Chile: Multiple Volcanoes and Ojos de Salado volcano
- Home
- Destinations
- Let’s go to Chile
- Chile: Multiple Volcanoes and Ojos…
The Ojos Del Salado volcano is the highest summit across Chile, the second summit in America, and it is also the tallest active volcano in the world. That’s why this is one of the most desired challenges among mountaineers around the world. Ojos Del Salado is almost as tall as Mt. Aconcagua which surpasses it by 60mts. The volcano is located in the borderline between Chile and Argentina, in the Chilean Atacama region, one of the most active mining regions in the country. Inside the Nevado de Tres Cruces National Park we can spot the Negro Francisco Lake and the Maricunga salt-flat which serves as refuge to three flamingo species. The closest city is Copiapó, where we can find everything we need to start our climbing upwards Ojos Del Salado.
Weather
Ojos del Salado is a high desert area and its temperatures oscillate abruptly from daytime to night-time, reaching temperatures as low as -20ºC (-4ºF). So, if you want to try this one, you’ve better got some good technical clothing and equipment up to the requirements.
Valle Chico: An oasis in mid Atacama desert. It is located at 3,040masl and is the perfect place to start the expedition and the acclimatization process.
Laguna Santa Rosa: This one is located at 3,170masl, and 154Km from Copiapó. Near the lake the terrain is quite hard in some places and very muddy in others. This is an important place in the park in which you can spot fox, flamingos, guanacos and vicuñas.
Laguna del Negro Francisco: This one is also within Parque Nevado de Tres Cruces. It is a bit far from the other camp sites, but it’s worthy. It is also good for trekking acclimatization. There is a refuge there provided with some basic amenities.
Laguna Verde: At 4,340masl this is quite the proper place to set up the base camp, because there are wide open places to camp and stone-refuges (pircas) which are very helpful to endure wind-storms. Plus, the hot-springs in the area are amazing.
Refugio Atacama: At 5,260masl. We usually send the 4WD with our equipment and heavy cargo to the shelter and we walk a remaining two hours road.
Refugio Tejos: This shelter is located at 5,837masl provided with bunk-beds to spend the night comfortably.
Summit: To access the small crown of Ojos del Salado we have to go across some interesting places. One of them is a 100 meters snowfield with a 35º slope. Another important one is the last one, a 30 meters rock climbing (fixed rope (5.6)) at 6,860masl.
- 14 Days/13 Nights
- November to March
- This is not a technical track


Travel Program
Day 1: Copiapó airport / Hotel / Our service begins (IN)
We’ll meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel where you’ll have a talk with our guide in order to crystal clear any doubt clouding your mind and to check your equipment is proper and fitted for the purposes.
- Max altitude: 390 m / 1280 ft
- Lodging:Hotel
- Meals: No
- Transport: 4WD
- Scheme:Reception at the airport, head to the hotel, equipment checking, itinerary checking, and then you’re all free to do as you see fitted.
Overnight
Hotel
Flight
Arrival to Chile.
Drive
3 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
1 Hour approx.
Meals
-/-/-
Day 2: Copiapó / Valle Chico
We set out towards Valle Chico to set up our first camp. This place is perfect to start our expedition because it has the ideal altitude for starting the acclimatization process.
- Max altitude:3040 m / 9970 ft
- Lodging:Mountain tent
- Meals:Breakfast Hotel, dinner.
- Transport: 4WD
- Scheme: Camp set-up, cooking, acclimatization.
Overnight
Hotel
Drive
5 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
1 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/-
Day 3: Valle Chico / Laguna Santa Rosa / Trekking
On this day we’ll set up the second camp around the 3700 meters in order to keep on with our acclimatization process, which is crucial to our objective. We’ll do a light trekking to keep with our acclimatization process in order to get our bodies accustomed to this high altitude desert environment. This trekking is to be done around the Laguna Santa Rosa lakeside.
- Max altitude:3700 m / 12140 ft
- Lodging:Hotel, Refuge or mountain tent is not including in our service
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner.
- Transport: 4WD
- Scheme: Camp take-down and up, cooking, acclimatization.
Overnight
Hotel
Drive
5 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
1 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 4: Climb mt 7 Hermanas (4700m)
On this day we will perform our first ascension to the 7 Hermanas hill. Altitude: 4700masl.
- Max altitude:4700 m / 15748 ft and back to 3700 m / 12140 ft
- Lodging:Hotel, Refuge or mountain tent is not including in our service
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner.
- Transport: 4WD
- Scheme: Cooking, acclimatization climb.
