Cerro El Morado

Cerro El Morado is a mountain summit in the Andes east of Santiago, featuring steep rocky slopes and a glacier on its northern face. The peak presents varied terrain, from scree fields to iced sections on the opposite side.

The summit gained international attention when an expedition led by a Dutch professor explored the region in the 1960s. This mission was part of the search for suitable locations for a European astronomical observatory in Chile.

Local climbers view this summit as a key training location before attempting harder peaks in the Andes. Visitors experience the mountain as a place where people work toward mastering high-altitude climbing.

The best climbing season runs from September through May, when ice and snow create fewer obstacles. Visitors should expect thin air and allow time for gradual acclimatization before the ascent.

Ice caves at the base of the summit were formed by glacier movements and hold valuable information about climate patterns in the central Andes. These caverns display ice layers from different periods, helping researchers understand long-term climate shifts.