Expeditions Ojos del Salado 9 Days

Ojos del Salado 9 Days

The Highest Volcano in the World

Location:
Copiapo, Chile

Height:
6893

Length:
9 days

Trip Grade:

Ojos del Salado climbing expedition

Ojos del Salado volcano is the highest summit across Chile and the second summit in America, and it is also the tallest 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 only. The volcano is located in the borderline between Chile and Argentina, in the Chilean Atacama region, on of the most active mining regions in the country. Inside the National Park Nevado de Tres Cruces 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 Ojos del Salado climbing expedition

Features

- Climb 3 mountains: Mulas muertas 5600m, San Francisco 6050m and Ojos del Salado 6893m

- We will use Laguna verde to camp and enjoy the naturale hotspring and relax

- Enjoy a incredibles landscape like laguna Verde, Laguna Santa Rosa and Maricunga salt flat

- Have the opportunity to admire the wildlife of the desert such as foxes, flamingos, llamas

- Fight with a extreme desert environments with very low temperatures

- Cross a huge distance of the desert, thanks to the support of our 4×4 truck

- We will save a lot of energy because we just carry one day our gear to the high camp

Expedition’s schema

- Program length: 9 days

- Altitude: 6893 m / 22615 ft

- Location: Copiapó, Chile

- Slope: 2500m / 8200 ft from Laguna Verde

- Season: November to March

- Difficulty: This is not a technical track, but it is physically challenging

- First ascent: 1937 by Justin Wojsznis and Jan Szczepanski (PL)

- Open Expedition Team size: max 9 climbers + guides

Dates and Prices

DEPARTURES 2024 / 2025 SEASON

~~Wed 26 Feb / Thu 06 Mar 2025 (Not available)~~
~~Sat 08 Mar / Sun 16 Mar 2025 (Not available)~~

DEPARTURES 2025 / 2026 SEASON

Wed 5 Nov / Thu 13 Nov 2025
Wed 12 Nov / Thu 20 Nov 2025
Wed 19 Nov / Thu 27 Nov 2025
Wed 26 Nov / Thu 4 Dec 2025
Wed 3 Dec / Thu 11 Dec 2025
Wed 10 Dec / Thu 18 Dec 2025
Wed 17 Dec / Thu 25 Dec 2025
Wed 24 Dec 2025/ Thu 1 Jan 2026
Wed 31 Dec 2025 / Thu 8 Jan 2026
Wed 7 Jan / Thu 15 Jan 2026
Wed 14 Jan / Thu 22 Jan 2026
Wed 21 Jan / Thu 29 Jan 2026
Wed 28 Jan / Thu 5 Feb 2026
Wed 4 Feb / Thu 12 Feb 2026
Wed 11 Feb / Thu 19 Feb 2026
Wed 18 Feb / Thu 26 Feb 2026
Wed 25 Feb / Thu 5 Mar 2026
Wed 4 Mar / Thu 12 Mar 2026
Wed 11 Mar / Thu 19 Mar 2026
Wed 18 Mar / Thu 26 Mar 2026

Open Ojos del Salado climbing Expedition:

This expedition has pre-established departure dates and you share it with other people, the groups consist of a maximum of 9 climbers plus the guides.

Private Service: You choose the best convenience date for you and your group. Price depending on number of people booked.

Itinerary and services (per day)

Day 1: Copiapó / Laguna Verde / Our service begins (IN)

We’ll meet you at the 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, drive to Laguna Verde.

- Max altitude: 4340 m / 14240 ft

- Lodging: Refuge or mountain tent

- Meals: Dinner

- Transport: 4WD

- Scheme: equipment checking, itinerary checking, and then drive to laguna Verde (4WD), cooking and acclimatization.

Day 2: Laguna Verde / climb Mulas Muertas (5600m)

Day 3: Laguna Verde / San Francisco or Barrancas blancas (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.

Day 4: Laguna Verde / Refuge Atacama

Day 5: 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.

Day 6: 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.

Day 7: Refuge Tejos / climb Ojos del Salado / Refuge Atacama

We’ll set out early mo
ing 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.

Day 8: Extra Summit Day

Day 9: Refuge Atacama / Copiapó Hotel / End of our services (OUT)

Recomended

We are delighted to present our renewed itinerary for the Ojos del Salado expedition. An experience that has transformed the way we approach this exciting adventure on Chile’s highest mountain.

After two seasons of extensive testing, we have achieved a significant increase in the success of our expeditions, rising from 30% to an impressive 90%. This achievement is the direct result of our commitment to excellence and innovation in the planning of our routes.

