- Duration: 17 days
- Difficulty: Excellent Physical Shape
- Space Available: 6 climbers
- Departure: All year around (AEE10)
- Expedition Cost: US $4,490 per person private 6 clients
- Other Costs: Hotel single supplement: US $500, Reservation cost: US $900
- Balance Due: 120 days prior to departure
Llullaillaco 6,739 meters (22,110 ft) is a stratovolcano at the border of Argentina (Salta Province) and Chile. It lies in the Puna de Atacama, a region of very high volcanic peaks on a high plateau within the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places in the world.
Llullaillaco is the second highest active volcano in the world, surpassed only by Ojos del Salado. It is the fifth highest volcano in the world, and it is also the seventh highest mountain of the Western Hemisphere.
Route Itinerary
Day 1 Calama – San Pedro. Meet with your Guide at the airport in Calama and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama 2450m. After check in procedures, the guide will check members gears. In the afternoon we get transfer to the Salt Cordillera and the Moon Valley area for a light trek in these impressive geological formations old of millions of years. Impressive sunset view of the Moon Valley. Return to San Pedro. Hotel.
Day 02 San Pedro Atacama – Toconao – Salar Atacama – Moon Valley. Drive 40 km south of San Pedro, is Toconao, a village even smaller than San Pedro. It seems to be absolutely in the middle of nowhere with any sustenance, but at its edge you come upon a river tumbling down from the Andes. The river has carved out a canyon (Quebrada de Jeria) which is green with life, making for an absolutely stunning contrast with the desert above. Salar de Atacama is the largest salt flat in Chile, here we will visit the Chaxa Lagoon that provides habitat for bird species. Among those are Chilean and Andean Flamingos. Return for lunch to San Pedro, afternoon we visit the Salt Cordillera and the Moon Valley area for a light trek in these impressive geological formations millions years ago. Impressive sunset view of the Moon valley. Return to SP. Hotel.
Day 3 Trek San Pedro – Guatin. After breakfast, tour to the extraordinary archaeological museum of Padre Gustavo Le Paige. Among its many artifacts (more than 300,000 archeological pieces from various pre-hispanic cultures) are rows of amazingly well-preserved mummies. Next, follow up the archeological data with a three km hike to the 12th century Pukara de Quitor National Monument and another two km to Catarpe, to see what may have been an Incan Administrative Center for the region. Continue the trek with a hike toward the Purifica River on ancient Indian trails in the Guatin canyon, 9,996 ft (3000 m) and set up camp and spend the night here. Tent
Day 4 Guatin – Puritama. This is a 4-hour trek, up the altiplano from an altitude of 3,000 m (10,500ft) to the isolated village of Machuca at 4,100m/ 12,300ft, a regular stopover for ancient llama caravans traveling the Inca Trail. Along the way you’ll see examples of traditional terrace agriculture, impressive scenery and wildlife. Tent
Day 5 Puritama Hotsprings – Tatio. Early start towards El Tatio 4,500m/ 13,500ft) for sunrise view of the geological thermal activities of the geysers and later climb of the easy Soquete peak 5,400m/ 16,200 ft near El Tatio. Return to our camp set near Tatio area. Tent.
Day 6 Tatio – Soquete. Transfer to Puritama to enjoy this great hot spring area with a light lunch, and transfer to Bolivia to Laguna Verde, a beautiful altiplanic lake at the footstep of Licancabur, 4,300 m (14,000 ft). Hut
Day 7 Tatio – Puritana – Laguna Verde. Transfer to Puritama to enjoy this great hot spring area with a light lunch, and transfer to Bolivia to Laguna Verde, a beautiful altiplanic lake at the footstep of Licancabur, 4,300 m (14,000 ft).
Day 8 Licancabur – Summit – San Pedro. At 4.00am we get a 30 minutes transfer till 4,650m, point where we start the climb of Licancabur 5,930m (19455 ft). It will take 10-12 hours to reach the summit and return to the transfer point. Great view of the Bolivian and Chilean many six thousands peaks. Return in the afternoon to San Pedro Atacama for a comfortable Hotel night and dinner! Hotel.
Day 9 San Pedro – Miscanti – Meñique – Tilomointi. Tent
Day 10 Tilomonti – Agua Zorrita. Tent
Day 11 Agua Zorrita – Llullaillaco Base Camp. Tent
Day 12 Base Camp – High Camp – Base Camp. Tent
Day 13 Rest day. Tent
Day 14 Move high camp. Tent
Day 16 High Camp – Llullaillaco Summit – Base Camp. Tent
Day 15 Reserve Day. Tent
Day 16 Base Camp – Agua Zorrita. Tent
Day 17 Agua Zorrita Antofagasta. Hotel
Services
Services included
Professional Bilingual Mountain Guide.
- Ratio Guide Clients 1-4.
- All local organization and supervision by AE Expeditions staff.
- Private transportation including airport pick up in Calama.
- Four (4) Hotel nights double occupancy with breakfast.
- Difrol permit process.
- All meals during the expedition and trekking program.
- Full base camp set up dining tent, chair, tables, etc.
- High quality expedition common gear: The North Face, Mountain. Hardware and Marmot tents, isolate mattress, high camp stoves & Gaz.
- Permanent access to hot drinks, tea, coffee, biscuits at base camp tent.
- First aid kit, hyperbaric chamber, oxygen bottles, oximeter.
- Radio communication VHF 2 mt.
- Satellite phone at base camp on a per minute payment basis.
Services not included
- Flight Santiago – Calama – Santiago
- All personal climbing equipment gear
- Porter for personal gear.
- Any cost involves in an early or late departure.
- Any drinks (soda, beer or wine) in the cities.
- Arrival and final dinners in San Pedro de Atacama and in Antofagasta.
- Cancellation, accident and rescue insurance.
- Cash for extra expenses.
- Any other service not mentioned in the list.
- Gratuities are not included.
Important
- All itineraries are subject to change due to changes in the weather, individual’s acclimatization rates and the guide’s preferences.
- Any departure dates can be re-scheduled with a minimum of 6 persons.