What to Bring on a Cajón del Maipo Day Trip

Pack for a day that starts before dawn in Santiago and climbs into the Andes. The El Yeso reservoir sits at 2,558 m, by the Ministry of Public Works’ figure, and the cold is the first thing the operators mention: “it gets cold there” on Aprendi a Viajar Chile’s picnic day, and weather that can change through the day between cold, heat and strong wind on MTO Tour Chile’s. Layers, closed shoes and sun protection cover most of it.

If you would rather not think about boots and a jacket at all, Oliveira Chile’s picnic day sells an option with the gear included.

The short list

• Layers: a warm jacket over a fleece or jumper, and a hat and gloves from autumn to spring. Pickups are early (5:45 to 6:15 a.m. in October reviews) and the mornings in the mountains are cold.
• Shoes you can walk in: on the closure days of October and November 2026 reviewers walked on snow, rock and “a rough and often muddy road”. CONAF makes hiking or trekking shoes compulsory on the El Morado trail, and Pases Parques, its ticket system, lists footwear fit for walking on snow as compulsory there.
• Sun protection: sunglasses and sun cream. CONAF asks for both at El Morado, and Chile Travel gives the same advice for the baths.
• Water and some food: breakfast and lunch are not included on the picnic day, except breakfast on one option. Chile Travel tells visitors to the baths to carry water and food.
• Your full street address and a WhatsApp number with the country code: the picnic day needs both to arrange the pickup, and the time is sent after 8:30 p.m. the evening before.
• Travel-sickness tablets if you need them: one October reviewer warned that the road has a lot of bends.
• Swimsuit and towel only for a hot springs day.

Rent at the stop, or book the gear option?

Oliveira Chile’s picnic day has three options. On 11 November 2026 the regular prices were US$45 for the picnic day, US$65 with breakfast and VIP seats, and US$80 with a set of mountain clothing: boots, trousers and a jacket. The gear option costs US$35 more than the base day.

Reviewers also describe renting clothes at the breakfast stop on the day. One, on 2 November, paid US$10 for each piece and found none of it needed; others in October were glad of boots and a jacket in the snow. The rule we would use: if you travel with a warm jacket and shoes that can take mud and snow, the base day is enough; if you are travelling light, the gear option saves the queue at the stop.

Compare the three options

Altitude

The picnic day tops out at the El Yeso viewpoint, around 2,558 m. The baths at Termas Valle de Colina are higher than 2,500 m (Chile Travel), and the AndoAndes Volcán San José hike climbs from about 2,300 to about 2,600 m. The hot springs days are not suitable for people with altitude sickness. If you have a heart or breathing condition, ask your doctor before a day at this height.

Money

Prices on this site are in US dollars, the currency of the booking. The El Yeso park lists its fee in Chilean pesos (CLP 3,450 for adults on 11 November 2026), and reviewers paid for lunch and rentals on the day, so carry some money for extras.

For the road itself, read the El Yeso road status and the Cajón del Maipo in winter.