Christ the Redeemer is waiting for you high up in the Andes.

Not that I think he is here to listen to you confess your sins…

The Cristo el Redentor statue was placed here in the Andes mountains in the year 1904 as a symbol of peace between Argentina and Chile. The views that this statue of Jesus has are incredible, and well worth the trip.

The trip can be made the easy way, or the hard way. The easy way is single lane dirt road that leads right to the statue of Christ at 12,572 feet above sea level. The drive affords incredible views, but not so much so as hiking it. The road is also there for the walking, during the summer season. To get to this one lane road head toward Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) until you reach Puente del Inca. If you don’t see it, just ask, everyone will be able to point you in the right direction.

The hard way to get to Cristo el Redentor comes when the road to the statue is closed. That is when, following the advice of a couple of locals, you may decide to climb up the ridge of the mountain. The hike is only about two hours long, but it is a strenuous two hours, virtually hiking straight up, and it ends on snow and ice. Make sure you are ready for the activity, and wear your hiking boots and jacket!

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