Arrival at Copiapó. The local expedition team will be there waiting for the group. Drive (for approximately 4 hours) to camp 1 in Valle Chico. Here we spend the first night under the stars and the clearest skies on Earth.

Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Today we drive (for approximately 1,5 hours) to Laguna Santa Rosa, where we set up our tents in a fantastic landscape looking at the giant mountains of this region. In the afternoon, we will go for an easy acclimatization trekking around the lagoon and the Maricunga Salt Flat.

Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This day will be entirely dedicated to acclimatize ourselves. So, we climb one of the summits of the Siete Hermanos Mountain, which is located in our camping area. We will climb very slowly about 1.000 m until we reach one of the summits located at approx.  4.800 m.a.s.l.  We then walk back to our camp. Even though we walk down the mountain faster, we will be stopping every now and then to enjoying  the impressive views of this wonderful and unique landscape.

Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gradually, we get closer to the giant mountains. Our trip today (of approx. 3 hours) will take us beyond the mountains Tres Cruces (6.749 m), Barrancas Blancas (6.119 m), El Muerto (6.488 m) and, last but not least, the highest volcano on Earth, Ojos del Salado with its 6.893 m.a.s.l. We marvel with the spectacular view of the mountains that this magnificent geography offers us, and we see very clearly why this area is called “The Roof of the Andes”. We camp on the shores of the magnificent Laguna Verde. We can take an outdoor welcome bath at the warm springs located here.

Today we will go for a wonderful trekking along the shore of Laguna Verde. This gives us the opportunity to enjoy the fascinating nature of the area. This trekking is a very important step in our acclimatization program for the high altitude activities coming ahead.

Our objective today is to climb the first 6.000 m summit of our expedition. We will drive (for approx. 40 minutes) in the darkness to the starting point (located at approx. 4.700 m) of our climb to the summit of the San Francisco mountain. With good weather conditions, we will achieve the summit in approximately 6-8 hours. From the top, we enjoy an amazing view over the roof of the Andes, here we have a fantastic view of the huge Incahuasi Volcano with an altitude of 6.621 meters.  After enjoying the summit we then start our descent (approx. 4 hours) and then return to our camp at Laguna Verde.

Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day at leisure and preparation for the climb of the Ojos del Salado.

Today we relocate our camp above 5.000 meters. The dirt road is complicated, drivers and vehicles will be tested. After driving for approximately 3 hours, we reach our destination. From this point, the view of the altiplano is really impressive, the mighty Ojos del Salado is right in front of us. It is almost impossible not to look up and see the top, and on a clear day we are able to see part of the ascent route. We start to feel nervous, because we know the Summit is slowly getting closer.

The climb to the Tejos Refuge today (5.825 m) is done for two reasons; one to carry the equipment that we will use at the refuge, and two, it is also a very important process for our acclimatization. After breakfast, we will divide and distribute the equipment to be carried among the participants of the expedition: food, gas cookers, gas tanks, water bottles, etc. At a slow pase, in approximately 4 hours, we arrive at the Atacama container which will be our refuge at this stage.  But as it should be in mountaineering, our objective today is the walk itself, and not the end of the walk. The route offers a really dramatic mountain experience, a great natural wonder. Photographers will be able to get wonderful shots. After leaving our loads at the refuge and taking a good rest, we walk back down to our base camp.

Today we take the same route to climb up to the Tejos Refuge where we will find the equipment that we carried up the day before. It feels so good to climb just carrying a light back pack, and be able to save energy for the climb planned for the next day. When we arrive at the refuge, we take a seat, eat, drink a lot of water and try to sleep a bit before departure time long before dawn to reach the summit of the highest volcano on Earth.

Accommodation: Camp / Refuge (according to availability)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning using our headlamps we leave the container refuge and start our ascent following a narrow track. After approximately 2-3 hours the angle of the slope increases drastically and we ascend using a zigzag path until we arrive at the volcano´s glacier that we cross (approx. 6.450 m). This is a great physical and exhausting challenge, not only because of the altitude, but also because the scree, rocks and volcanic ash complicates our progress. But this effort will soon be rewarded, because we reach the crater edge and from here are able to see the summit of the mountain. It seems close enough to touch, but it will take us approx. 90 minutes to get there. From this point, we continue our path walking along the edge of the crater that finally leads to a small rock couloir (rock fan), from here we follow it up until we reach the gap in between the double summit rock block.  At this stage, our steps are shorter and our breathing stops are more frequent. We are close to the summit, about 40mt left to go,  a short semi-technical rock  climb and the crossing of a rock bridge, with the help of  fixed rope gets  us to the highest point, (it is normal to have windy conditions). We made it!  Exhausted, but happy, we write our names in the summit log book. The view of the Chilean and Argentinian plateaus, and the neighbouring giant mountains is really impressive and will be unforgettable. After this we start our climb down to base camp (total time: 10-12 hours).

This is a security day. If, due to extreme weather conditions or any other reason it is not possible to attempt the summit the day before, this is the day to try it again.

Today we take down and pack up all our camping equipment and tents. We will go on an impressive trip (from 7-8 hours) all the way from 5.000 m down to the Pacific coast. We will take the first hot bath after many days of camping at the hotel located at the beautiful and small bay of Caldera/Bahía Inglesa. We will enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After having breakfast, drive to the airport. END OF SERVICES.

Accommodation: -
Meals: Breakfast