Ojos del Salado Fast Ascent from Chile
4.0
(5)
Climb Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano in the world, on a demanding short expedition from Copiapó through the remote Puna de Atacama. Guided by Ezequiel, this program is ideal for strong, well-acclimatized climbers looking for a high-altitude objective.
Private
Andes
10 Days
Jan - Apr, Nov, Dec
High
Intermediate
Highlights
- Climb Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano in the world, via the Chilean side.
- Acclimatize in spectacular Andean desert locations including Santa Rosa Lagoon, Laguna Verde, and Mulas Muertas Volcano.
- Take on a short, demanding expedition that is ideal before or after Aconcagua.
Description
Rising to 6,893 meters in the Chilean Andes, Ojos del Salado is a striking high-altitude objective in the vast desert landscapes of the Puna de Atacama. This short ascent program begins in Copiapó and gradually moves through Santa Rosa Lagoon, Laguna Verde, the Atacama Refuge, and the Tejos Refuge before the summit push. The climb involves approximately 2,500 meters of elevation gain from Laguna Verde and reaches the summit of Ojos del Salado at 6,893 meters.
This is a fast-paced expedition designed for climbers who already have solid mountain fitness and some experience at altitude. The itinerary includes progressive acclimatization days, including time at Santa Rosa Lagoon, Laguna Verde, and Mulas Muertas Volcano, before moving higher toward the Atacama and Tejos refuges.
The program is especially suitable as a pre or post Aconcagua expedition, either to prepare for another high-altitude challenge or to take advantage of existing acclimatization after time in the Andes.
Join Ezequiel for a compact but serious high-altitude ascent of Ojos del Salado from Chile, and send a request to start planning your expedition.
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Transportation start and back
- All meals during trip
Price details
- ✅Included:
- Guiding fee
- All transportation from Copiapó to Ojos del Salado and back
- All meals during the expedition
- Accommodation in Laguna Rosa and high camps
- All group camping equipment
- ❌Not Included:
- Personal equipment
- Nights before or after the expedition in Copiapó
- Travel to Copiapó before the expedition
- Travel home from Copiapó after the expedition
- Evacuation service or expenses incurred by evacuation carried out by third parties or specialized services
- Personal accident insurance
- Evacuation insurance
- Travel insurance
Meeting point
Itinerary
Day 1: Copiapó – Laguna Santa Rosa (3,700 m / 12,139 ft)
We will meet at your hotel at 10:00 a.m. to begin the journey to Laguna Santa Rosa, located a 3-hour drive from Copiapó. This day is dedicated to acclimatization in the area. We recommend arriving one day before the expedition begins for an equipment check and to arrange equipment rental if needed. Overnight stay in a mountain refuge.
Day 2: Laguna Santa Rosa – Cerro Siete Hermanas (4,300 m / 14,107 ft) – Laguna Santa Rosa
Acclimatization trek to Cerro Siete Hermanas (4,300 m / 14,107 ft). Overnight stay at Laguna Santa Rosa. The mountain reaches 4,800 m, but we will ascend to 4,300 m to gain altitude. Overnight stay in a mountain refuge.
Day 3: Laguna Santa Rosa – Laguna Verde (4,300 m / 14,107 ft)
Today is dedicated to acclimatization in the area. We have access to hot springs where we can relax and enjoy a pleasant afternoon (please bring a swimsuit). We will camp there, have dinner, and rest before continuing our acclimatization for Ojos del Salado. Overnight stay in a tent.
Day 4: Laguna Verde – Cerro Cordobita (5,579 m) – Laguna Verde
We will start the day early to begin the ascent of the volcano. The goal for this day is to gain altitude and get used to moving around this magical place. Although reaching the summit is not the main objective, we will attempt it. This is an acclimatization day. We will then return to Laguna Verde (4,300 m) to rest. Overnight stay in a tent.
Day 5: Laguna Verde – Paso San Francisco (4,800 m)
We will travel to Paso San Francisco (4,800 m) and spend the entire day and night there to prepare for the following day. Overnight stay in a basic mountain refuge or tent.
Day 6: Paso San Francisco – Volcán San Francisco (6,016 m) – Paso San Francisco
We will start the day at 3:00 a.m., with the aim of beginning the hike at 5:00 a.m. The goal is to reach the summit of this imposing volcano. Overnight stay in a basic mountain refuge or tent.
Day 7: Paso San Francisco – Rest Day at Laguna Verde
Today is dedicated to resting in the area. We have access to hot springs where we can relax and enjoy a pleasant afternoon (please bring a swimsuit). We will camp there, have dinner, and rest before continuing our acclimatization for Ojos del Salado.
Day 8: Rest Day at Laguna Verde / Summit Attempt Option
Day 9: Transfer to Refugio Tejos – Summit Attempt – Refugio Tejos
The original plan is to have breakfast at 1:00 a.m. and leave the refuge at 3:00 a.m. This allows us to make progress during the night and make the most of the available daylight hours. We will return to Refugio Tejos at approximately 6:00 p.m., rest, have something to eat, and then move our camp back to Laguna Verde. The itinerary may vary depending on weather conditions, wind, precipitation, and other factors. We have reserved free days to accommodate these circumstances.
