Termas Valle de Colina, Cajón del Maipo

Piscoandbier at Termas Valle de Colina hot springs in Cajón del Maipo near Santiago

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If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure into the Chilean Andes and love hot springs, Termas Valle de Colina in Cajón del Maipo is a perfect adventure for you!

In our Baños Colina hot springs guide we will show you amazing photos of the thermal pools and give useful information on how to visit the geothermal site in the mountains near Santiago.

Colina Hot Springs Guide

Table Of Contents

Termas Valle de Colina, Cajón del Maipo
Camping At Baños Colina Hot Springs
How To Get To Termas Colina Hot Springs?
Termas Colina Tours
Best Time To Visit The Cajón del Maipo Hot Springs
Termas Valle de Colina Hours
Termas Colina Price
Termas Valle de Colina Altitude
Things To Bring To The Cajón del Maipo Termal Pools
Where To Stay In Cajón del Maipo?
More Hot Springs In Cajón del Maipo
Other Tours To Cajón del Maipo
Other Amazing Hot Springs In Chile

Like many other natural hot springs we discover, Termas Valle de Colina, also known as Baños Colina, is another off-the-beaten-path gem. They are probably the most off-the-beaten-path hot springs we’ve been to so far.

The Colina hot springs are located in the Andes near Chile’s capital Santiago. Located about 110km / 70 mi from the capital it takes about 2,5 – 3 hours without traffic to get to the thermal baths.

Nestled deep into the Andes’ canyon Cajón del Maipo, you will find several milky blue thermal pools overlooking the surrounding mountains.

Organized in terraces on the side of a hill, there are nine different pools with varying temperatures. The higher the pools, the higher their temperature.

The thermal water of Termas Colina has a high mineral content, originating from the San José Volcano. It is said to have healing properties.

Facilities

The hot springs are rustic and the facilities are very basic. After all, they are in the middle of nowhere and there isn’t really anything else around.

There is a changing room and basic bathrooms, but we haven’t used them. Apparently, they are not that great.

We recommend keeping your belongings with you in a water bag for instance.

Camping At Baños Colina Hot Springs

The cool thing about the hot springs is, that you can also camp there. So you can make this rather long trip to the Andes worth your while.

If you plan on camping at Termas Colinas hot springs, keep in mind that there are almost no facilities around. Just the bathrooms. So you have to bring everything with you.

During the day it can get pretty hot and there is no shade around. Once the sun sets, there is no light around other than the moon and the stars. So, keep that in mind and come prepared!

How To Get To Termas Colina Hot Springs?

Car driving on dirt road between mountains at Cajón del Maipo. — Dirt road of Cajón del Maipo leading into the Andes Mountains of Chile.

Getting There By Car

If you decide to rent a car make the drive yourself, make sure you have a good car with high clearance!

Although we have seen quite some old sedans make the drive, we would not recommend trying it. If you don’t want to go snail speed and get a flat tire, be on the safe side with a proper SUV and high clearance.

Check out Google Maps for directions.

Getting There With A Tour

There is also the option to take a tour from Santiago. If you don’t have a car or if you don’t want to make the drive on your own, a tour is definitely the most worry-free way to go.

Reserve a tour to Termas Valle de Colina online.

Termas Colina Tours

Check out the Termas Valle de Colina tours below. There are different kinds of day trips to Termas Colina in Cajón del Maipo. The tours conveniently start in Santiago and include a small breakfast or a snack, and transport and entry to the hot springs.

There are also combo tours that visit the Embalse de Yeso water reservoir and/ or do a volcano hike. Check Cajón del Maipo tours here.

Best Time To Visit The Cajón del Maipo Hot Springs

Visiting In Winter

The view from Termas Colina hot springs is especially pretty during wintertime when the mountain tops are covered in snow. However, the snow makes it harder to get there and you may not be able to make it if there’s a lot of snow on the road. In fact, during the peak of the winter (July/August), the road is closed as there is too much snow and it wouldn’t be safe.

A good portion of the drive will be on a very bumpy and sometimes narrow dirt road leading further into the canyon. Definitely check weather conditions before you go.

If you want to enjoy the snow-covered mountains, it’s best to go at the beginning or end of the winter season.

To be safer, maybe consider going with a tour, as they are doing this drive regularly and know their ways around in the Andes.

Visiting In Summer

The summer months are not less enjoyable though, just a different season and definitely not as cold. It is for sure easier to get to the Colina geothermal pools during the summer months.

Since these are hot springs near Santiago, the capital and biggest city of Chile, the thermal pools can get pretty crowded, especially during the weekends and holidays. If you want to avoid the crowds, it’s best to choose a weekday to visit the Termas de Colina hot springs.

Termas Valle de Colina Hours

The Baños Colina hot springs are technically open all day, every day. 24 hours a day / 365 days a year. This is because you can also camp right at the hot springs. The only thing is, when there is soo much snow in the winter, as mentioned above, the Colina thermal pools cannot be accessed.

Tickets to Termas Valle de Colina can be bought on the day off at the entrance. It will give you access to the hot springs and basic changing and bathrooms.

Termas Colina Prices

The entry fee to Termas de Colina is 8,000 CLP for adults and 4,000 CLP for children. This gives you access to the site for 24 hours. You can camp there, soak in the hot springs and use their bathroom facilities.

Termas Valle de Colina Altitude

The thermal pools are located at an altitude of about 2,500 meters / 8,200 feet above sea level. Keep that in mind if you are sensitive to higher altitudes.

Things To Bring To The Cajón del Maipo Termal Pools

You should bring food and enough water with you as the hot springs are very remote.

Flip-flops or water shoes are also recommended, as the paths around the hot springs are natural and not maintained.

Since the hot springs are located at a high altitude without any shade structure around, there is a lot of direct sun during the day. Therefore, packing sunscreen during the summer months is absolutely recommended.

Having a quick-dry towel and a water bag is also useful.

Hot Springs Packing List

Bathing suit
Quick-dry towel
Dry bag
Hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Flip-flops
Food & Water

Where To Stay In Cajón del Maipo?

We stayed at El Morado Lodge in the Refugio Lo Valdes area, which is about a 30 mins drive away from the hot springs.

There are plenty of hotels and restaurants along the road into Cajón del Maipo, but mostly towards the beginning. Most accommodations are around San José de Maipo, El Melocotón, San Alfonso, and El Ingenio.

The further you get into the canyon, the fewer options you will have. The last accommodations are mostly so-called Refugios, providing only basic lodging.

More Hot Springs In Cajón del Maipo

There are two more hot springs in Cajón del Maipo. One is called Termas del Plomo in the Valle del Yeso Park which is slightly more remote than Termas de Colina.

The other one is Termas Baños Morales, which is located at one of the last towns in the Maipo Canyon and accessible via well-maintained dirt roads. These hot springs are two rectangular concrete pools and belong to the Hosteria Baños Morales.

Other Tours To Cajón del Maipo

There are many things to do in beautiful Cajón del Maipo. From day trips from Santiago to multi-day hiking adventures, hot springs, water reservoirs, and waterfalls.

Check out the tours below if you want to know more about what there is to do: