Climbing Tres Cruces Sur (6,748m) in the Andes, 19-day Expedition in northern Argentina

Join EPGAMT-certified Mountain Guide Luciano on this Nevado Tres Cruces Sur ascent expedition in the Andes mountain range, in northern Argentina.

Private

Andes

17 Days

Jan - Apr, Nov, Dec

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Climb a volcanic massif in the spectacular Andes mountain range
Discover unique wild landscapes along the route
Get a good acclimatization with previous mountain ascents

Description

The Nevado Tres Cruces is a huge mountain massif in the Andes, made up of three summits of more than 6000 meters of altitude. Join me on this 19-day expedition in northern Argentina, and we will reach the Tres Cruces Sur summit (6,748m)!

The Chilean slope of the Nevado Tres Cruces is the western limit of the homonymous park, which is divided into two sectors: Laguna Santa Rosa, and the Salar Maricunga with Laguna del Negro. The Tres Cruces Sur southern summit is part of the international border between Argentina and Chile.

We will meet in La Rioja city and travel to Fiambala, Catamarca. We will do some previous treks and climbs in order to get a good acclimatization before attempting the summit, and we will reserve some extra days in case of bad weather. You can check the day-by-day itinerary below.

The Nevado Tres Cruces has small glaciers even in summer, and gives birth to the Lamas river, which feeds the Santa Rosa lagoon. Due to the harsh environment and the distance of this mountain from urban centers (Copiapó is approximately 200km away), few mountaineers have ascended it.

The route does not have shelters on the way to the top. Also bear in mind Nevado Tres Cruces is a very cold and windy mountain, in addition to having bad weather most of the season.

So if you are in for this challenging ascent to Tres Cruces Sur, just contact me and book your place! Get ready for a unique mountaineering experience in the Andes.

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

Price includes

Guiding fee
Transport during the trip
Transportation start and back

Price details

The price includes: Airport / Hostel transfer.
Assistance in the necessary equipment to take to the expedition.
All land transfers included.
Meals included.
Base Camp: Full service in the base camp (meals, accommodationtents, heating elements, dining tent.
Tents TNFV25, BD, Ferrino warn 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 permanent 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. // The price does not include:
Personal porters or common equipment.
All expenses arising from the abandonment of the trip.
Meals, drinks and other expenses not mentioned in the itinerary at the farewell dinner.
Equipment for sleeping 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.
Favorite snacks that you prefer to buy at the last minute.

Itinerary

Day 0: Mendoza - La Rioja

Departure of the guides from Mendoza in a 4 × 4 truck. Arrival to La Rioja. Accommodation in Hostel, last minute purchases.

Day 1: La Rioja - Fiambalá

Welcoming mountaineers at La Rioja Airport and/or bus terminal. Departure to Fiambalá. 11:00 pm Dinner at “Restaurant Roma” Fiambalá (1,600m). Accommodation at Hostel San Pedro (1,600m).

Day 2: Fiambalá - Pastos Largos o Cortaderas

Breakfast, transfer of the Group to Cortaderas Refugio Pescadores (3,200m). Lunch, Picada. Free trekking for a couple of hours. Dinner: Pollo al disco (Chicken).

Day 3: Cortaderas

Breakfast. Beginning of the Ascent to Cerro Pastos Largos ( 4,200) and Coquena (4,000m). Return to the Pescadores Shelter. Dinner: Barbecue. Simple Trekking Day: we go up to 4,200m and descend to 3,200m.

Day 4: Pastos Largos - Las Grutas

Breakfast. Transfer to Las Grutas in 4 × 4. Arrival at the Road Shelter prior to Customs control at 4,200m. Picada (meat and cheese plate) free trekking with hot springs and photos of the flamingos in the lagoons. Showers. Dinner: Pasta.

Day 5: Falso Morocho ascent

Breakfast. Fals0 Morocho ascent (4,500m) and Quitapenas (4 hours). Return to Vialidad Shelter (4200m). Dinner

Day 6: Cerro Bertrand ascent

Breakfast. Cerro Bertrand ascent (5.350m). 6 hours. Return to Vialidad Shelter (4,200m ). 21.00h: Dinner

Day 7: Las Grutas - Tres Cruces Base Camp (4,700m)

Breakfast. Transfer to Base Camp, from Tres Cruces Sur through Las Coipas – an 8-hour drive.Base Camp at 4,700m. Setting up camp, “picada” and free time for trekking and photos.

Day 8: Advanced Base Camp (ABC)

If, due to the state of the road, the truck cannot access the end of the valley, we must make a new camp called “advanced”. It is a long valley that will require a minimum of 6 hours.

Day 9: Porterage or Rest

We can take a rest day or start with the carrying of equipment. Once installed in the ABC with all the equipment, we will begin with the transfer of equipment to the high camps.

Day 10: ABC- Camp 1

After breakfast we will move toCcamp 1 (4,900m) install the camp and spend the night there.

Day 11: Camp 1 - Porterage to Camp 2 - Camp 1

We will take the equipment to the next camp, to increase our acclimatization and return to the lower camp.

Day 12: Camp 1- Camp 2

After breakfast we will move to Camp 2 (5.400m). We will set up the camp and spend the night there.

Day 13: Rest Day

Rest day at Camp 2 before summit day or as an extra day in case of bad weather.

Day 14: Camp 2 - Tres Cruces summit (6.749m) - Camp 2

The big day arrived. Very early in the morning we will leave for the summit. We will ascend through a huge glacier. According to the snow conditions we will choose the appropriate section to move forward. Upon reaching the summit we will appreciate the neighboring summits, Ojos del Salado, Monte Pissis and Incahuasi, among others.

Day 15: Extra Day

Day 16: Extra Day

Day 17: Camp 2 - Base Camp

Descent from Camp 2 to Camp Base or ABC, depending on how are we feeling regarding time available and energy.

Day 18: Base Camp - Fiambalá

Cabins in Las Termas. Barbecue (Asado) farewell dinner.

Day 19: Fiambalá- La Rioja

We say goodbye at the Catamarca Terminal. End of program.

Details

More info

We will send you an Equipment List upon booking

Meeting point

To be determined. Airport/Bus Terminal of La Rioja city.

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

Request more information

What people are saying about Luciano

Giuseppe

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