging hike in the Andes. You could see various birds including eagles as well as lots of flowers and cacti. The guide was patient and able to support an inexperienced hiker.
Awesome hike! Our guide, Martin, was super friendly, on time, and brought everything we needed (waters, hiking poles, and snacks). He knew the hike like the back of his hand and also pointed out a few cool birds and flora. The hike going up is easy to moderate, but going down it can be moderate to difficult so just be prepared to take it slow. Highly recommend this one - amazing views the entire way. Thanks Martin! Gracias po
Definitely intense and best done with proper hiking shoes. I had legs cramps while going down but Martin was extremely patient and took great care of me. Had great conversations with him along the way. Great day out.
The hike was beautiful. It is a tough hike with lots of gravel and boulders to climb but well worth the hike. Martin, our guide, was excellent. Glad we did it.
I wanted to leave a review because I absolutely loved this hike, but I feel like the other reviews paint it as either too easy or too difficult. It is a challenging hike and I wish I had worn hiking boots, especially for the way down. I also wanted to mention that my friend is afraid of heights and she did not enjoy it as much as the rest of us. However, it was fun and the views at the top are absolutely astonishing. Be prepared to take the full 6 hours and if you are not a regular hiker, you will likely be a little sore later. Our guide, Martin, was awesome. He was encouraging and helpful, and made sure we safely navigated the more difficult terrain. I'm so happy we booked this tour and I was very happy that we had such an experienced guide with us! I would definitely do this again!
This was a fantastic hike. Our guide, Nicolas was exactly what you want on a half day hike. He was patient, funny, a good conversationalist, informative… From pick up at the hotel- he went above expectations and asked the concierge in help going ahold of our group due to miscommunication on my part, to the fantastic views and care he took in ensuring our safety, to the drop off… We stopped for slushies at a gas station on the way back on our suggestion. Wonderful trip all around and well worth the cost and effort. 5 out of 5.
Nicolas was a wonderful Guide—- thank you for a wonderful day would recommend the hike to those looking for a challenge rewarded with beautiful views
We had a fantastic hike! Amazing views at the top, and it was an easy half day activity for us to do!
Knowledgeable, flexible with timing, supportive of someone who likes to take it safe, experienced, great communications, and knows local fauna + flora.
My friend and I loved this tour! We were picked up at our hotel promptly at the stated time and it was about a 45-min drive to the trail head. We both exercise regularly and are in our late 20s and found the hike challenging but enjoyable. It is a bit technical and it would have been preferable to have hiking shoes but we managed in running sneakers. Our guide, Nicholas, provided the hiking poles, water, snacks, and a lunch to eat when you get to the summit. It’s expected to bring your own backpack to carry the provided water bottles and any personal items. The entire hike had breathtaking views and the challenge is well worth it once you make it to the top. Nicholas is also extremely knowledgeable of hiking techniques, the terrain, and area wildlife. He was also extremely patient, helpful, and accommodating to our pace. For us, it took approximately 3 hours up and 2.5 hours down. We took about 30 mins for a lunch break at the summit, along with smaller water/snack breaks uphill and downhill. Overall definitely recommend this tour, as it’s a very unique hike and getaway from the city!
Outstanding trip. Had a great day hiking just outside Santiago. The pace was just right and Javier was happy to adjust if needed. There were some incredible views from the top of Alto El Naranjo. Highly recommended.
We had a perfect day doing this hike right outside of Santiago. Our guide was knowledgeable and fun and enhanced our experience greatly! A stray dog ‘adopted’ us and joined for the hike which made the experience even better! Great way to enjoy nature while staying in Santiago.
First of all, if you are not a top notch high school athlete or a middle aged man who works out on the daily, don’t even bother signing up for this hike. Don’t even continue reading this review. When we booked this hike, we thought it was nothing more than a nice, long walk up the Andes to get a stellar view of the city of Santiago. To our surprise, the trip was exactly NOT that. We started off by climbing treacherous, slippery rocks. Make sure you’re wearing layers, or in other words, a T-shirt and shorts (we went in the winter!!) because you will sweat. A LOT. The hike is more of a high intensity cardio workout than a leisurely walk up a hill. At various points throughout the trip, you will think you are seeing the top of the mountain but once you reach what you think is the top, you are faced with yet another 1000 ft to climb. Also I highlight that you must purchase effective hiking shoes. Sneakers of any sort will not protect you. This is key. When you finally reach the top...yeah the view is great for sure . Say your blessings. The hardest part is yet to come. Honestly call a helicopter. The walk down is comparable to the pain experienced by those who have climbed Mount Everest. If your guide says it takes around 30 minutes to get down, multiply that by 3 and add an hour. It’s a journey. A dangerous one too. Forewarning. (I will say our guide, Nicholas, was good and incredibly nice. He knew the mountain and much of the wildlife present on the mountain. He was also part goat so could have lapped us up/down the hill. He was motivational and inspiring on the one hand but off-putting on the other. We felt very inferior to him on the climb, ie, like we were slowing him down.) You will slip. So just be prepared. If you’re lucky, it may not be in the snow. If it is, you will get wet. Also you are still going to be sweating at this point. Two showers won’t make you feel better after. The small rocks are brutal and will take you out. I recommend sliding down or flinging yourself off the mountain. Hold on for dear life. At least the pain will be gone. Once you reach the bottom, thank God for the opportunity to be alive. Thanks for reading, best of luck.
