7 tazas is a part of the Rio Claro river, where seven waterfalls with seven pools follow one after another. These "cups" are filled with crystal clear azure water, and their edges are surrounded by black canyon rocks.
The park's location is perfect for weekend visits - just 3-4 hours by car from Santiago.
Location:
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/jygzEt7UjWfvmzgV7
We recounted the "cups" and waterfalls - there are definitely seven. And there are many more than seven on the river as a whole. In addition to the 7 tazas cascade, there are two more high waterfalls on the Rio Claro. One with a classic name, typical of many languages, "El Velo de Novia" - the bride's veil. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a corresponding pop legend with a dramatic "love" story and a drowned bride.
The waterfalls are located near the road, and the trail is prepared for large groups of tourists - equipped with wooden walkways and stairs. But if you really want to hike in the mountains, the park has routes for half-day hikes and multi-day treks. We hiked Los Chiquillanes with an impressive view of the Descabezado volcano, and you can even hike to the volcano itself.
❗️Before visiting the park, it's mandatory to buy tickets online in advance here:
https://www.pasesparques.cl/evento/2564
Buying tickets online is now mandatory for all CONAF parks (and these are all the main parks in Chile). You can't buy a ticket at the park entrance either with cash or card. They'll tell you that you should have bought online, and you can do it now. But there's no mobile internet signal in most parks, and there's no Wi-Fi either.
But enough complaining, let's get back to the wonderful weekend. I flew to Santiago to meet up with friends and spend the weekend hiking and having an asado (barbecue) in this very park. We stayed at the family house of one of my friends, which has been inside the park for a hundred years already. That's where it all started.
On Friday, as darkness fell, we drove into the reserve's forest trails, and the classic nature weekend quest began - find the house, light a fire, cook food. The quest is expedited if you immediately open a bottle of Chilean wine.
When you enter the house, you get the complete feeling that you're in a museum, or simply transported a hundred years into the past. Especially by candlelight and the fire in the fireplace. Electricity only works from the generator, which didn't start right away, and for a few hours, we enjoyed a completely authentic experience.
The fire in the fireplace casts reflections on the hanging rifle nearby, and the candles in the candelabra shed light on the ancient table where cards are spread out. I teach Spanish while playing "Durak" ("Fool"), and in return, he shares his card games.
The kitchen stove runs on a wood-fired oven, and at the table, the head chef of our company rolls out dough for homemade pasta by flashlight, using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.
Delicious food, the smell of the fire, conversations about everything under the sun, and mountain walks. It seems like a typical weekend. But perhaps therein lies the happiness - the stunning nature around and close people with whom you can share it all.
The park's location is perfect for weekend visits - just 3-4 hours by car from Santiago.
Location:
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/jygzEt7UjWfvmzgV7
We recounted the "cups" and waterfalls - there are definitely seven. And there are many more than seven on the river as a whole. In addition to the 7 tazas cascade, there are two more high waterfalls on the Rio Claro. One with a classic name, typical of many languages, "El Velo de Novia" - the bride's veil. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a corresponding pop legend with a dramatic "love" story and a drowned bride.
The waterfalls are located near the road, and the trail is prepared for large groups of tourists - equipped with wooden walkways and stairs. But if you really want to hike in the mountains, the park has routes for half-day hikes and multi-day treks. We hiked Los Chiquillanes with an impressive view of the Descabezado volcano, and you can even hike to the volcano itself.
❗️Before visiting the park, it's mandatory to buy tickets online in advance here:
https://www.pasesparques.cl/evento/2564
Buying tickets online is now mandatory for all CONAF parks (and these are all the main parks in Chile). You can't buy a ticket at the park entrance either with cash or card. They'll tell you that you should have bought online, and you can do it now. But there's no mobile internet signal in most parks, and there's no Wi-Fi either.
But enough complaining, let's get back to the wonderful weekend. I flew to Santiago to meet up with friends and spend the weekend hiking and having an asado (barbecue) in this very park. We stayed at the family house of one of my friends, which has been inside the park for a hundred years already. That's where it all started.
On Friday, as darkness fell, we drove into the reserve's forest trails, and the classic nature weekend quest began - find the house, light a fire, cook food. The quest is expedited if you immediately open a bottle of Chilean wine.
When you enter the house, you get the complete feeling that you're in a museum, or simply transported a hundred years into the past. Especially by candlelight and the fire in the fireplace. Electricity only works from the generator, which didn't start right away, and for a few hours, we enjoyed a completely authentic experience.
The fire in the fireplace casts reflections on the hanging rifle nearby, and the candles in the candelabra shed light on the ancient table where cards are spread out. I teach Spanish while playing "Durak" ("Fool"), and in return, he shares his card games.
The kitchen stove runs on a wood-fired oven, and at the table, the head chef of our company rolls out dough for homemade pasta by flashlight, using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.
Delicious food, the smell of the fire, conversations about everything under the sun, and mountain walks. It seems like a typical weekend. But perhaps therein lies the happiness - the stunning nature around and close people with whom you can share it all.