Overnight
Camping
Drive
5 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
7 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 5: Laguna santa Rosa / Laguna Verde
On this day we’ll finish the first stage of our expedition. We’ll head toward Laguna Verde where we’ll set-up the base-camp, rest for the remaining day and get ready for the days to come.
- Max altitude:4340 m / 14240 ft
- Lodging:Refuge or mountain tent
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
- Transport:4WD
- Scheme: Transport the equipment (4WD), cooking and acclimatization.
Overnight
Camping
Drive
6 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
1 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 6: Laguna Verde / climb Mulas Muertas (5600m)
On this day we’ll put our bodies to the test. We’ll see how your body is enduring the lack of oxygen in this area. We’ll go up a bit higher than 5,600 meters and then go back to sleep at the Laguna Verde.
- Max altitude:5600m / 18360 ft
- Lodging:Refuge or mountain tent
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
- Transport:4WD
- Scheme:climb Mulas Muertas, cooking and acclimatization.
Overnight
Camping
Drive
5 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
7 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 7: Laguna Verde / San Francisco or Vickuña (6100m)
In order to go forward into our expedition, we will ascend a 6000 and so check how our body reacts when facing that kind of altitude. We can either choose between Mt. San Francisco, at the frontier with Argentina, or Mt. Vicuñas. Both are above the 6000masl.
- Max altitude:6100m / 20000 ft
- Lodging:Refuge or mountain tent
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
- Transport:4WD
- Scheme: acclimatization climb San Francisco, cooking.
Overnight
Camping
Drive
6 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
9 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 8: Laguna Verde / Refuge Atacama
This is the last day we’ll be able to use the 4WD vehicle. We’ll transport the equipment to Refuge Atacama and from there we’ll have to work harder.
- Max altitude: 5260 m / 17260 ft
- Lodging:Refuge or mountain tent
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner.
- Transport: 4WD
- Scheme: Transport the equipment (4WD), cooking and acclimatization.
Overnight
Camping
Drive
5 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
1 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 9: Refuge Atacama / Refuge Tejos / Refuge Atacama
Each one of us has to carry his/her personal equipment plus a piece of the common equipment towards Refuge Tejos in order to prepare our last camp (high camp) and it clearly helps with the acclimatization process. Once we get to the shelter we’ll get some rest, leave our equipment there and head back to Refuge Atacama to sleep.
- Max altitude:5837 m / 19150 ft
- Lodging:Refuge or mountain tent
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
- Transport: No
- Scheme: Carry the equipment, cooking, acclimatization.
Overnight
Camping
Drive
4 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
3 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 10: Refuge Atacama / Refuge Tejos
We’ll carry the remaining equipment towards Refugio Tejos. This time we’ll spend the night there. Since we’ve already carried most of the equipment the day before, we’ll be saving a lot of necessary energy for our next day, which is without doubt the most important day of our expedition.
- Max altitude:5837 m / 19150 ft
- Lodging:Refuge or mountain tent
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
- Transport: No
- Scheme: Carry the equipment, cooking, acclimatization.
Overnight
Camping
Drive
1 Hour approx.
Hiking/Tour
7 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 11: Refuge Tejos / climb Ojos del Salado / Refuge Atacama
We’ll set out early morning to reach the Ojos Del Salado summit (6,893masl). On this day we’ll see how all of our hard work flourishes. All the previous acclimatization process is to endure this SO challenging summit. No doubts about it, this is the hardest day in our expedition. We’ll be ascending 1,000 meters, crossing a glacier, rock climbing, reaching the summit, descending, and carrying the equipment back to Refugio Atacama all in the same day.
- Max altitude: 6893 m / 22615 ft
- Lodging:Refuge or mountain tent
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner.
- Transport: No
- Scheme: Carry the equipment, cooking and equipment checking.
Overnight
Camping
Drive
7 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
6 Hour approx.
Climbing
9 Hours approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 12: Extra Summit Day
Overnight
Camping
Drive
7 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
6 Hour approx.
Climbing
9 Hours approx.
Meals
B/L/D
Day 13: Refuge Atacama / Copiapó Hotel
This is the last day we’ll spend in the Parque Nevado de Tres Cruces area. Calmly we’ll take-down our camp and head back to Copiapó, leaving behind us this giant, the highest summit in Chile and the tallest volcano in the world
- Max altitude: 390 m / 1280 ft
- Lodging:Hotel
- Meals:Breakfast, box-lunch
- Transport:4WD
- Scheme: Camp take – down, transfer
Overnight
Hotel
Drive
7 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
1 Hour approx.
Meals
B/L/-
Day 14: Hotel / Copiapó Airport / End of our services (OUT)
The whole group will be driven to the airport.
