Embalse El Yeso
A turquoise reservoir at 2,500 metres that supplies Santiago with much of its drinking water.
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El Yeso was built in the 1960s by damming the Yeso river at about 2,500 metres in the Andes above the Cajon del Maipo, and it supplies a substantial share of Santiago's drinking water. The colour is the reason people drive up: glacial flour suspended in the meltwater turns it an intense turquoise against bare brown mountains and, in the right season, snow on the peaks behind. Because it is a drinking water reservoir, swimming and boating are prohibited and the shoreline access is restricted in places. The level drops visibly in drought years, and central Chile has had a long run of them.
What you actually see
- Turquoise from glacial flour - suspended rock powder in meltwater.
- A drinking water reservoir - much of Santiago's supply.
- Built in the 1960s - by damming the Yeso at 2,500 metres.
- Levels falling in drought - visible in a long dry run.
When to go
November to April; the road is snowbound in winter. A full day.
Honest expectations
Swimming and boating are prohibited - it is a water supply. The gravel road is rough, dusty and busy at weekends. Altitude and sun are strong. There are no facilities at the reservoir.
Nearby
Termas Valle de Colina are further up; El Morado is across the valley.
What to pack for Embalse El Yeso
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.