Vn. Ojos del Salado Climbing Tour ( 6.893m / 22.614ft )
Vn. Ojos del Salado Climbing Tour ( 6.893m / 22.614ft )
Our 13 days Ojos del Salado Climbing Tour takes you into the heart of the Atacama Desert. The trip starts in Bahia Inglesa near Copiapo, from where we move forwards the Puna de Atacama, the high plateau next to the Atacama Desert. Our tour includes the necessary acclimatization process an the equipment to reach the summit of the volcano.
13-Day mountaineering expedition in Chile
From: US $ 3,550.00 p/p
Ojos del Salado Climbing Tour.
The Chilean desert high plateau east of Copiapó is well known amongst mountaineers from all over the world. This is because it concentrates the highest number of six thousand-meter peaks on earth. Amid all these giant volcanoes and mountains in the Andes highlands, the world's highest volcano, the Ojos del Salado, rises up to the sky.
This expedition will take you to the heart of the Atacama Desert, the driest spot on earth. The tour starts in Bahia Inglesa near Copiapo. From here we move towards the Chilean high plateau, a remote region visited by only few people. During the trip we come across places of amazing beauty and diversity. We drive through salt flats, camp next to pristine mountain lakes and climb an easy 5000 m. summit before reaching the San Francisco volcano. This is the first of two major peaks you can climb during this tour.
The ascent of the 6.018m. high San Francisco volcano summit will boost our acclimatization process and maximize our chances of climbing the Ojos del Salado.
Finally, we will approach the majestic massif of this 6000m plus volcano. Here we spend a few days on the mountain in order to prepare everything for the summit day. From the summit, the 360° views are beyond description.
During the ascent to the summit our UIAGM certified mountain guides take care of everything. For the trip we provide 4WD vehicles, tents and auxiliary equipment such as satellite phones, among others.
Geological Description
It is a stratovolcano, the highest active volcano in the world, and the second highest peak in the western and southern hemispheres. It is located on the border between Argentina and Chile, forming part of the Andes mountain range.
The volcano has an elongated summit with many craters that overlap a semi-buried caldera, covering an area of about 70 square kilometers. The main types of rock found in this volcano are dacite, andesite, and rhyolite1.
Volcanic Activities
Although there have been no eruptions recorded in historical times, it is considered an active volcano. The last recorded activity was a minor emission of ash back in 1993. Fumaroles, openings in the planet’s crust that emit steam and gases, are present around the summit.
Additionally, it is necessary to say that there is a lake in the crater of the volcano. It is located at an altitude of 6,480 meters, making it the highest lake on Earth. The lake is fed by permafrost and adjacent snowfields. Surrounded by fumaroles, the lake has specific points where water temperatures of 40 °C have been measured.
If you are looking for a physical challenge, combined with a journey through some of the planet's most spectacular landscapes, then join us for this memorable mountaineering expedition.
Season: November to April
Duration: 13 days. Starting and ending in Bahía Inglesa (Copiapó, III Región, Chile)
This tour is available for private groups. Please use the contact form above to request a customized offer
Find here the Ojos del Salado itinerary for the 2023 - 2024 season
Highlights
Climb Cerro Doña Ines (5.095m)
Climb San Francisco volcano (6.018m)
Climb the highest volcano in the world. Ojos del Salado (6.893m)
Explore the beautiful Atacama Desert, the driest desert on earth...
Enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the Andean highlands
Drive through the Maricunga salt flat.
Camp next to the turquoise waters of Laguna Verde.
Internationally certified UIAGM guide as expedition leader * ( only big groups )
Difficulty
Demanding mountaineering program. The mountains are technically easy, but the altitude, the temperature and the wind could make the ascents quite strenuous.
Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Santiago de Chile - Flight to Copiapo ( Bahia Inglesa ).
Day 2: Pedernales Salt Flat – Cerro Doña Ines Climb (5.095m / 16.715ft) - Pedernales Salt Flat.
Day 3: Pedernales Salt Flat – Laguna Verde (170 km /105 mi).
