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Ojos del Salado
Height: 6,893 m
Countries: 
Argentina
Chile
ArgentinaChile
Climbing Ojos del Salado, the world's highest volcano, offers a thrilling high-altitude adventure with desolate beauty and challenging conditions. The Chilean side provides easier access with basic refugios, while the Argentinian side demands more self-sufficiency. The final summit push involves loose, rotten rock and strong winds, testing your endurance.
Prepare for an adventure climbing Ojos del Salado. This overview provides essential details on routes, difficulty, costs, and the best times to go, helping you plan a successful expedition.
Difficulty
- F: Easy (alpine grade 1)
- PD: Not very hard (alpine grade 2)
When to go
- December to February
Permits
- 3 permits are needed
- costing around $180 total
These are pictures taken while climbing Ojos del Salado. They're shown here to give you an idea of what the route is like. You're welcome to share your own pictures of mountaineering Ojos del Salado, to help the community of climbers. Picture here are either uploaded by members (there own, or creative commons pictures), or guides.
Guide links
These guides offer organised mountaineering expeditions for Ojos del Salado. From here you can check each guides profile, or browse directly to their website to see the trip. You can separately view the guides directory to browse all guides in one place.
Below is a curated list of independent mountain guides offering expeditions for Ojos del Salado. Each guide provides their own experience, allowing climbers to select the approach that best suits their style, budget, and experience level. You can explore each guide’s dedicated trip page to review what they offer, from logistics and support to pricing details, with no additional influence from us.
The Ojos del Salado climbing itinerary includes essential stops such as Base Camp, Tejos Refuge, Atacama Camp, and Berlin Hut, each strategically positioned for acclimatization. The final ascent to the summit at 6893 meters provides experienced climbers with a challenging yet rewarding endeavor.
Base Camp (Atacama Refuge)
The starting point for the ascent, Base Camp provides a solid foundation for acclimatization.
5,300 m
Tejos Refuge
Tejos Refuge serves as the first overnight stop, offering shelter and a chance to further acclimatize.
5,800 m
Ojos del Salado Summit
The summit of Ojos del Salado, at 6893 meters, rewards climbers with breathtaking views and a sense of accomplishment.
6,893 m
Explore the 3D route map for a realistic view of the ascent to Ojos del Salado. This interactive map provides a close-up look at key points like base camp and high-altitude camps along the way. For those planning their own expeditions, it offers a helpful overview of the mountain's terrain and surroundings.
Ojos del Salado permits
What permits are needed for climbing Ojos del Salado
To climb Ojos del Salado, you need specific permits depending on whether you start from the Chilean or Argentinian side. These permits cover access to the climbing areas and sometimes include additional requirements such as an equipment list.
1. Climbing Permit (Chile)
- $180 (~140,000 in the local currency)
- Required for climbing from the Chilean side, covering access to the Ojos del Salado Zone.
- Obtainable in advance from DIFROL in Copiapó or online https://www.difrol.cl/en/procedures/expeditions/
2. Border Permit (Chile)
- $0
- Required for crossing the border from Argentina to Chile, obtainable in Copiapó.
- Pick up in Copiapó.
3. Registration (Argentina)
- $0
- Optional: Register with the police in Fiambalá before leaving for the mountains.
- Register at the police station in Fiambalá.
Ojos del Salado access - getting there
How to get to Ojos del Salado
From the Argentinian Side
- By Bus: Take a bus from major cities like La Rioja or Catamarca to Tinogasta. From Tinogasta, transfer to another bus or shared taxi to Fiambalá.
- By Shared Taxi: Shared taxis are available from Tinogasta to Fiambalá, costing around $10 USD for the 50-55 km ride.
- 4x4 Rental: From Fiambalá, rent a 4x4 vehicle to Refugio Cazadero Grande. You can also arrange for mulas (mules) to carry equipment from this point.
- By Bus: Travel by bus to Copiapó. From Copiapó, organize transportation to Laguna Verde.
- Tour Operators: Many tour operators in Copiapó offer packages that include transport to Laguna Verde and further up to Refugio Atacama or Refugio Tejos.
- 4x4 Vehicle: Rent a 4x4 vehicle in Copiapó for the drive to Refugio Claudio Lucero and then to Refugio Atacama (5200m) or Refugio Tejos (5800m).
Get inspired by these incredible videos capturing the experience of climbing Ojos del Salado. From route highlights to summitsummit views, these clips showcase the mountain’s beauty and the challenges it presents. Have your own Ojos del Salado video? We'd love for you to share it with the community to inspire future climbers.
What you can see from the summit of Ojos del Salado. Click and pan around the map to explore, and zoom in/out to see the names of neighbouring mountains.
Ojos del Salado questions
What to know about climbing Ojos del Salado
Common questions people have about this trek, if yours isn’t here - add it to get an answer.
Ojos del Salado Links
useful websites, Groups and communities
Groups / links with more info on the Ojos del Salado route.
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