The Magic Waterfall is part of the Stream El Sauce. To start the trekking, you must pay an entrance fee of 2,000 chilean pesos per adult (value at the date of the post) to pass through a local house. There you can ask if you have questions about the route and if you want to use the bathroom.

If you also want to take advantage of visiting La Reserva Coyanco (Coyanco Reserve), which is located a little further along the same road, to bathe in its natural pools, go to the Calabozo del Diablo or access other waterfalls, instead of paying there, you can pay 5,000 chilean pesos (value at the date of the post) at the entrance of the Reserve and by showing the bracelet and proof of payment at the entrance at the Estero El Sauce, you can pass without any additional payment, even the day after of camping there.

In this way, they could enjoy both sectors with a single payment of 5,000 chilean pesos (value to date) and stay camping if you wish. However, consider that it will be difficult to do both routes in the same day.

You must bear in mind that it does not work on the contrary, that is, the entrance of the Estero El Sauce, would not work to access the Reserva Coyanco (Coyanco Reserve), you would have to pay again.

About the Route

You have two options:

First, the route on the right, in which you walk along the estuary, with several river crossings. This trekking allows you to enjoy various natural pools and small waterfalls.

Second, the route on the left which skirts the hill and is more direct, so you can get to the Magic Fountain in less time.

We took the driest and more direct path to the waterfall, on the left side. If you take this path, you should always try to follow the trail, without deviating too much. Upon reaching the clear and wide sector of land, where people place their tents, you should look for the river crossing to continue the path on the other side of the Estero.

In the event that you fail to find the crossing, you can continue on the path, which will become more difficult and with almost no trace. This path would still take you there, but you would have to go down steep slopes of loose earth to reach the waterfall.

So, if you see that the path is getting complicated, the footprint is getting lost or becoming confusing and there is a very clear path on the other side of the river, go back and look where to cross the river to continue on the correct path.

Try to be attentive to the environment to see the return crossing since, at that point, there is a crossroads.

The walk has a variable duration, from 2 to 4 hours one way only. It will depend on the physical condition and the stops made along the way.

How to get there?

You must reach the Puente el Toyo (Toyo Bridge) and from there walk or continue by vehicle to the entrance of the route, which is a dirt road on the left.

Arrive by bus or taxi-bus to Toyo:

You must take the MB72 (Variant B) at the Intermodal Terminal of the Bellavista de la Florida Metro (line 5 – green), on the Las Mercedes Metro or Plaza de Puente Alto Metro (line 4 – blue).

The collective taxis leave from the Metro Las Mercedes or Metro Plaza de Puente Alto (line 4 – blue).

In both cases you must indicate to the driver that you are going to the Toyo bridge, also to know where to get off.

Arriving by vehicle to Toyo:

Put “Puente El Toyo” on Google Maps. You must enter through the dirt road that is signposted with a sign that says: “Reserva Coyanco”, then proceed about 200 meters to the entrance of the Estero El Sauce. The entrance to the path is made through the fence of one of the houses of the place, where you must cancel the entrance fee or go to the entrance of the Coyanco Reserve and pay for access to both sectors.

Author’s Additional Comments

In the case of camping, you must keep your backpacks inside the tents, protected from people, which are friends of others belongings, who people say that haunt the place while persons sleep and take what they find outside the tents.

We slept in the Coyanco Reserve and that did not happen to us, but we tried to leave the backpacks inside and be friendly with the other person who camped there, in order to take care of each other. Our friend disappeared at dawn.

General Data

Attractions

Facilities

Limitations

Entrance