Day 1: Airport - Arica (40m) | Pick up from Airport and transfer to Arica. Meeting with guide and welcome dinner. 40 minutes (D) Hotel 3* |
Day 2: Arica - Putre (3500m) | Easy day today as we drive up to Putre. Along the way we pass different climate zones and vegetation. We notice weather also changes from hot to an alpine cool. We will make some stops along the way to visit some of the sites. 3 - 4 hours driving with stops (BLD) Hotel 2* |
Day 3: Putre - Rock paintings of Wilakahuranny (3060m) - Putre | Our first day day of acclimatizing with a small trek. We make an easy trek in the area to the Wilakauranny rock paintings. the trail follows the river leaving Putre we keep following this until the rock paintings. This is going to be an easy day for acclimatizing. The area has a lot of history, mainly pre Colombian. We have the chance to see some old inca ruins and notice the area was heavily cultivated.
4 - 5 hours walking (BLD) Hotel 2* |
Day 4: Putre - Lago Cotacontani (4400m) - Putre | We head out towards the Lauca National Park and we gang a bit higher altitude. We first drive to Parinacota village and from here we make a walk to the Lago Cotacontani. We start to notice the altitude so we want to take it easy. We have the chance to see some wild life mainly birds from the area. We will stop at the village of Parinacota to visit the old church. After the days walk we drive back to Putre. 2 hours driving, 3 - 4 hours walking (BLD) Hotel 2* |
Day 5: Putre - Peak 5025m - Putre | Each day we are going to climb a littler higher and to day we try a small mountain near Putre. The great thing with this program is we go high and sleep low. This small peak is an easy climb, we first need to drive a bit from Putre to the base of the mountain. On the way we pass an old Inca coral where they used to catch Vicunas for there wool which was highly priced by the Incas and only worn by Inca royalty.
1 - 2 hours driving, 3 - 4 hours walking (BLD) Hotel 2* |
Day 6: Putre - Lago Chungara (4700m) - Putre | Another easy of acclimatizing, we drive up to Lago Chungara. From the lake we can see Volcanos, Parinacota (6333m), Pomarate and Sajama in Bolivia. We stop here for a picnic lunch and have time to visit some of the hot springs in the area. In the afternoon we drive back to Putre and get ready for the next day, where we have an start to climb Cerro Tarapaca. 2 hours driving, 2 - 3 hours visiting the area (BLD) Hotel 2* |
Day 7: Putre - Cerro Tarapaca or Nevado Putre (5775m) - Putre | A early start today for our accent of Tarapaca. After breakfast we drive up to the base of the mountain from where we start our ascent. We follow some small trails heading up the mountain. After 1 to 2 hours we reach a col and from here the trail gets steeper. Depending on the time of year we can be climbing on snow or loss gravel. On the summit we have a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and can see all the volcanos in the near by area. Same way back down and drive back to Putre.
1 1/2 hours driving, 6 - 8 hours climbing (BLD) Hotel 2* |
Day 8: Putre - High camp Volcano Tacora (5200m) | We can have a late start today, as we plan to leave after lunch to drive to the high camp of Volcano Tacora. We will have lunch in Putre and then head out towards the Peruvian border. The drive goes through canyons and open plains. Near the mountain we can see the old mine form the 50’s and 60’s, which used to mine sulfur. We going to drive as high as we can and make out high camp on the old mining road.
2 - 3 hours driving (BLD) camping |
Day 9: High camp - Summit Tacora (5988m) - High camp - Putre | Another early start in the morning. First part of the trail is easy, as we go higher the steep it gets. Depending on the time of year we can be climbing on snow or loss gravel. Last bit to the summit is a small climb on rock. From the summit we can see Peru and all the way down to the Pacific coast. Same way back down to our high camp. We make a small rest at high camp and drive back to Putre.
1 1/2 hours driving, 6 - 8 hours climbing (BLD) Hotel 2* |
Day 10: Putre - Arica - Iquique (30m) | Here starts our second part of the trip which means heading south to Antofagasta. We drive down to Arica and have some lunch before driving onto Iquique. 5 - 6 hours driving (BLD) Hotel 3* |
Day 11: Iquique - Antofagasta (30m) | We keep heading south to Antofagasta along the Pacific ocean, The drive is quite spectacular. We stop for lunch along the way for some fresh sea food. 4 - 5 hours driving (BLD) Hotel 3* |
Day 12: Antofagasta - Quebrada de las Zorritas, Refugio CONAF (4200m) | In the morning we fill up with gasoline before heading east to the border of Argentina and Chile. We have a lot of climbing and pass large open areas. After passing the mine Escondida we have to find our way through the maze of roads. In one of the valleys is the ranger station of CONAF. We camp near the ranger station.
5 – 6 hours driving (BLD) camping |
Day 13: Quebrada de las Zorritas – High camp 1 (5500m) | After breakfast we pack our packs ready to head up to our high camp. We still have to drive a bit to reach the end of the road, from where we start our walk. There is a small trail which we follow this until we find a good high camp spot. It will be a tough day as we need carry all our gear up to high camp. We don’t have to use of porters.
30 minute drive, 6 – 8 hours walking (BLD) Camping |
Day 14: High Camp 1 – High Camp 2 (6000m) | After breakfast we pack up our camp and keep heading up the mountain. We might have ice in this part so we need to use our crampons. We really start to feel the altitude and with our big packs it’s hard going. Around the 6000m mark we look for a good camp spot. Once camp is set up, we make dinner and water for the next day.
5 - 6 hours walking (BLD) camping |
Day 15: High Camp – Summit – High Camp – Base camp - Quebrada de las Zorritas | Today we make an early start. We head up between the two summit to the saddle. Staying on the left of the snow field. Once at the saddle (6650m) we head left to the summit. From the summit we have views of the Atacama Puna, Punta Negra, Aguas Calientes and Arizaro (Argentina) salt flats, the Escondida mine and volcanoes San Pedro, San Pablo, Licancabur, Pili Lascar, Socompa, Lastarria, among many others! After the summit we head back to our high camp have a rest and head back down to our vehicle. We then drive back to base camp
12 – 16 hours climbing, 30 minute drive (BLD) Camping |
| This day can be used for bad weather, rest day or on summit day if it gets late spend another night in camp 1 before heading back all the way down to the ranger station (BLD) Camping |
Day 17: Quebrada de las Zorritas – Antofagasta | An easy day drive back to Antofagasta 5 – 6 hours driving (BLD) Hotel 3* |
Day 18: Antofagasta - Airport or Back to Arica | Transfer to the airport End of Services, or go back with transport to Arica. 45 minute drive (B) End of Services |