© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A hike on Cerro San Cristobal with stunning views of the Chilean Andes

The view of the Andes from Cerro San Cristobal above Santiago, Chile.
Brian Mann
/
NPR
The view of the Andes from Cerro San Cristobal above Santiago, Chile.

SANTIAGO, Chile — It's autumn in South America and in Chile's capital, Santiago, that means great hiking weather in the steep hills above the city.

Santiago is vast, more than six million people spread over the country's flat Central Valley. Jutting up from the city's busy neighborhoods are forested hills of volcanic rock.

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

Trees, wildflowers and cacti intersperse the trails on Cerro San Cristobal.
Brian Mann / NPR
/
NPR
Trees, wildflowers and cacti intersperse the trails on Cerro San Cristobal.

On Cerro San Cristobal, the dust trail rises past beautiful old stone walls. There are wildflowers everywhere and enough shade under the peppercorn trees to sit on a warm Sunday morning and enjoy the view.

The hills above Santiago, Chile, offer a bit of wildness in the midst of a bustling capital city.
Brian Mann / NPR
/
NPR
The hills above Santiago, Chile, offer a bit of wildness in the midst of a bustling capital city.

Despite the sun, on this day there was still fog down in the valley. The towers and hills of the city seemed to float on clouds.

Near the summit, two men who turn out to be park rangers ride past on beautiful brown horses.

Morning fog shrouds Santiago's neighborhoods and hills during an autumn hike.
Brian Mann / NPR
/
NPR
Morning fog shrouds Santiago's neighborhoods and hills during an autumn hike.

The top of San Cristobal rises nearly a thousand feet above Santiago. It can be crowded. There's a towering white statue of the Virgin Mary where people go to pray.

But a side path leads into the trees where the forest opens to amazing views of the city and the Andes in the distance. The mountains rise up like a curtain wall, crowned by a long buttress of snowfields and ice against the blue sky.

Copyright 2025 NPR

Santiago sprawls over Chile's Central Valley, but the city is framed by the soaring Andes Mountains.
Brian Mann / NPR
/
NPR
Santiago sprawls over Chile's Central Valley, but the city is framed by the soaring Andes Mountains.

Brian Mann is NPR's first national addiction correspondent. He also covers breaking news in the U.S. and around the world.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content