Volcano Ojos del Salado & San Pedro Atacama

Tour Description Climb Ojos del Salado Volcano, Chile’s highest peak and the world’s tallest volcano soaring to an altitude of 22,572 ft (6,893m). Located northeast of the city of Copiapo, Ojos del Salado is situated near the Argentine border at the San Francisco Pass 17,486 ft (4,726 m), surrounded by salt flats and beautiful high plateau lakes such as El Negro Francisco and Laguna Verde. Flanked by Nevado Tres Cruces 18,222 ft (6,749 m) on one side and Cerro Incahuasi 24,498 ft (6,621 m) on the other, Ojos del Salado is the centerpiece of an immense east-west lying mountain range containing no fewer than 13 peaks above 6,000 m.

Our climbing schedule includes 6 days of trekking and easy hiking to get acclimatized around the well known oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile’s striking northern altiplano, surrounded by saltwater lakes, geysers, flamingos, and natural hot springs. Later we travel southeast to Laguna Verde at 14,765 ft. (4,400m) a turquoise lake with a view of snow-capped volcanoes and red desert slopes facing our final destination, Ojos del Salado. The Refugio Atacama base camp located at 17,000 ft (5,350m) is accessible by 4-wheel drive vehicles, which makes this tour an easy and fantastic climbing peak, with the necessary gradual altitude adjustment program, minimizing any risk of high altitude sickness such as “puna” and edema. From this point we hike to Refugio Tejos, a hut at 19,350 ft (5,750m), which is probably the highest mountain hut in the world! Gentle scree slopes and occasional snow patches lead us to the main summit. There is a fixed rope on the last 80-meter push to reach the true summit!

Service includes

• Professional Bilingual Mountain Guide.
• Ratio Guide Clients 1-4.
• All local organization and supervision by KL Adventure Staff.
• Flight Santiago – Calama - Copiapo - Santiago with 20 kg baggage.
• Private transportation.
• Seven (7) Hotel nights double occupancy with breakfast.
• Ojos del Salado permit including Difrol.
• All meals during the expedition and trekking program. Including the before and after dinners in San Pedro de Atacama.
• Full base camp set up dining tent, chair, tables, etc..
• High quality expedition common gear: The North Face, Mountain. Hardware and Marmot tents, isolate mattress, high camp stoves & Gaz.
• Permanent access to hot drinks, tea, coffee, biscuits at base camp tent.
• First aid kit, hyperbaric chamber, oxygen bottles, oximeter.
• Radio communication VHF 2 mt.
• Satellite phone at base camp on a per minute payment basis.

Service does not include

• All personal climbing equipment gear
• Porter for personal gear.
• Any cost involve in a early or late departure.
• Any drinks (soda, beer or wine) in San Pedro de Atacama.
• Accident and rescue insurance.
• Cash for extra expenses.
• Any other service not mentioned in the list.
• Gratuities are not included.
  

Day by day itinerary

Day 1 We meet you at the airport in Calama and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama 6,588 ft (2,440m). San Pedro is an unusual colorful village with adobe houses and antique church surrounded by a green oasis. Hotel check-in procedures. In the afternoon, we rent bicycles and tour the local archaeological sites of Quitor, a 12th-century Indian pukara or fort, the former Incan administration center of Catarpe and Tulor, the oldest evidence of human life in the valley. Hotel

Day 02 Drive to Guatin to observe cactus and river ecosystem, from where we hike through the Puritama canyon. We will see the archaeological remains of the former inhabitants of this region and an unusual and unique cactus variety (Echinopsis Atacamensis). Arrive to Puritama hot springs (33°C, 3500 m), where we take a relaxing bath and enjoy a small snack before returning to San Pedro. Visit the archaeological Museum Le Page and later a sunset tour to Death and Moon valleys to enjoy the sunset. Hotel.

Day 03 Today we visit the altiplano lagoons, Miscanti & Meñique. We get an early start from San Pedro and drive along the large Atacama salt flat (the largest of Chile) with its pink flamingos. We reach the village of Toconao in an hour. We will walk through its streets and see the typical architecture of this area. The houses were built from volcanic rock. We then continue on for another hour to arrive at the lovely turquoise Miscanti & Meñique lagoons where we will do a short trek to a lookout point at an altitude of 4,200 meters, later we return to San Pedro. Hotel.

Day 04 San Pedro - El Tatio Geysers & San Pedro. We leave San Pedro before sunrise to drive up to the spectacular geothermal geysers of El Tatio 11,340 ft (4,200m). We drive across the high plateau of the Andes crowned by the superb Putama Volcano. After breakfast, we will hike to approximately 12,285 ft (4,550m) to observe fumaroles, small geysers, and multicolored craters, getting acclimatized and comfortable with the altitude. Free afternoon in San Pedro.

Day 05 San Pedro & Lascar Volcano 15,093 ft (5,590m) Transfer to Talabre Viejo and from here to Laguna Lejía, viewing the glaciated southern slope of Lascar Volcano. We will stop at 12,150 ft (4,500m), from where we start hiking to the summit in about 6 hours. Return to San Pedro. As an alternative, according to the amount of toxic smoke on Volcano Lascar, we will consider climbing the Toco Volcano at 14,647 ft (5,425m) on its south face trekking route. Return to San Pedro. Hotel.

Day 6 We will drive south to Bahia Inlgesa, a very remote beach town. Hotel.

Day 7 After we refuel and get supplies, we will once again cross the dry Atacama desert towards the mountains and the emerald lakes, stopping at Santa Rosa lake, 10,260 ft (3,800m). Tent.

Day 8 Today we drive to Laguna Verde, 11,880 ft (4,400m) and bathe in great hot springs viewing the striking colors of this high plateau lake. Tent

Day 9 Drive to Refugio Atacama at 14,445 ft (5,350m). Tent

Day 10 Portage to Refugio Tejos at 15,525 ft (5,750m), return to Refugio Atacama. Tent

Day 11 We ascend to Refugio Tejos. Tent

Day 12 Summit day and return to Refugio Atacama. Tent

Day 13 Reserve day. Tent

Day 14 Reserve day. Tent

Day 15 Descent to Copiapo. Final group dinner. Hotel

Day 16 Transfer to airport for domestic connection, fly back to Santiago. End of expedition.

Important

• Any departure dates can be re-scheduled with a minimum of 4 persons.