- Max altitude:390 m / 1280 ft
- Lodging:No
- Meals:Breakfast
- Transport: 4WD or minivan
- Scheme: Airport transfer (optional)
Overnight
Hotel
Drive
2 Hours approx
Hiking/Tour
1 Hour approx.
Flight
Go back home by plane.
Meals
B/-/-
Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner
What's Included
Services included in the prices:
- Mountain guide (Spanish / English )
- Private transportation to climbing areas (4WD)
- Transfer airport – hotel and hotel – airport
- 2 hotel nights in (Copiapó)
- Mountain tents (each one is for 2 persons)
- Dinner tent (with table and chairs)
- Cooking kit
- All meals within the expedition (Breakfast, box lunch, diner)
- Professional first aids kit
- Mat
- Heart rate monitor and oximeter
- VHF Radio
- Satellite radio
- All group equipment; rope, high altitude tent, stove, GPS, etc.
Not included:
- Personal mountain equipment
- Traveling and rescue insurances. We strongly recommend you to get them.
- Camping, refuge or hotel in Santa Rosa lagoon, conciderate at list 30usd per day.
- Any other service which wasn’t mentioned above. (restaurant meals in Copiapo, beverages , tips, etc.)
- International and national flights and boarding fees.
- Climbing permit “from the last 4 years this payment are not required”
- Payment in Santa Rosa lagoon, for refuge (us30) , camping (us20) or Hotel (us100)
What to Bring
What to Bring or take fo Day Hiking and Technical Equipment for Climbing Expedition
This equipment list is compiled to provide you with adequate help when choosing your equipment for a climb. Most items are required. Please consider each of them and make sure you understand the function and exclusive use for mountaineering, before substituting or removing items from this list. Please note that this list has been carefully annotated by the organizer. Remember that mountaineering, mountaineering or mountaineering is an extreme, risky sport, therefore everything related to it is of great attention.
These items should be on your hiking checklist:
Hiking backpack for hiking 30 to 40 liters
Light gloves for hiking or (Optional Mittens waterproof)
Medium weight socks
Sleeping bag (-10º to 15ºC)
Small daypack for one day hiking 20 liters
Weather-appropriate clothing (think moisture-wicking and layers)
Hiking boots or shoes
Medium weight parka with fibber fill or down
Rain poncho (or rain gear)
Long-sleeved shirts
Fleece or Wool sweater and/or trousers
Lightweight pants
Cotton short-sleeved shirts or t-shirts
Water bottle for hiking or trekking
Strong waterproof duffel bag
Flashlight with spare batteries and bulb
Towel for personal hygiene each participantFirst-aid kit
Regular and long underwear
Knife or multi-tool
Light cap and wool hat
Sunglasses with UV certification, Sun block, lips
The rest of the list Essentials as appropriate for your hike
Grooming and personal hygiene kit
One Hiking Buff per person
Technical Equipment for High Altitude Expedition Mountains
3 Locking carabiners, we recommended per person
We recommend 2 ice screws for each client
1 Daisy Chain (Life Line) per each person
2 Ice axes (per person) technical, we recommended GRIVEL company
1 ATC descender (Rappel), this is very necessary for technical mountains
2 Cords for prusik, very important (Size Cord 6 mm x 10 m. long)
Gloves(Good gloves) for expeditions over 6000meters
Harness, we recommended GRIVEL company
Sleeping pad / Mattress, we recommend with air or inflatable mattress
Crampons, we recommended GRIVEL company
Walking sticks (optional), a pair per person, we recommended GRIVEL company
Down Jacket for expedition
Very important to have personal clothing such as pants and jacket with GOROTEX certification
First aid kit, for high mountains, because we as guides cannot medicate clients
Backpack Capacity 60 liters, it is better to have a bigger backpack to go comfortably to the high camps, because here you have to carry all your personal things
Gaiters or Leggings, now modern boots already have built-in (Incorporated), but better to have an extra pair
Dressing appropriately for the mountains can make the difference between a pleasant trip and a really uncomfortable one. Clothing must provide the right degree of temperature, perspiration and be well ventilated. Preferably cotton clothing should be avoided, as in humid conditions they absorb body heat.
In general, the weather conditions in in the Andes of South America can vary from day to day and even throughout the day. Therefore, clothing must be versatile.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have regarding the necessary equipment.
