This walk takes you down through the luscious eucalyptus trees, along the meandering creek and then back up the ridge and along the hillside, with elevated views of the creek below and Valle Botacura beyond. It is a pleasant walk to do on hotter days, when the shade is a welcome relief from the strong Chilean sun.
Walk Statistics
Distance: 2.86 km
Time: 1hr 10 mins
Ascent: 57 m
STAGE 1 (15 minutes)
Beginning from the main house, walk down to the dirt road between the greenhouse and Jardin 2. Follow this track down the slope until you reach an open field with a fenced field just beyond it. Walk to the far end of the fenced field, and enter the eucalyptus trees on the North side (i.e. from the side of the field closest to the hill, not the side closest to the creek).
Continue to the start of the woodland. Here a marker shows where the walk starts and ends.
View to the start of the walk from the field
STAGE 2 (30 minutes)
Follow the path along and then into the eucalyptus trees, walking West with the creek on your left. The path meanders through the trees always following the direction of the creek.
Start of the route into the woods (Spring)
Cross a rocky slope cutting through bamboo. In summer it may be easiest to cut down early and follow the stream bed. In winter, a higher and steeper route may be chosen. It is necessary to clamber over some boulders but so long as the stream is kept to the left, you are on the correct route.
When the path branches into three take the middle route which leads you through a grassy clearing. Continue straight ahead on the middle way. A faint track will lead to the sandy path which gets rockier as it nears the creek edge.
Route following the stream (Spring)
STAGE 3 (15 minutes)
Once more, the vegetation opens out, this time to a curving rock face on your right. The track cuts away up to your right up the slope at this point however it is worth continuing onto the rocks. Here the creek runs across a rocky bed. Deep holes are carved into the rock above the water level. On the right hand bank of the creek, scrubby vegetation continues while on the left, the bank is barer with a few cacti. From here, you can see the steeply sloping side of the valley in front as the creek bends at a 90 degree angle just ahead. This would be a good spot for a picnic, especially in spring when swimming is possible.
In order to climb the steep slope on the right hand side of the creek (directly to your north), it is best to retrace your steps slightly to just before the rock face and take the faint track to your right. The path climbs fairly steeply briefly until the edge of the wood is reached. As the path flattens, carry on north for around 10 metres then turn sharply right (east) into the woods which are initially largely made up of “Roble” (Chilean Oak) changing to Pine as you progress. This is the farthest point of the walk and the start of your return journey.
Weave between the trees climbing upwards towards top of hill. The path is not always distinct but stay on the hillside. As the slope levels out, you have views over the next the creek’s forward journey as it heads North in the direction of Constitucion. Follow the ridge east, keeping to the track to the right closest to the steep slope down to the creek.
With some elevation, you will have a vertiginous view of the creek now below you, looking back through the hills in the direction you came from, with Fundo Meza hidden behind the tall eucalyptus.
STAGE 4 (30 minutes)
From the viewpoint of the creek, follow the signpost up into the ‘Roble’ (Chilean Oak) trees keeping close to the slope down to the creek. The path along the ridge remains clear for a time but as the vegetation opens out into clearings, other tracks branch off and it is necessary to follow track markings carefully. A tall Eucalyptus provides a viewpoint to head towards.
Track down to the starting field (Spring)
The path leads you back down into the trees, bringing you out at the edge of the eucalyptus and the field where you began.
Track back to the house (Spring)
Follow the dirt track back up to the house, and enjoy a well deserved lemonade on the patio!