Day 4: Pedernales Salt Flat - Laguna Verde ( 170 km / 105 mi )
Day 5: Laguna Verde - Summit Vn. San Francisco (6.018m/19.744ft) - Laguna Verde.
Day 6: Laguna Verde Base Camp Additional Rest Day.
Day 7: Laguna Verde - Atacama Hut (38 km /23 mi).
Day 8: Atacama Hut (Base Camp) - Tejos Hut, actually the high camp (Camp I - ) (5.825m/19.110ft) - Atacama Hut.
Day 9: Atacama Refuge - Tejos Refuge (Camp I).
Day 10: Ojos Del Salado Summit Day (6.893m/22.614ft)
Day 11: Reserve Day for Summit Attempts.
Day 12: Refugio Atacama – Bahía Inglesa.
Day 13: Bahía Inglesa – Out.
* For small groups up to 3 people the itinerary may be slightly different due to logistic reasons, passing by Valle Chico and Laguna Santa Rosa instead of Salar de Pedernales.
A detailed itinerary description is available on this page
Services included
Private transportation throughout the entire trip. ( 4x4 up to 5 person per vehicle)
Bilingual (English) UIAGM mountain guide expedition leader (1) for groups of 5 or more members.
Bilingual (English) ENAM FEACH mountain guide expedition leader (1) for groups up to 4 members.
Mountain guides according to the group size (ratio guide/clients: 1/2 in small groups and 1/3 in bigger groups).
Camp staff such as a cook and camp assistants according to group size.
Meals and accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary.
Accommodation in a 4-star hotel at the beginning and end of the expedition. (two nights)
All activities as mentioned in the program.
High quality communal camping gear including tents, thick mats as well as full base camp infrastructure and services.
Airport transfers at the beginning and end of the expedition..
First aid kit and pulse oximeter.
Bottled oxygen for emergencies.
HF radio communication.
Satellite phone (on pay per minute basis).
DIFROL permit (a governmental authorization issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, needed only by no Chilean mountaineers, to climb summits located close to the country borders).
Useful Links
Postcards
Reviews from our customers about their experiences climbing Ojos del Salado
Review Date: April 13 2019 in Trip Advisor
I have just returned from an amazing experience with Chile montana. We could not have been looked after any better by their professional guides who could not do enough for us throughout the trip. The food was amazing and the guys went above and beyond to help us with everything. Would go back again in a heartbeat.
Review Date: April 06 2019 in Trip Advisor
Amazing, considerate guides who made a group of women feel very comfortable and that they really could achieve what we had set out too.
Review Date: April 05 2019 in Trip Advisor
The guides from Chile Montana helped us to reach the summit of Ojos del Salado on International Women's Day 2019. Our acclimatisation programme was perfect for the length of our trip and we even squeezed in an extra walking day on a mountain that wasn't originally on our schedule. Most of all, the guides were absolute professionals, kind and a laugh to work with. I can not thank them enough!
Review Date: April 03 2019 in Trip Advisor
Chile Montana organised a great trip for our group of 12 ladies. We were a novice team and the guides really looked after us. The food cooked by JC was fabulous - especially the pizzas he somehow cooked on a stove! This really was an adventure of a lifetime that we will never forget. A special thank you must also go to Vivianne who was my main point of contact throughout all the organising. I highly recommend this company and hope to go on another trip in the future.
Review Date: March 03 2018 in Trip Advisor
Had a great time with Chile Montana to climb Ojos del Salado. Very professional and well planned trip.. Highly recommend them...
Review Date: May 02 2017 in Trip Advisor
Climbing the highest volcano on Earth, Ojos del Salado, was very enjoyable with Chili Montana: the guides, cook, driver are reliable professionals. Equipment, 4WD, tents, etc. everything is in very good shape.
Just a few advices:
* no need to check your equipment in their shop in Providencia, Santiago: just follow the equipment list
* I recommend to use two backpacks: one 60 l and one 40 l
* flying to Copiapo is the best option: they pick you and drop you back at the airport. Latam or Sky are affordable... when booked well in advance
* they take care of the housing in Bahia Inglesa.
See more reviews from our customers in Tripadvisor