Be warned, this trek up the mountains is very physically demanding so take careful consideration. Nicolas was my tour guide and he was fantastic. Any help, questions, or requests I had he was able to respond very well. The trek up the mountains will take you roughly 3 hours, almost the same going down and the views you get going both ways are wonderful provided the weather is good... I managed to get alot of great pics! Nicolas picked me up at my hotel at around 7:30 am and I was back by 12:30 am. When you return depends on how long you take during the hike. All in all, fantastic tour. Thank you for the memories!
We are 56 and 60 years old, in good shape, and bicycle all the time, and this was a hiking experience to remember. Portions of the trail - both up and down - were very challenging. The first 1/8'th of a mile is quite the challenge, but the trail gets easier from there. The hike down is very technical. The entire trail is quite rocky and you have to watch every step. The uphill to Alto Naranjo is exhausting - nearly 3,000 feet up in about 2 miles. You have to pace your walking to make it there. If you are 25 or 30 or so you should have no issues. If you have zero experience hiking, or are afraid of ledges you may want to reconsider this tour. It is a great experience, but at our age we'd likely not do it again. We are glad we did it though. Javier was a great guide and this really is not a 1/2 day - it's nearly a full day by the time you are picked up at your hotel, do the hike and you are brought back. A big thumbs up! A big thank you to Javier!
<p>This is an experience!! The service was personalized with a friendly, knowledgeable guide. You get an amazing view, experience, and workout from this tour. Walking poles, snacks, and drinks are provided. I would recommend you come prepared with the appropriate clothes, shoes, a hat, and a backpack. Also, I would highly recommend sunscreen. It's to your discretion if you want to bring extra snacks and water too. I can see this hike being difficult to anyone who doesn't come prepared or is not in the mood for an extraneous workout.</p>
<p>This was an amazing hike. I was not prepared for the level of difficulty. This hike involves scrambling up a very steep and rocky trail to an elevation of about 3600 kilometers. I highly recommend using the hiking poles which are provided. Wear comfortable clothes and good hiking shoes.</p>
<p>This is a must tour. We loved it and it was our favourite tour we did during our stay in Santiago. We visited the ski resort of Valle Nevado and then did a small walk in the snow to a brilliant look out where we enjoyed a bottle of Chilean red, some cheese and crackers and a few nibbles. The view was AMAZING. Thank you to Nicholas who was our exceptional tour guide for the day. He looked after us and was very informative. We enjoyed the day immensely.</p>
<p>Pros: The views were breathtaking along the way and especially at the top. On one side, you can see the beautiful Andes and on the other side the entire city of Santiago. Also, our guide was great. He was very informative and professional. Snacks, water, and trekking poles were provided to us. Very personalized service. It was just me and my husband, which was great. We were picked up from our AirBnB right on time. <br/> Cons: I don't think the hike description captures how difficult this hike is. I would describe it as extraneous and somewhat dangerous. And I am saying this as someone who hikes on a very regular basis. The hike up is very steep. Again, it's beautiful views and worth it but just be prepared that you will exert a lot of effort to get to the top. But that's not even the real issue. The hike back down was a bit terrifying. The trail is essentially composed of dirt and loose rocks. So be prepared to slip a lot and potentially fall. I fell about 5 times, and that's with the aid of trekking poles. That part was kind of stressful and if the description had done a better job of describing the terrain I may have opted for something less challenging while on vacation. But, if you are seeking something quite challenging and not afraid of an adventure then this hike is definitely for you.</p>
Very interesting, even in the summer where there is no snow in this place, but the temperature is low. On the day of the tour was around 10oC. The landscape is beautiful, you can see the places used for skiing, the resorts of the place. The guide of this tour gave all the explanations about the place, it was great.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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