It's Santiago's playground: Barely an hour from downtown, the meandering Maipo Canyon climbs toward the crest of the Andes and attracts all types with its wealth of beauty and activities. Rafters and kayakers head straight to the Class III-IV Rio Maipo and mountain bikers take to the roads and trails, while hikers and horseback riders explore the routes of Monumento Natural El Morado and the private nature reserve Cascada de las Animas. But it's not all hard-core all the time: At the end of the day, take a soak in one of several rustic hot springs. Of course, because it's a well-developed recreation area with campgrounds, hotels, and restaurants, it attracts the crowds, especially on weekends. Weekdays are obviously your best bet. Still, most people come here just to swim and picnic, so even on weekends, finding solitude isn't impossible.
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