Climbing Ojos del Salado (6893 m), Chile

Participants will meet at the airport in the city of Copiapó by 5:00 PM on the first day of the tour. If traveling from Europe, the best approach is to fly first to Santiago, Chile, and then take a connecting flight to Copiapó. Airlines operating flights from Europe include LATAM, Iberia, KLM, and Turkish Airlines. We recommend allowing at least 10 hours between your international flight and your connecting flight to Copiapó.

• Entry into Chile: Ukrainian citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. A passport valid for at least six months is required.
• Special DIFROL Permit: Climbing Ojos del Salado requires an official permit issued by Chile’s Directorate of National Borders and Boundaries (DIFROL), as the mountain lies on the border between Chile and Argentina. ExtremeGuide arranges the permit in advance using participants’ passport details.

Important! It is essential to have an international medical insurance policy that explicitly covers mountaineering/extreme sports at altitudes of up to 7,000 metres.

The policy must include search and rescue (SAR) and evacuation by helicopter and/or ground ambulance, with a minimum coverage limit of USD 50,000–100,000.

• Official currency: The official currency is the Chilean peso (CLP). US dollars can be exchanged in Santiago or Copiapó.
• US dollar bills: Only USD 50 and USD 100 bills from the newer series (issued after 2013) are accepted. Bills must be clean and in good condition, with no tears, excessive wear, or writing.
• Remaining tour balance: The outstanding balance must be paid in cash in USD or EUR on the first day of the tour, as agreed in the contract, or by bank transfer in advance.

Previous Experience:

Successful previous experience at high altitude is essential. Participants must have climbed to at least 5,000–5,500 m (e.g. Mount Kazbek, Mont Blanc, Mount Elbrus, or Kilimanjaro) or completed high-altitude treks in Nepal or Peru.

Ojos del Salado should not be your first high-altitude mountain expedition. Attempting it without prior experience at altitude puts you at serious risk and could jeopardize the entire expedition for both you and the rest of the team.

Fitness Requirements:

You must be able to sustain prolonged, steady physical effort for 10–14 hours on summit day while coping with severe oxygen deprivation at high altitude. Physical training should begin at least 4–5 months in advance and include slow-paced running in heart rate Zone 2 three times a week for 60–90 minutes per session, stair climbing with a 12–15 kg backpack, and core and back strengthening exercises.

Physical and mental preparation before climbing and hiking in the mountains

We will be living in remote, self-sufficient conditions, without showers, internet access, or mobile phone coverage. Instead of showers, we’ll have regular opportunities to enjoy the warm waters of Laguna Verde, where the water temperature is around 30°C.

One of the unique features of this expedition is that there are virtually no long approaches on foot or strenuous hikes with heavy backpacks. We drive to the base of the acclimatization peaks and Mount Ojos del Salado. For example, our camp at Laguna Verde is located at an altitude of 4,300 m, while the ascent of Ojos del Salado begins at 5,800 m.

There are no venomous insects or dangerous predators in the area. The key factors for a successful expedition are gradual acclimatization and staying healthy throughout the trip.

2 nights in a hotel in Copiapó; the rest of the trip will be spent camping in tents, with 2 people per tent.

• Mobile Coverage: Once we leave Copiapó and head onto the Atacama Desert plateau, there is no mobile network coverage (Entel/Movistar). Starlink internet is available at the base camps. The ExtremeGuide expedition is equipped with a Garmin inReach satellite communicator for emergency SOS messaging and sharing your location with family back home.
• Electricity: There are no power outlets at the camps. Electronic devices can only be charged from the vehicles’ 12V power supply while travelling. You must bring two 20,000 mAh power banks and a solar charger. The Atacama Desert receives some of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, making it an excellent location for solar charging.

At the base camps (Laguna Verde and Refugio Atacama), your guide or expedition cook will prepare hearty, hot meals, including porridge, meat, vegetables, and soups.

At Tejos High Camp (5,837 m) and during the summit push, meals will consist of high-quality freeze-dried food, quick-energy carbohydrates, and instant porridge.

Breakfast is included at the hotels. Other meals can be enjoyed at local cafés and restaurants.

The water in Atacama’s lakes and lagoons (including Laguna Verde and Laguna Santa Rosa) is highly mineralised and salty.

All drinking water is transported from the city of Copiapó in containers carried by the expedition vehicles.

Daily fluid intake: at least 3.5–4.5 litres per person to compensate for the extremely dry conditions and help prevent dehydration and blood thickening at high altitude.

The guide will carry a shared first-aid kit for basic medical emergencies. You should also bring your own personal medical kit, including any medication you regularly take for chronic conditions, remedies for colds and sore throats, nasal medication, plasters, vitamins, ibuprofen for headaches, and Diamox (acetazolamide).

The guide’s decisions are final: Ojos del Salado is a mountain that leaves no room for taking unnecessary risks or acting independently. If the guide decides that the team must turn back due to worsening weather, hypothermia, or signs of cerebral or pulmonary oedema in a participant, the descent will begin immediately.

This expedition involves risks that could endanger the health and life of every participant.

Your guides will take the necessary measures to ensure your safety, provided that all safety instructions are followed. The guide will carry a two-way radio, a GPS navigation device, and other essential group equipment.

The turnaround time for the summit attempt is usually set at 2:00 p.m. If the summit has not been reached by then, the group must turn back to avoid descending in fading daylight as temperatures drop to dangerously low levels.

Due to the extreme aridity of the Atacama Desert, waste can take decades to decompose. All waste, including used toilet paper and empty gas canisters, must be collected, carried out in the expedition vehicles, and disposed of in the city.

We also recommend undergoing a medical check-up to ensure you have no medical conditions that could make strenuous physical activity or high-altitude mountaineering unsafe.