Ojos del Salado

Before the climb we have several days to acclimatize. We will take day hikes and day climbs in the fantastic Atacama Desert, visit saltwater lakes frequented by flamingos, and enjoy the natural hot springs at Laguna Verde, (14,765′), a turquoise lake with a view of snow-capped volcanoes and red desert hills. 4-wheel drive vehicles will take us up to 17,000′, where we begin our Ojos climb. From this point, we climb to Refugio Tejos, a hut at 19,350′, possibly the highest mountain hut in the world!

Gentle scree slopes and occasional snow patches lead us to the summit from which we can admire the huge extinct crater. We will also have a chance to climb an 18,000’ volcano before our Ojos climb. Participants must be in good physical condition and have previous mountaineering experience. Although Ojos is not a technical climb, altitude and weather conditions are a major challenge.