Juncal Andean Park: Hiking over a Glacial Tongue

You’ll enter the park alongside the intriguing train railway that used to connect with Argentina, then hike through a low slope trail by the eastern bank of the Juncal river. The path takes you to a huge vega, this is a mountain oasis, plenty of life due to the presence of water all year round. After the wetlands, you’ll cross on foot the “Monos de agua” river.

The last section of the path becomes less clear and fades into a steep moraine. Frigid winds blow as you turn into the glacier’s gorge. Without foreseeing, you begin to step on ice that shines in between ever-changing crevasses and the fallen rocks of surrounding towering mountains.

The route has a medium difficulty, it consist on a 9km (5.6mi) trail to the glacier, which gains around 600m (1,960ft) on elevation, reaching 3,000m (10,000ft) above sea level. You'll take the same route on our way back, hiking a total of 18km (11.2mi).

Itinerary:
• 07:30 Pick up at the hotel
• 09:30 Arrival to Park. Hike begins
• 11:30 Lunch at “Monos de agua” river
• 13:00 Juncal Glacier lookout
• 13:30 Descent begins
• 17:00 Ride back to Santiago
• 19:00 Back in your hotel

recommended:
• Pre-hydration and good breakfast
• Hiking shoes or boots
• Small backpack
• Long sleeves shirt if possible
• Shorts on summer
• Hat and sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Warm, windproof clothingRemember, you can always leave things in the car.