Ojos del Salado: World's Highest Volcano

Atacama Region, Puna de Atacama · Chile

Challenging14 daysSouth America~£3,900 est.

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Overview

Ojos del Salado is the highest volcano on Earth and the second-highest summit in the Americas — 6,893 m of wind-scoured scree and penitentes rising from the driest desert on the planet. There is no real glacier, often no snow: just mineral colours, flamingo lagoons at 4,300 m and a sky so dry the stars barely twinkle. The climb is an exercise in vehicle-supported patience. From Copiapó you ladder up through the salt lakes — camps at Laguna Santa Rosa and the Laguna Verde hot spring, with acclimatisation walks on Mulas Muertas — before 4x4s grind to the Atacama refuge at 5,260 m and the tin-box Tejos refuge at 5,830 m. Summit day is ten hours in savage wind, finishing with a short roped rock scramble out of the crater to the true summit. The catch is wind — Atacama gales close the upper mountain for days, and itineraries without slack fail. The season is December to March, high austral summer. Fourteen-day guided expeditions from Copiapó cost £3,500 to £4,500 including 4x4 logistics and refuge bookings. Non-technical apart from the last thirty metres, but the altitude, cold and dehydration make it a serious undertaking — many use it as Aconcagua's quieter, stranger sibling.