Our new approach is focused on ensuring each of our clients is in perfect condition on summit day. To achieve this, we have implemented alternating days of activity and rest, avoiding porting and using 4×4 vehicles whenever possible. Additionally, we have improved the amenities and services at our base camp, offering private bathrooms, domes with kitchens and dining rooms, and even satellite internet access. And, of course, we cannot forget the opportunity to relax and recharge our batteries in the incredible Laguna Verde hot springs.

Important

It is important to note that this itinerary is offered as an alternative to the original. We recognize that some clients may prefer the more traditional way of approaching the expedition. However, we firmly believe that our new approach offers significant benefits, backed by the impressive results of our recent seasons.

At HME we are committed to providing the best possible experience to our clients, whether through our original itinerary or our new alternative. Join us and discover a new way to crown Ojos del Salado!

Alternative itineary

Day 1 Copiapo airport – Laguna Verde Base Camp 4350m

Day 2 Laguna Verde – Hike 5350 on Mulas Muertas 4-5 hrs

Day 3 Rest in Laguna Verde Base Camp

Day 4 Climb Barrancas Blancas 6072m or San Francisco 6016m 6-8 hrs

Day 5 Rest in Laguna Verde Base Camp

Day 6 Drive to Tejos refuge 5900 and hike to 6300 in Ojos del Salado path

Day 7 Rest in Laguna Verde BaseCamp or extra summit day

Day 8 Climb Ojos del Salado 10-12 hrs

Day 9 Return to Copiapó

Includes

The Ojos del Salado climbing expedition include the following services:

- Mountain guide (Spanish / English )

- Private transportation to climbing areas (4WD)

- 1 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.

Our services don’t include

- Personal mountain equipment

- Airport Transfer (In and Out)

- Traveling and rescue insurances. We strongly recommend you to get them.

- Any other service which wasn’t mentioned above. (restaurant meals, beverages , tips, etc.)

- International and national flights and boarding fees.

- Climbing permit USD 200 “from the last two years this payment are not required”

Additional information:

- 1 guide every 3 passengers

- 2 persons per hotel room.

- U$ 200 per person if you want single room, please let us know

- U$ 100 per person if you want single tent, please let us know
- U$ 150 per person if you have any dietary restriction

- Hotel lodging includes *Breakfast (see itinerary)

- Dirección de Límites y Fronteras del Estado, permit is free of charge

- We recommend you travel with small bills

- Weather can get as low as -25ºC /-13ºF in the area

High Mountain Expedition is NOT responsible for:

- Personal services (laundry, snacks, beverages, restaurant meals, tips, etc.)

- Personal mountain equipment

- Expenses in case of rescue or early departure from the expedition.

- Delays caused by your flight or any transportation issue which you are responsible for.

- Weather changes which may affect the ojos del salado climbing expedition.

Clothing and proper equipment

In order to avoid any injury we strongly recommend to all the expedition members to have the mountain equipment described below. Each piece of the equipment will help us on the summit day, which may be terribly cold (even -25ºC /-13ºF). The proper equipment is crucial to achieve our goal.

Upper body parts

- Sun hat

- Wool hat

- Balaclava / ski mask

- 2 or 3 long sleeve polypropylene shirts or similar

- Polar windstopper, soft-shell or similar

- Waterproof jacket (Gore Tex, Triple Point, or similar)

- Down feather parka with hood

- Polypropylene gloves

- Waterproof gloves

- Down feather mittens ( -25 ºC / -13ºF)

Down body parts

- 1 polypropylene long underwear (or similar)

- 2 trekking pants

- Windproof pants (Gore Tex, Triple Point, or similar)

- 2 or 3 pairs thin socks (Liners)

- 2 or 3 pairs of thermal socks

- Gaiters

- Trekking boots (approach)

- Mountain boots (double plastic or leather boots)

Personal equipment

- - - Trekking stick (telescopic)
  - - Sleeping bag (Tº lower than -20ºC)

- Inflatable and foam mattress

- Expedition duffel or backpack (100 liters aprox.)

- Daypack (40 liters)

- Headlamp (and extra batteries)

- Sunglasses (category 3 or 4)

- Goggles

- 2 bottles of water (1 liter each)

- Thermos flask (1 liter)

- Sunscreen (SPF 40)

- Lips sunscreen (SPF 30) (Blistex)

- Whistle, emergency mirror and pocket knife

- Toiletries

- Digital camera, book, mp3, Binoculars. [optional]

- Personal repair kit

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