Prices & Dates
FROM/TO
PRICE (USD)
TRAVEL STATUS
–
FROM/TO
PRICE (USD)
TRAVEL STATUS
–
FROM/TO
PRICE (USD)
TRAVEL STATUS
–
FROM/TO
PRICE (USD)
TRAVEL STATUS
–
» Additional dates available upon request
» Rates may vary from July 26th to 31th for the national holidays
Prices (per person):
1 PAX | 2 PAX | 4 PAX | 6 PAX | 8 PAX | 10 PAX | 12 PAX | 14 PAX |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— USD | — USD | — USD | — USD | — USD | — USD | — USD | — USD |
Deposit for reservations: * — USD (– EUR) ✓ Full payment 40 days before. No refund if you cancel less than 30 days!
Places: *Available
Trip-code: Number ►PE-404
Duration: 14 days
Participants: Minimal: 2 Maximal: 15
Members: We don’t have an open group to join – We can open a new group – Contact us!
Country / Location: Chile
Mountain Guide: Eric Raul Albino Lliuya
Balance: Must be made 30 days before expedition departure time via transfer to our account.
Cancellation Policies
- Cancellations made between 29 to 16 days prior the expedition will be refunded up to a 60% of the deposited money, or, if you prefer, you can keep the reservation up to one year for a new scheduled expedition of the same value.
- Cancellations made 15 days (or less) before the expedition WILL NOT be refunded.
This cancellation policy covers any and all reasons for canceling participation in the expedition, including personal issues, accidents, illness, acts of nature, bad weather, etc.
Note: please ask your normal travel company about “Trip Cancellation Insurance”.
Other dates / additional info: Contact us!
3% early bird discount when booking 6 months prior to departure 2023
Legend Booking-information:
EZZ Single room supplement
🟢 On this trip, places are still available.
🟡 On this trip, only a few places left.
🔴 This trip is sold out / closed.

Eric Raul Albino Lliuya
Expert guide certified by AGOMP
General Sales Manager of Peru Expeditions
- WhatsApp: +51 943 081 066
- E-Mail: [email protected]
Videos
Frequently Asked Questions
What our travelers or clients always ask questions before joining our trips, tours & expeditions, read all the information provided here.
Suggested FAQs
What is the average distance and altitude gain that we will hike each day?
Every day we have active walks around approximately 4, to 5 sometimes 6 hours of walking, everything is according to your pace and physical condition of each person, in each of our travel programs you will find more detailed information, and if If you need more information about each day of the travel program, we can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify your doubts or questions, for this please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
What experience and how fit do I need to be to climb this mountain? Is this program suitable for children or older people?
For our mountain climbing trips: If they are easily accessible mountains: For easy-climb mountains, well, you don’t need much experience, but if you already want to climb mountains above 6,000 meters and the conditions become more difficult, we recommend if you already want to go through mountains above 6,000 meters, have a basic or intermediate course for a good preparation. It is very important to be physically, technically and psychologically prepared.
Regarding the preparation of children: Everything will depend on which mountain you want to climb with your children, once you are clear on which of our tours or mountains you want to go with your children, we can give you some advice or see how to prepare them before going with they.
Regarding older people: It all depends on the condition of experience and how well the person is in health, on many occasions older people are the best to walk in the mountains because they have more experience, so it is always good to ask and find out about their experience of older participant. If you have any other questions, please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
What experience do I need to have? How fit do I need to be? Is this program suitable for children or older people?
To do long-distance hiking you need to at least train or do some tours such as visiting lagoons to get the experience and feel comfortable with what you do, it is always good before doing a long-distance hiking tour to test yourself so as not to be with the problems of altitude sickness during the trekking, and if you travel with children it is good to first train them before taking them, if they are accompanied by an adult of legal age, they must do a good acclimatization before going on the long-distance tour or with high altitude camps If you want to know or learn more advice, we can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify your doubts. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
How far in advance should I start training and what kind of training do you suggest?
The preparation is according to what type and what technical level you want to go and climb a trek or mountain, the preparation will always gain experience little by little.
For this type of demanding or technical climbing sports, it is recommended to do some summits above 5 thousand meters beforehand and have good knowledge of high mountain technical equipment such as the use of technical ice axes, ice screws, correct use of crampons, and of course all the technical material. For more information, we can schedule an appointment to be able to explain in more detail everything about the mountain equipment and the preparations prior to joining our outings. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
How can I get to the trailhead/meeting point?
For the pick-ups of each trip, depending on the place or the trip that you are going to make with us, the meeting point is always at our office, in one of our trips we pick you up where you are staying or staying, or in some cases a A representative of our company will pick you up and then ship you to your transport to continue with your destination of the tour or trip you have booked with us. If you wish to request more information, do not hesitate to contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
Will I need to bring any technical equipment of my own? Is it possible to rent equipment, and if so, what would be the approximate cost of that?
