Cachapoal Province: Andean Trails, Sewell and Crafts

In Cachapoal Province, you can consider nature, cultural history and crafts as different reasons to travel. The range is particularly clear when comparing a short trail with longer routes; archaeological walls and Sewell’s mining history add to it.

Nature and trails in the Andes

Río de Los Cipreses National Reserve is located in Machalí, in Cachapoal Province. It encompasses the Andean foothill steppe vegetation formations, as well as sclerophyll forest and scrubland; it also has stands of Andean cypress. The animal species found there include guanacos, pumas, culpeo foxes, tricahue parakeets and condors. Together, the vegetation and wildlife shape the reserve’s natural character.

The Las Arpas Trail is in Río de Los Cipreses National Reserve. It is 1 kilometer long, rated as an easy trail and takes 30 minutes in total. Two sections of the Sendero de Chile offer a different scale: Cerrito San Juan is 14 kilometers long and lies in the foothills of the municipality of Machalí. The Hacienda Sauzal section is also in Machalí, in Cachapoal Province, is 11 kilometers long and partly follows the former Rancagua–Sewell railway line. The routes can thus be compared by length and their different landscape settings. Before planning these two sections, check current access and trail conditions.

Archaeology and mining history

Pukara del Cerro de la Compañía in Codegua has defensive walls built by Indigenous peoples at different elevations on the hill. The walls’ position at different elevations is a defining feature of the archaeological site.

Sewell Mining Town is located in the municipality of Machalí, in Cachapoal Province, on the barren slopes of the Chilean Andes at an elevation of more than 2,200 meters, above the El Teniente underground copper mine. Sewell has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006; it is also a former mining camp with more than 100 years of history. The Museo de la Gran Minería del Cobre is located in Sewell. A description from 2012 mentions documents, maps, geological materials, products, photographs and instruments related to copper production at El Teniente. These different objects offer varied perspectives on the subject, from geological materials to instruments and photographs of production.

Crafts made from plants, stone and copper

The materials also tell the story of different craft traditions in the province. In Pichidegua, corn leaves gathered in summer are made into baskets, placemats, flowers, decorative items and figurines. In Pelequén, stonemasons shape traditional pink Rigolemu stone into cladding, tiles, paving stones, and decorative and household objects. While corn leaves are the material used in Pichidegua, Rigolemu stone is made into everything from cladding and paving stones to household and decorative items.

A 2012 travel description also features the artisans of Machalí: they display copper objects and jewelry in exhibition workshops and demonstrate their craftsmanship there. If you plan to visit these workshops, check visiting arrangements in advance. This lets you include the materials and techniques as a separate focus in your travel plans, alongside nature and cultural history.

Discover more destinations: Pichidegua, Rengo, Requinoa, Rancagua, Las Cabras, San Vicente, Machalí, Mostazal, Malloa, Peumo.

For the overview of the wider region: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region.