The Altiplano Trilogy: A Journey Across Acotango, Parinacota, and Sajama

There is a frontier where political maps blur before the immensity of geography. On the border between Chile and Bolivia, the Altiplano rises to touch the sky, creating a stage where volcanoes are not just mountains, but tutelary gods of an ancient culture. At High Mountain Expeditions, we have designed a route that doesn’t settle for a single summit. We have created a comprehensive journey that connects three giants of over 6,000 meters in a single trip: the **Altiplano Trilogy expedition**. This itinerary is much more than adding vertical meters; it is a deep immersion into one of the most aesthetic and solitary landscapes of the Andes.

1. Acotango (6,052 m): First Contact

Our journey begins with Acotango, a volcano located right on the border line. It is the perfect gateway to the realm of the “6000ers”.

• The Challenge: Its ascent is progressive and straightforward, ideal for the body to remember how to function at altitude and for the mind to tune into the rhythm of the expedition.
• The Reward: From its summit, you get direct views of the salt flats and wetlands (“bofedales”) that dye the high desert white and green. It is the team’s first confidence check.

2. Parinacota (6,342 m): The Perfect Aesthetic

If you asked a child to draw a volcano, they would draw Parinacota. With its perfect cone covered in a white mantle, it is the undisputed icon of Lauca National Park.

The Challenge: Here the demand steps up. The slope is sustained and the terrain demands technical handling of crampons and ice axe. It is a mountain that demands respect and consistency.

The Reward: Crowning Parinacota means standing on one of the most beautiful summits in the north. The view towards its brother, Pomerape, and the Cotacotani lagoons below, is a postcard that justifies every step.

3. Nevado Sajama (6,542 m): The Roof of Bolivia

The grand finale of our expedition takes us into the heart of Bolivia to face its highest summit: the imposing Nevado Sajama.

• The Challenge: It is the culmination of the trilogy. Higher, vaster, and more isolated. Sajama presents an environment of absolute solitude and a greater physical challenge, testing all the acclimatization gained in the previous weeks.
• The Reward: It is the finishing touch. Being at the highest point of a nation, surrounded by the immensity of the Bolivian Altiplano, offers a sense of achievement and freedom difficult to match.

The HME Seal: Seamless Cross-Border Logistics

Linking three 6,000-meter peaks in two different countries is a logistical challenge that can overwhelm anyone. That’s where we come in. The design of this itinerary is not accidental; it is intended to optimize your acclimatization, using each mountain as a stepping stone for the next. We take care of border crossings, 4×4 transport in remote terrain, and the management of comfortable camps in the middle of nowhere. Your only worry will be walking, breathing, and letting yourself be amazed by the landscape.