A hike on Cerro San Cristobal with beautiful views of the Chilean Andes : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1329x717+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F59%2Fc1%2F9990e7ec4d7dbda3791852c14e35%2Fsan-cristobal-primary.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1329x717+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F59%2Fc1%2F9990e7ec4d7dbda3791852c14e35%2Fsan-cristobal-primary.jpg" class="img" alt="The view of the Andes from Cerro San Cristobal above Santiago, Chile." fetchpriority="high"/> The view of the Andes from Cerro San Cristobal above Santiago, Chile. Brian Mann/NPR disguise caption

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Brian Mann/NPR SANTIAGO, Chile — It is autumn in South America and in Chile's capital, Santiago, which means nice climbing climate within the steep hills above the town.

Santiago is huge, greater than six million individuals unfold over the nation's flat Central Valley. Jutting up from the town's busy neighborhoods are forested hills of volcanic rock.

After a couple of minutes of climbing, the noise and crowds give method to pine forests, birds and sweeping views.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x739+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbe%2F69%2F915a42fa40e1ba65a2a73f959063%2Fwhatsapp-image-2025-05-14-at-19-56-10-ecb41008.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x739+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbe%2F69%2F915a42fa40e1ba65a2a73f959063%2Fwhatsapp-image-2025-05-14-at-19-56-10-ecb41008.jpg" class="img" alt="Trees, wildflowers and cacti intersperse the trails on Cerro San Cristobal." loading="lazy"/> Timber, wildflowers and cacti intersperse the paths on Cerro San Cristobal. Brian Mann/NPR disguise caption

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Brian Mann/NPR On Cerro San Cristobal, the mud path rises previous stunning previous stone partitions. There are wildflowers all over the place and sufficient shade underneath the peppercorn timber to sit down on a heat Sunday morning and benefit from the view.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x739+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa4%2Fdb%2Fe960f0a44236a9344c90eb3d5200%2Fwhatsapp-image-2025-05-14-at-19-56-12-a34bbc72.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x739+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa4%2Fdb%2Fe960f0a44236a9344c90eb3d5200%2Fwhatsapp-image-2025-05-14-at-19-56-12-a34bbc72.jpg" class="img" alt="The hills above Santiago, Chile, offer a bit of wildness in the midst of a bustling capital city." loading="lazy"/> The hills above Santiago, Chile, supply a little bit of wildness within the midst of a bustling capital metropolis. Brian Mann/NPR disguise caption

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Brian Mann/NPR Regardless of the solar, on this present day there was nonetheless fog down within the valley. The towers and hills of the town appeared to drift on clouds.

Close to the summit, two males who become park rangers experience previous on stunning brown horses.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x739+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2F9c%2Ff87f818c42a188ce54706cf33db2%2Fsan-cristobal-6.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x739+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2F9c%2Ff87f818c42a188ce54706cf33db2%2Fsan-cristobal-6.jpg" class="img" alt="Morning fog shrouds Santiago's neighborhoods and hills during an autumn hike." loading="lazy"/> Morning fog shrouds Santiago's neighborhoods and hills throughout an autumn hike. Brian Mann/NPR disguise caption

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Brian Mann/NPR The highest of San Cristobal rises practically a thousand toes above Santiago. It may be crowded. There is a towering white statue of the Virgin Mary the place individuals go to hope.

However a aspect path leads into the timber the place the forest opens to wonderful views of the town and the Andes within the distance. The mountains stand up like a curtain wall, topped by an extended buttress of snowfields and ice towards the blue sky.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x739+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F28%2Ff5%2F5b2200a643ef8a919ea447b61612%2Fsantiago-1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x739+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F28%2Ff5%2F5b2200a643ef8a919ea447b61612%2Fsantiago-1.jpg" class="img" alt="Santiago sprawls over Chile's Central Valley, but the city is framed by" loading="lazy"/> Santiago sprawls over Chile's Central Valley, however the metropolis is framed by the hovering Andes Mountains. Brian Mann/NPR disguise caption