Climbing to Ojos del Salado

Ojos del Salado: (6,920 m.).
Duration: 15 days.
Difficulty: Moderate technical level, mostly walking on trails and snowfields (crampons). Demanding from the point of view of extreme cold and high altitude.
Minimum: two people.
Date: November-March.

Ojos del Salado is located in the Atacama Desert, 900 km. north of Santiago de Chile. This impressive volcano located in the Chilean Altiplano, is surrounded by lagoons, and innumerable mountains and volcanoes of appreciable altitudes.

Day 1. Arrival in Santiago

Reception of the group at the Santiago de Chile Airport. Transfer by private vehicle to the Hotel in Santiago. Check of personal mountain equipment.

Day 2. Flight to Copiapó

Transfer from the hotel to the Santiago airport. Flight to Copiapo. Transfer to the hotel in Copiapo, free afternoon. Dinner.

Day 3. Maricunga

Processing of permits to climb Ojos del Salado. Departure in the afternoon to the Salar de Maricunga, at an altitude of 3,600 meters. Impressive salty highland lake where Andean flamingos nest. Camp in Laguna Santa Rosa. This place is located in the Nevado Tres Cruces National Park. Gentle acclimatization walk on the edge of the Santa Rosa Lagoon. Dinner in dining tent.

Day 4. Acclimatization climb

Breakfast. Hike in the morning. Ascent to the Eight Ducks of 4,890m. This process of ascents will help us in our acclimatization task. Return to camp. Dinner in dining tent.

Day 5. Laguna Verde

Transfer to Laguna Verde at 4,350m. of incomparable turquoise color. Here we will visit some hot springs where we will have the chance to enjoy a bath while we contemplate the views of the altiplano. Camp. Dinner in dining tent.

Day 6. Rest

Walk around Laguna Verde. Lunch and dinner in camp.

Day 7. Dead mules summit

Breakfast. Ascent to the summit of the Mulas Muertas hill of 5,897 m. Return to the camp in Laguna Verde. Dinner in dining tent and hot springs.

Day 8. Atacama Camp

Breakfast and disarmament of camp. Transfer in a four-wheel drive vehicle to the Atacama refuge at 5,300 m. where we will establish our base camp at the foot of the Volcano. Dinner in dining tent.

Day 9. Atacama – Tejos – Atacama camp

Breakfast. Ascent to the Tejos Refuge to transport equipment and food. Return to the Atacama camp. Dinner.

Day 10. Yew camp

Breakfast. Ascent to the Tejos Refuge. Camp. Height dinner.

Day 11. Summit day

Early morning breakfast. Departure to the summit before sunrise. Approximately 6 to 7 hours of ascent separate us from our last camp to the summit of Ojos de Salado. Return to the Tejos camp or continue to the Atacama camp, depending on the conditions of the people that make up the expedition. Dinner.

Day 12. Bonus summit day

Extra day in case of unforeseen weather and others.

Day 13. English Bay

Descent to Copiapó. Stop at Laguna Verde for thermal baths. Continue the trip in the direction of the Pacific Ocean to our Hotel on the beach of Bahia Inglesa. Celebration dinner.

Day 14. Fight to Santiago

Transfer to Copiapó airport. Flight back to Santiago. Hotel.

Day 15. Return flight

Transfer to Santiago airport. Return flight.

Includes:

Mountain guides.
Transfers in private vehicle.
Flight Santiago – Copiapó – Santiago with a maximum of 20 kg of luggage.
2 hotel nights in Santiago, in a double room with breakfast.
One night in a hotel in Copiapo, in a double room with breakfast.
One night in a hotel in Bahia Inglesa, in a double room with breakfast.
Climbing permit.
First aid kit.
Oximeter for acclimatization control of each client.
High mountain tents.
Dining tent in base camp, with tables and chairs.
Radio communication UHF and VHF.
Meals while staying in the mountains (Breakfasts, dinners and rations on the go).
Satellite phone (USD$6 per minute).

The expedition does not include:

Personal mountain equipment.
Accident insurance.
Extra expenses in cities.
Sleeping bag and mountain mattress.
Meals in cities (Santiago, Copiapo, Bahia Inglesa).
Extra nights in Bahïa Inglesa or Santiago in case of arrival before the 13th day of our itinerary.