16-day Guided expedition to the summit of Llullaillaco (6,739m) on the Atacama Plateau

Join EPGAMT certified mountain guide Luciano on this 16-day program and reach the summit of the Llullaillaco volcano in the Atacama plateau, starting from the city of Salta in Argentina.

Private

Andes

17 Days

Jan - Apr, Dec

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Climb to the top of a very special mountain in the Atacama plateau
Learn about the Incan history and the Mummies of Llullaillaco
Enjoy the view of unique wild landscapes along the route

Description

Join me on this 16-day expediton to the summit the Llullaillaco volcano (6739m), on the Atacama plateau in the Andes, starting from the city of Salta in Argentina.

LLullaillaco lies near the Atacama Desert, between the Province of Salta and the Antofagasta Region in Chile, within the margins of the Llulaillaco National Park in the latter country. Despite being the third highest mountain in Chile, it is rarely visited due to difficult access and the existence of mined fields in its surroundings.

In 1999, a team of archeologists, led by Johan Reinhard, found three frozen mummies of children on the top of Llullaillaco, with a beautiful and rich funerary trousseau, dating back to approximately 500 years old. This discovery confirmed the existence of human offerings at Llullaillaco’s summit and made Llullaillaco the highest archaeological site in the world.

This unique mountain is the classic volcano of the Puna de Atacama, aremote plateau with many high volcanic peaks in the Andes of the North of Chile and Argentina, with large loads of ash and rocks, several slabs of snow, and even small glaciers due to the intense cold.

Don’t miss out on this great program! Just contact me and book your place, come join me and reach the summit of the Llullaillaco Volcano, a very special place in the Atacama plateau.

I also offer other mountaineering ascents in the Andes. Check them out!

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Transportation start and back

Price details

The price includes:
Airport / Hostel transfer
All land transfers included
Meals included. Base Camp: Full serviceat the base camp (meals, accommodationtents, heating elements, dining tent).
Tents TNFV25, BD, Ferrino- (Ask in advance for individual tents). Professional bilingual guides with many years of experience in the area.
1 more days for possible bad weather on summit days
VHF radio communications
Solar panel
Satellite Phone (for emergencies only)
Information about the weather forecast throughout the expedition, in the Grutas
First aid kits and pulse oximeter for daily updates of acclimatization progress // Not included in the price: Personal porters or common equipment porters.
All expenses arising from the abandonment of the trip.
Meals, drinks and other expenses not mentioned in the itinerary at the farewell dinner.
Ssleeping bag and personal as listed.
Personal Medication.
Air and land evacuations.
Room Service, Laundry, Beverages, Internet, telephone and satellite communications, personal elements.
Insurance of Civil Liability, Hospitalization or medication of any kind, any other service not mentioned in the "price includes" section.
Snacks that you can buy at the last minute.

Itinerary

Day 1: Salta (1187m)

Reception at the airport and/or bus station. and transfer to the hotel. Introductory talk, Equipment check and rental of missing items. Dinner.

Day 2: Salta / San Antonio de los Cobres (3.700 m

Visit to the High Mountain Archaelogical Museum in Salta, where you can see the Children of Llullaillaco. Departure to San Antonio de los Cobres. Dinner at the Hostel.

Day 3: San Antonio de los Cobres

Breakfast and visit to the Polvorilla viaduct, trekking around the area and photos.

Day 4: San Antonio de los Cobres / Tuzgle Volcano Base Camp (4.500 m)

We will move our vans and set up the base camp at theTuzgle Volcano.

Day 5: Tuzgle Base Camp / Volcán Tuzgle Summit (5.518m) – S A Cobres.

Ascent to the Tuzgle Volcano summit.

Day 6: San Antonio de los Cobres / Tolar Grande (3.500 m)

Arrival in Tolar in the afternoon. Accommodation in cabins or hostels. Dinner.

Day 7: Tolar Grande / Volcán Llullaillaco Base Camp (4.900 m)

Breakfast. Salar de Arizaro. Caipe. La Casualidad mine. You will visit amazing places with unique scenery, where you can take great pictures.

Day 8: Base Camp / Camp I (5800 m) – Base Camp

Breakfast. Rest or transfer ot carrying of quipment to Camp 1.

Day 9: Base Camp (4.900m)

Rest, depending on weather conditions.

Day 10: Base Camp - Llullaillaco Camp I

Ascent to Llullaillaco Camp I. Incredible landscape opens up as we walk.

Day 11: Camp I / Llullallaico Summit (6.732m) / Camp 1

The long-awaited day finally arrived. Very early, at 6.00am we will begin our ascent to the summit of this beautiful Volcano. Visit of the remains of the Inca huts in the higher ridges of the summit.

Day 12: Camp I / Base Camp / Tolar Grande

Descent to Base Camp, continuing our trip to Tolar Grande, via the Cono de Arita, an incredible formation in the middle of the Salar (salt flat).

Day 13: Tolar Grande / San Antonio de los Cobres / Salta

Arrival in Salta. We can arrange your arrival through the Train of Las Nubes. Farewell dinner.

Day 14: Extra Day in case of bad weather

Day 15: Extra Day in case of bad weather

Day 16: Salta - Airport

Farewell at the Bus Terminal and or Airport.

Details

More info

We will send you an Equipment List upon booking

Meeting point

About the guide

Luciano

5.0

(4)

Mountain Guide

EPGAMT Mountain Guide from Mendoza, Argentina.

I always enjoyed the mountains, and started with mountaineering activities since a young age, so it was natural for me to become a mountain guide. I’ve been working for more than 15 seasons in Aconcagua, first as porter, then as Mountain Guide assistant, and now as Mountain Guide.

I climbed a lot of peaks all along the Andes mountain range, in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru, including Aconcagua (6.962 mt – 27 ascents, through different routes like the North and the Polish glacier-), Co Plata (6.000 mt), Ojos del Salado (6.780 mt), Mount Pissis (6.850 m), C° LLullaillaco (6.723 m), C° Incahuasi (6.450 m), Vn Sajama (6.550 m), Vn Bonete Chico (6 750 m), Co Junción (5000 m), Toclaraju ( 6036m), Pisco (5750m), and the three summits of Tres Cruces 6.780m. I recently did my first expedition in the Himalayas, where I reached the summit of Mt Lhotse (8.516 mt).

I usually enjoy organizing expeditions to wild, off-the-beaten-track destinations, that need a complex logistic that you won’t find easily elsewhere.

I am fluent in Spanish, English and Italian.

Languages

Italian | English

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What people are saying about Luciano

Francis

both guides..Luciano and Mauricio were first class and so was this fantastic region. I be looking for an encore in the future. Francis Lawrence

Frank

Luciano was excellent. His local knowledge showed as he was able modify the itinerary of the trip as circumstances - such as weather - changed in order to ensure the expedition was a success. He is a deeply experienced mountaineer with sound judgement prepared to provide advice whilst ensuring you have fun. I would highly recommend his services.

Sergio

Personally, was more impressed with the road trip towards the mountain than the mountain itself, but it was definitely worth going. The lunar landscape in this remote area is absolutely awesome. The guide was well prepared, very friendly, and even a surprisingly good cook. The location is as far as you are likely to get from civilisation. The weather was also unusually good. But the mountain is tough and frustrating sliding down every step in the loose gravel and sand. Not everyone's cup of tea