Ojos del Salado sits on the Chile-Argentina border at 6,893 m — the highest volcano in the world and the second-highest peak in the Americas after Aconcagua. It's a mountain of scale rather than technical difficulty: long approaches through the Atacama desert, staged acclimatization across four camps, and a summit day that combines volcanic scree, glaciated slopes, and a short rock scramble to the crater rim.
The route is non-technical in the alpine sense — no exposed rock climbing, no serious crevasse hazard on the standard line — but it is unforgiving. The altitude, the dryness, the cold, and the sheer distance across the summit day mean that fitness, patience, and proper acclimatization are what get climbers to the top. Every year, climbers with strong technical résumés turn back on Ojos because they rushed the altitude.
We run this expedition slowly and carefully. Four sleeping camps between Copiapó and Tejos Refuge. Rest days built into the schedule. Buffer days for weather. And Fena on the mountain making the calls.
A sample itinerary — real dates and rest days flex around weather, acclimatization, and how each climber is moving. Fena adapts the plan on the mountain.
Team pickup at Copiapó airport (CPO). Gear check at the office, welcome dinner, briefing on the days ahead. Overnight in Copiapó at 400 m.
Long, spectacular drive up into the altiplano. Overnight at 3,700 m to start acclimatization. Short walk to explore, hydrate, sleep low.
Full acclimatization day. Guided hike to a nearby high point (4,200 m), return low to sleep. Rest, hydration, altitude briefing.
Drive to Laguna Verde at 4,350 m. Set up base camp. Optional short walk to hot springs at the lake edge. Sleep at 4,350 m.
Guided climb of Mulas Muertas (5,220 m) as an acclimatization day. Return to Laguna Verde for the night.
Full rest day. Hot springs, gear check, altitude review, big meals. Sleep low again.
Drive and short carry to the Atacama Refuge — Camp 1. Set up, hydrate, early to bed.
Guided load-carry and acclimatization hike to Tejos Refuge — Camp 2. Return to sleep at Atacama Refuge.
Move up to Tejos Refuge (5,825 m). Rest, hydrate, review summit-day plan. Early dinner, early to bed.
Alpine start, typically 3–5 a.m. Long summit day: scree, snowfields, glaciated upper slopes, and a short rock scramble to the crater rim. Approximately 10–14 hours round trip. Descent to Tejos Refuge.
Pack up Tejos, descend to Laguna Verde. Celebrate. Hot springs. Sleep low.
Long drive back to Copiapó. Farewell dinner. Overnight at 400 m.
Transfer to Copiapó airport. Buffer days available if the summit push was delayed by weather (14–18 day range accommodates one weather day and one reserve summit day).
$7,200 USD
All-inclusive from Copiapó
$1,500 non-refundable deposit reserves your spot. Balance of $5,700 invoiced 90 days before departure. Balance is refundable up to 60 days before expedition start.