In all our trekking or mountaineering trips we do not include personal equipment in our prices, so you have to have your own equipment: Personal equipment (such as boots, ice ax, crampons, harness, sleeping bag, mat, Goretex, etc. ) and also within each page of the trips that we sell is a small list so you can see it on our website.
Our company can also rent the materials that you would need for your trip, see the list here on our website: https://peru-expeditions.org/equipment-rental/ . For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
Will there be porters to help to carry group and personal equipment?
In our trips, either hiking or mountaineering: Depending on the type or destination of the trip that you are going to book, in some parts of the treks you go with mules or donkeys or sometimes with horses, and within the mountain trips, the approach camps are also They go with mules or donkeys, but there are some stretches where pack animals can no longer reach. In this part, our logistics is fully supported by the porters.
Who are the porters? They are people from the area who were born and live in the heights of the towns, they are very strong and are very acclimatized, the reason is that after the tourist season ends they dedicate themselves to agriculture and livestock for that reason they are people They are used to the altitude and have lived in nature all their lives and they are happy to be in the mountains together with our expeditions. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
How will accommodation and meals be handled during the trek?
About accommodation or meals during the tour: Well, depending on the type of tour, when the tour is a classic cultural tour or a city tour, we eat during the route in tourist restaurants and sleep in category hotels that the client has requested.
If the tour is with camps and trekking: During the activity, logistics we include the service of Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with traditional and typical meals of the region where you are going to travel with us, during the night we stay in tents, and we have a special tent for the kitchen and another for the dining room.
If the trip is at altitude or in the mountains: We bring special high mountain food, It are quicker meals to cook and we provide complete logistics such as Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and we sleep in special 4-season high mountain tents, with the best tents. If you have any questions or concerns, we can schedule an appointment via Whatsapp to clarify all your doubts and give you better information so that your trip is an unforgettable tour.
Are there any other special requirements such as permits/insurance/vaccines that I need to consider before the tour?
Safe and effective vaccines are available that provide strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Billions of people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself against COVID-19, help end the pandemic and stop new variants emerging.
We also recommend having accident insurance, we always recommend. We are Partners –Global Rescue. If you have any other questions about the trip we can schedule a date for a calling via WhatsApp. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
What is the best time of the year for this hike?
For all the trips that we offer within our main tourist destinations such as South America and Central America, also including the ascent of the 7 continents and the 7 highest peaks of each continent, on each page of our website for each trip we indicate that month or what season to travel, then please read the information you find in our travel offers for each tour. If you have any other questions you can contact us by WhatsApp with one of our travel experts. Thank you so much. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
What is the guide-to-client ratio to climb this mountain?
In mountains above 5000 meters: A local guide takes a maximum of 3 clients = Ratio 3pax = 1 local guide
In technical mountains: In large-big mountains we manage the travel policy, a guide and a maximum of 2 clients = Ratio 3pax = 1 local guide. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
What is the best time of the year to climb this mountain?
For all the trips that we offer within our main tourist destinations such as South America and Central America, also including the ascent of the 7 continents and the 7 highest peaks of each continent, on each page of our website for each trip we indicate that month or what season to travel, then please read the information you find in our travel offers for each tour. If you have any other questions you can contact us by WhatsApp with one of our travel experts. Thank you so much. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
Can I join a group?
We as a local company and connoisseurs of tours have departures on different dates. The best thing to do is to join a travel group to take care of your budget, and of course you can join our groups, but on trips like mountaineering we recommend going in small groups. To join a group, ask us for the dates and we will send you the necessary information to be able to join any of our trips.
Why go in a private trip: For trips whether trekking or high mountains, going privately is the most recommended option, but the costs are more expensive. So, if one joins a group, the prices will be more reasonable. In the mountains, the only disadvantage is if you are in a wall with another partner and if one of the participants gets tired or gets sick. In this case, you have to abort or cancel the summit and return together. For more information, contact us. We can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify all your questions.
In a mountain, for example, if 3 people go and one of the participants falls ill on the route, for security reasons they have to cancel or abort the summit or return all together. The same in a technical mountain if the climbing partner gets sick they all have to return, for these reasons sometimes it is better to go private only because for a single person the costs are more expensive for the same reason that the trip would already be private .
For more information please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066
What happens in the event of bad weather?
About the meteorological conditions of the climate, we try to organize the trips of each tour in the best season to have the best views and enjoy the selected trip but sometimes even is good season we can have bad weather, in this case on hiking or treks trips The complications are minimal, but when this happens during high-altitude climbing expeditions, the complications can become very difficult, that is why the bosses or leaders of the local guides must always make the most correct decision for the safety of our passengers, so we always recommend listening to the best advice from the local guide assigned for each tour. If you have any other questions please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066