Aventuras Patagonicas on Ojos del Salado - Chilean Altiplano Full Itinerary

Ojos del Salado - Chilean Altiplano Full Itinerary

• 
  Day 01

  Group meets in Copiapo, Chile. Equipment check and afternoon briefing at the hotel. For dinner we will have a chance to taste fine Chilean cuisine and wine.

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  Day 02

  Drive up Copiapo Valley. Camp at Valle Chico Meadows, at 10,000’. This is a great place to start our acclimatization process. We set up camp and our Base Camp tent to enjoy a great first dinner of the expedition

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  Day 03

  Morning hike to a marvelous site where we can admire ancient marine fossils, followed by lunch. Then we get into our 4x4 and continue our drive to one of Northern Chile’s most picturesque wonders: the salares or high altitude saltwater lakes. We will camp beside the renowned Salar de Maricunga, at Laguna Santa Rosa, 12,540’ of elevation! This is
  3 comfortable camping with beautiful vistas of the lake, by indigenous archeological ruins.

• 
  Day 04

  A four hour morning hike and climb of Siete Hermanas Peak (Seven Sisters), 16,170’, located in the Domeyko Range. This is the first of many climbs we will do on this trip, before tackling Ojos del Salado. We will camp again at charming Laguna Santa Rosa

• 
  Day 05

  Drive up to Laguna Verde, at 14,190’, a turquoise jewel in the middle of this scenic high altitude desert. We travel on a high altitude plateau, surrounded by 6,000 meter (20,000’) peaks. Here we will spend a few nights getting acclimatized, enjoying good meals, hot springs, and day climbs that make this trip unique and unforgettable

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  Day 06

  Early start. We head towards Mulas Muertas Peak,18,810’. From the summit of this peak, the views are breathtaking. We can see Ojos del Salado in full splendor, and many other 6,000 meter peaks. These climbs are an essential preparation for our final goal of the summit of Ojos del Salado.

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  Day 07

  Short trek in the area. We hike around Laguna Verde, then follow Pena Blanca Valley, a river valley where we may encounter guanaco herds and see archeological sites. Bring your camera on this hike, the color contrasts are surreal

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  Day 08

  Drive up to Atacama Camp, at 17,160’. This is more like a high altitude safari/rally than a regular drive. Arriving by 4x4, we will set up a comfortable Base Camp.

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  Day 09

  Acclimatization hike and carry to High Camp, Refugio Tejos, at 19,140’. This is a small hut, which we may use, depending on availability. This is possibly the highest mountain hut in the world!

• 
  Day 10

  Move to Refugio Tejos, where we spend the night.
  

• 
  Day 11 - 13

  Summit! Weather permitting. We leave several days for our summit day, in case of poor weather, or if a rest day is needed.

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  Day 14

  Drive all the way down to the Pacific Ocean, to Pan de Azucar National Park. This is a perfect contrast after living at high altitude in the Atacama Desert. Set up camp and enjoy fresh seafood and wine.
  

• 
  Day 15

  Breakfast at the beach. Today we visit the park. We will travel by boat to Pan de Azucar Island, where we will have the opportunity to observe dolphins, Humbolt penguins, seals, and a variety of marine wildlife inhabiting this exotic place. After lunch, we drive back to Copiapo where we will spend the night and have our Celebration Dinner together
  

• 
  Next Day

  Trip ends. Fly back home or continue traveling in South America.