Day 10: Laguna Verde – Copiapó
We will start the day early with breakfast, then dismantle the camp and travel to the hotel in Copiapó.
End of Services.
Details
Accommodation
Camping at Laguna Verde, Atacama Refuge, and Tejos Refuge.
FAQs
What experience and how fit do I need to be to climb this mountain? Is this program suitable for children or older people?
You need to be trained; it is a very demanding mountain, both physically and mentally. It is not suitable for children.
How far in advance should I start training and what kind of training do you suggest?
Always be trained and prepared for this kind of challenge. I always recommend cardio training three times a week and weight training three times a week.
Will I need to bring any technical equipment of my own? Is it possible to rent equipment, and if so, what would be the approximate cost of that?
You have to bring your own personal technical equipment (crampons). Although I will give you a harness, helmet and the rope
Will there be porters to help to carry group and personal equipment?
There are no porters. But only one day we will walk with the backpack loaded. If we cannot reach the last camp with the vehicle
How will accommodation and meals be handled on the mountain?
I take care of this, from the first day to the last day of the expedition.
What happens in the event of bad weather?
We have two days of backup in case of bad weather
Are there any other special requirements such as permits/insurance/vaccines that we need to consider before the tour?
It is always recommended to travel with insurance, but nothing in particular.
What is the guide-to-client ratio to climb this mountain?
There is one guide for every three clients, and after the fourth client, another guide is added. There is also the possibility of hiring an assistant for the summit day (this service is not included in this program).
What is the best time of the year to climb this mountain?
The best time is at the middle of October to April.
Can I join a group?
Of course, there are published dates. I'll be waiting for you!
When and where will we meet?
We will meet in Copiapo on Day 1 of the expedition. I recommend you to arrive to Copiapó the day before starting the expedition.
Is this expedition to Ojos del Salado from the Chilean or Argentine side?
This expedition is from the CHILEAN side of Ojos del Salado. Meeting point is Copiapó city.
How is the acclimatization process during the expedition?
This 9 days itinerary contemplates a gradual acclimatization process, hiking some lower peaks during the previous days before the summit attempt to Ojos del Salado. However, if you have limited experience on high altitude, I recommend you to spend a few days before doing some altitude hikes on your own, before the start of the expedition.
What is the previous experience and fitness level required to go to Ojos del Salado?
The Ojos del Salado expedition is not technical, except for a short scrambling section towards the end of the ascent. So although it's not mandatory to have previous mountaineering experience, it helps if you've been on high altitude before.. The biggest challenge is altitude, so it's important to do good acclimatization, have a good fitness level, and do solid aerobic preparation for the trip.
Can I rent equipment?
Yes, there are rental shops in Copiapo. In case you need to rent there, please make sure you arrive one or two days in advance.
Do you include satellite tracking in your expeditions?
Yes, in all my expeditions I include In reach tracking every 10 minutes.
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Ezequiel
5.0
(34)
Trekking Guide
My name is Ezequiel David Di Fabio, I am a professional Mountain guide, National Physical Education teacher, lifeguard and ski instructor.
For nine years I have been carrying out different experiences in nature with groups of varied ages in order to promote activity.
Motivated by this goal is that I work with explore and share where I propose mountaineering, trekking and rock climbing outings in Argentina.
Throughout these years I have traveled from Salta to Tierra del Fuego, carrying out different group expeditions in our country, as well as developing myself professionally in other countries such as Peru.
Languages
English | Spanish
Certificates
EPGAMT
What people are saying about Ezequiel
One of the best trips ever. Ezequiel adjusted the plan to the changing weather, very professional and reliable. And more importantly for me, he is a very kind and interesting person. Highly recommended!
Ezequiel was my guide for Aconcagua climb in 2025. I can highly recommend Ezequiel as a guide. He was knowledgeable, experienced, and a genuinely kind person. He worked very hard to ensure that our climb was a success. During the entire trip, he made sure that we always had everything that we needed to rest and recover at camps so that we could make it to the summit. Thanks to his guidance and support, I was able to reach the summit of Aconcagua. If I were to climb any mountain again, I would choose Ezequiel as my guide without any hesitation.
The guide is highly qualified, polite, and most importantly, thanks to his efforts, we safely reached the summit of Aconcagua.
Excellent experience. Very well organized. Wonderful people. Highly recommended!
Ezequiel, thank you so much for everything! The whole experience was amazing from start to finish. Your impeccable attention, the delicious food, the way you coordinated the group, and all the knowledge you shared made the trek incredibly enriching. You were always attentive to how we were feeling, to anything we might need, and above all, to keeping us safe without ever putting our well-being at risk. For this being my first trekking experience, it completely exceeded all my expectations! Thank you for making this adventure truly unforgettable!
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