Guided 9-day climb to San Francisco volcano in Atacama

The arid region of the Atacama Desert awaits your visit. This vast surface in northern Chile has a spectacular surprise for you: San Francisco volcano (6,018 m). Located right on the border of Argentina and Chile, this extinct stratovolcano will be our main challenge on this unforgettable 9-day expedition. 

Why is this experience for you? Thanks for asking: San Francisco volcano is considered the world’s easiest 6,000 m peak to climb, since its route grows gradually in height, allowing us to acclimatize well.

This is not a technical ascent. However, it’s an expedition that will take us to extreme altitudes, so you will need to have a multi-day altitude trek experience, climbing other peaks in the area first. You’ll also need to be healthy and fit.

We will start our exciting journey in the northern Chilean city of Copiapó, where we will prepare and adjust everything for the expedition. On the following day, we will drive to the Laguna Santa Rosa Hut to spend the night, located at the edge of the homonymous lagoon.

The next days we will witness the beauty of the Siete Hermanos peak (4,780 m) and the dryness that surrounds the Mulas Muertas peak (5,200 m), and will acclimatize our bodies for the 7th day challenge: San Francisco Volcano summit via the north ridge.

This last climb will take us around 5 to 7 hours to accomplish. Afterwards, four-by-four vehicles will be waiting for us at the bottom to take us back to our shelter for the night.

For this trip, it is essential that you bring with you personal climbing equipment or let us know beforehand if you want us to rent it for you.

If you are up for an exciting but demanding challenge, try this one! Don’t miss the chance to witness the inhospitable nature of the Atacama Desert over 6,000 m high!

Would you like to go further and higher? Join me in this 14-day ascent to the summit of the Ojos del Salado peak, the world’s highest volcano at 6,891 m.