Join us to explore the mountains of the Atacama Desert and enjoy its unique nature!
This adventure will take us into a dramatic landscape to attempt the highest peak of the Chilean Andes, which will surprise us with its unique scenery and its elusive - but curious - inhabitants.
A high mountain expedition where the effort required to continue despite the cold and altitude will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the giants of the Andes of northern Chile.
An expedition focused on the mountains of La Puna de Atacama, an Andean plateau located between Chile and Argentina that is home to a large number of mountains over six thousand meters high, salt flats, and typical fauna of the area such as vicuñas, guanacos, flamingos, Andean foxes, and condors.
We will meet in the city of Copiapó (390 meters above sea level) to go over the last details of the expedition and to buy supplies and fuel before starting the trip to the Atacama Desert, driving directly to Laguna Santa Rosa, at an altitude of 3,700 meters above sea level, so it is important to come with an already started acclimatization process (we will go from sleeping almost at sea level to almost four thousand meters above sea level).
Laguna Santa Rosa is a high mountain salt lake in the Atacama Desert, in the northern part of Chile, where there is a refuge and some facilities that will allow us to enjoy the first two days of our trip with a panoramic view of Nevado Tres Cruces and Copiapó Volcano, but also with a good acclimatization trail to Siete Hermanas Mountain.
Our trip will continue eastward to get close to the border with Argentina and enjoy the hot springs of Laguna Verde (4,310 masl) and continue our acclimatization process at Nevado San Francisco (6,016 masl). Here we will have another opportunity to camp at Refugio Murray (4,522), the starting point of the road to Ojos del Salado base camp.
We will have three days to organize our attempt to climb the Ojos del Salado volcano. We will define the final plan together, evaluating how the acclimatization process has gone, how each of us feels, and the conditions of the route: both for the 4x4 vehicles and for the upper part of the mountain. One alternative is to start the summit attempt from Laguna Verde (4,310 masl) or Camp Atacama (5,200 masl) by driving to the Tejos Refuge (5,800 masl) and start walking from there. However, depending on the conditions or if we decide so, it is possible to start the ascent on foot from Atacama the day before we plan to attempt the summit.
On the ninth day, we will drive back to Copiapó or Bahía Inglesa / Caldera, ending our trip to the highest mountain in Chile and the highest active volcano in the world.
Before booking, please ensure to review all the pertinent details and terms & conditions available at https://huellandina.com/en/servicios/tour-de-volcanes-expediciones/nevado-ojos-del-salado.
in a non-private program with bilingual guides. All guides are local and members of the National Association of Mountain Guides (ANGM Chile) and registered with the National Tourist Service.
Drinkable water during all the expeditions. Breakfast and lunch/dinner are included while we are at the campsites
Helmet, harness with accessories, tents, and cookware.
The program includes transportation to and from Copiapó by 4x4 pickup during the expedition.
Complementary Adventure Travel Insurance is included in the service. Please note that this insurance is very limited and is secondary to any other insurance you may have.
a double boot o single-layer warm expedition boot. Conditions at high altitudes can be very cold. Even when it is dry, so they are essential for a safe and comfortable summit push.
Activity-appropriate clothing for mountaineering and trekking. Please check - or request - the checklist of the program!
Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, travel bags and day packs, treking poles, crampons, as it is listed in the checklist!
A daypack that will have enough space to carry what we will provide you and your belongings during the ascent; sunglasses, gloves, headlamp, etc. Spare clothes to change after the climb.
Tasty treats, or "energy food". Things that you will like to eat during activity, or to enjoy at camp.
If you will like to book in advance a private guide, it will need to be priced accordingly at the capacity of clients that your guide could have in this trip.
during the driving in or out; additional requirements/services, additional drives to Copiapó or other places, etc.
