El Morado Natural Monument, Protected natural area in Cajón del Maipo, Chile.

El Morado Natural Monument is a glacial cirque in the Cajón del Maipo, 93 km southeast of Santiago, within the El Volcán River basin. Cerro El Morado dominates the protected area, which covers about 3,009 hectares and is home to the San Francisco Glacier. CONAF administers the site, reached mainly via the G-25 road past Baños Morales.

The site was protected in 1974 to preserve its glacial formations and mountain ecosystems. This designation recognized the scientific importance of geological structures that display millions of years of mountain history.

Mountain paths in this region have long served as traditional travel routes connecting communities across the Andes. Visitors encounter local practices and knowledge that reflect generations of life in these high-altitude landscapes.

Visitors should bring proper mountain gear and weather protection, as the high altitude brings rapid weather changes. Access follows marked trails that require between two and eight hours of walking depending on your destination.

The San Francisco Glacier lies within the monument, and Chile's 2022 public glacier inventory lists the "Mirador del Morado" glacieret at 0.208 km², in the Maipo river basin. The protected area covers about 3,009 hectares and is administered by CONAF. Cerro El Morado dominates the landscape of the glacial cirque.