Ojos del Salado Premium

Upon arrival at Santiago Airport (520 m), you will be welcomed by our team and transferred privately to your hotel. Once the whole group is gathered at the hotel, we will hold the Expedition Briefing at the hotel facilities. This important technical meeting allows us to review the itinerary, check personal equipment, and coordinate the final details before heading into the mountains.

• Max altitude: 520 masl
• Lodging: Hotel
• Meals: No
• Transport: Transfer
• Scheme: Briefing, equipment check, logistics.

We leave the city behind and head into the Andes Mountains toward the ski center of La Parva. From this point, we begin our approach hike toward Piedra Numerada (3,370 m). This glacial valley, surrounded by impressive rock walls, will become our first base of operations.

• Max altitude: 3370 masl
• Lodging: Tent
• Meals: Breakfast Hotel, Box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: Transfer
• Scheme: Approach trek, acclimatization.

We continue our progression deeper into the valley, ascending along trails that steadily gain altitude through landscapes of great Andean beauty, until reaching Federación (4,100 m). This area, located near the Iver Glacier, will become our advanced camp, allowing for a careful organization of the technical equipment.

• Max altitude: 4100 masl
• Lodging: Tent
• Meals: Breakfast, Box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: No
• Scheme: Approach trek, acclimatization, camp set-up.

We begin the summit push of Cerro Leonera (4,954 m) early in the morning. The ascent offers us a privileged perspective of the route we will later follow toward El Plomo, as well as an unparalleled view of the Central Andes.

• Max altitude: 4954 masl
• Lodging: Tent
• Meals: Breakfast, Box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: No
• Scheme: Acclimatization summit.

We begin the ascent toward the summit of Cerro El Plomo (5,424 m), the most emblematic milestone of the Central Andes. The route takes us along the side of the Iver Glacier and through the historic sector known as La Pirca del Inca, where archaeological mysticism merges with the technical challenge of the climb. It is a demanding day, following the footsteps of a culture that considered this mountain a sacred sanctuary.

• Max altitude: 5424 masl
• Lodging: Tent
• Meals:
• Breakfast, Box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: No
• Scheme: Summit attempt.

We begin the descent from Base Camp toward La Parva, where we will meet our private transportation and arrive in Santiago. This pause is strategic: it allows us to untie the demands of the Central Andes and organize the logistics for the final stage in the Atacama Desert.

• Max altitude: 4100 masl
• Lodging: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Box-lunch
• Transport: Transfer
• Scheme: Descent, transfer to Santiago.

We leave the Central Valleys behind and fly to Northern Chile, landing in Copiapó (390 m). This day marks the start of the second phase of our expedition, closing in on our final goal: Ojos del Salado. A day dedicated to airport logistics and hotel recovery, allowing the body to adjust to the dry desert climate before heading deep into the Atacama Desert.

• Max altitude: 520 masl
  Lodging: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast
  Transport: Flight, transfer
  Scheme: Flight to Copiapó, logistics, rest and recovery.T

We venture into the desert aboard 4×4 vehicles, ascending to 4,300 m at Laguna Verde, a turquoise oasis that will become our base of operations in front of some of the highest volcanoes on the planet. Here we will establish the camp to begin the final phase of acclimatization.

• Max altitude: 4300 masl
  Lodging: Mountain tent
  Meals: Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
  Transport: 4WD
  Scheme: Transfer to Laguna Verde, acclimatization, camp set-up.

Day 9: Laguna Verde / Climb Mulas Muertas (5350m)

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 5350 meters and then go back to sleep at the Laguna Verde.

• Max altitude: 5350m / 18360 ft
• Lodging: Mountain tent
• Meals: Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: 4WD
• Scheme:Cooking, acclimatization climb Mulas Muertas.

In order to go forward into our expedition, we will ascend at 6000 m and so check how our
body reacts when facing that kind of altitude. We can either choose between Mt. San Francisco
or Barrancas Blancas, both are above the 6000 masl.

• Max altitude: 6000 m / 19685 ft approx
• Lodging: Mountain tent
• Meals: Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: 4WD
• Scheme:Acclimatization, climb San Francisco o Barrancas Blancas, cooking.

Today we’ll have another day of rest at base camp. We recommend taking advantage of the hot
springs to relax and regain strength for the next day.

• Max altitude: 4350m / 14270 ft
• Lodging: Mountain tent
• Meals: Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: No
• Scheme: Cooking, rest at the base camp.

After the rest day, we will dismantle the camp at Laguna Verde and drive by 4WD vehicle to Atacama Camp, from where we will continue the remainder of the expedition.

• Max altitude: 5350m
• Lodging: Mountain tent
• Meals: Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: No
• Scheme: Food preparation, camp dismantling and set-up at high altitude, 4WD drive to Atacama Camp.

We will drive to the Tejos refuge (depending on the conditions) and from there, we will take an
acclimatization hike along the Ojos del Salado path, reaching approximately 6,300 m.

• Max altitude: 6300 m / 20670 ft
• Lodging: Mountain tent
• Meals: Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: 4WD
• Scheme:Driving and acclimatization hike.

Reserved day in case of bad weather for a summit attempt or a free day at Laguna Verde to
extend acclimatization. Today we also have the opportunity to review rope and knot
techniques.

We will set out early in the morning to reach the Ojos del Salado summit (6,893masl). On this
day we will see how all of our hard work flourishes. All the previous acclimatization process is
to endure this SO challenging summit. No doubt about it, this is the hardest day in our
expedition. We will be driving to Tejos Refuge, ascending 1,000 meters, crossing a glacier, rock
climbing, reaching the summit and descending to Laguna Verde, all in the same day.
Estimated time for the ascent is between 9 and 12 hours.

• Max altitude: 6893 m / 22615 ft
• Lodging: Mountain tent
• Meals: Breakfast, box-lunch, dinner
• Transport: 4WD
• Scheme:Driving, climb Ojos del Salado, back to base camp.

On the last day of this high mountain adventure, calmly we will 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, to relax our last day at the beach.

• Max altitude: 4350 m / 14270 ft
• Lodging: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, box-lunch
• Transport: 4WD
• Scheme:Camp take-down, drive to Copiapo.

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)