OJOS DEL SALADO - COMPLETE ITINERARY

Day 01: Catamarca City (1.385m)
The guide of the expedition will be waiting for you in Catamarca Airport to take you to the hotel. This day the equipment will be checked and if it is necessary the guide will accompany you to hire those things that you may not have. You will stay in one of the best hotels in Catamarca. (Food not included)

 

Day 02: Catamarca City / Fiambalá City (1.505m)
A private transfer will take you to Fiambala city. You will use this day to rest from the long trip and talk about the expedition. Lodging in hotel. (B, PL, D)

 

Day 03: Fiambalá City / Quemaditos Refugee (3.600m)
After breakfast, you will be driven over 131 kilometers, which separate Fiambalá City from Quemaditos Refugee, near Cazadores River. Here you will set up the tents. (B, PL, D)

 

Day 04: Quemaditos Refugee / Aguas Calientes Campsite (4.165m)
After the first night in the mountain, you will leave very early in the morning to Aguas Calientes campsite. This is the last place where you will find water. You will take advantage of a branch of the Cazadores River. (B, PL, D)
Walking hours: 7 hours.

 

Day 05: Aguas Calientes Campsite / Aguas de Vicuñas Campsite (5.050m)
This day you start very early in the morning. After the breakfast you will continue with the trekking towards the next campsite, called Aguas de Vicuñas. Once you arrive at this place you will set up the campsite. (B, PL, D)
Walking hours: 7 hours.

 

Day 06: Aguas de Vicuñas Campsite / Arenales Base Camp (5.200m)
This is the last day of approaching to the mountain. You will arrive at Arenales campsite. You will arrange the campsite and then walk around this beautiful place. (B, PL, D)
Walking hours: 7 hours.

 

Day 07: Arenales Base Camp
This day you will rest in the base camp. You will enjoy the staying in this beautiful place. (B, L, D)

 

Day 08: Acclimatization Day (Around 6.700m)
You will use this day in order to get acclimatized and get to know the neighbor mountains such as Mt. Tres Cruces (6.700 m), Mt. Del Nacimiento (6.493 m), Incahuasi Volcanoe (6.698 m), among others. (B, PL, D)

 

Day 09: Arenales Base Camp
Rest day in the base camp. On this day you will make sure that your equipment is ready and that you rest so as to be strong for the next days that demand more effort. (B, L, D)

 

Day 10: Arenales Base Camp / Altitude Camp (5.800m)
Very early in the morning you will walk to the altitude camp located at 5.800 m. When you arrive, you will rest some time and then start with the setting up of the campsite. You will enjoy the great sight the landscape offers us. (B, PL, D)
Walking hours: 7 hours.

 

Day 11: Altitude Camp
Rest day in the altitude camp, to try the summit the following day. (B, L, D)

 

Day 12: Altitude Camp / Summit (6.864m) / Altitude Camp
You will have breakfast very early in the morning, and start with the trekking to avoid the wind and make our first attempt to the summit. It must take around 8 hours, but it will depend on the physical conditions of the climbers and the weather. This day, it is necessary to have adequate equipment for low temperatures, -25ºC / -30ºC, and the strong winds, around 80 Km. /hr. You would need the front lamp required for the walk during the night; crampons to cross a part of 35º of inclination and 100m long at 6.550 m.a.s.l.; poles and/or walking piolet. Each participant must count with a one litter thermo to carry water during the summit day.
This climb is made by a trace very well marked and a sandy land with slopes that vary from 15º to 40º of inclination. After 6 hours of walking you will arrive at the crater of the volcano, from where you will walk to the summit stepping big rocks. At the end of this section, you will find the last climbing of 30m at 6.860 m.a.s.l. and its difficulty is of 5.6 in the American scale. Our company will provide you with ropes for the cross and the final climbing. In the summit there is space for 6 people approximately.
After being round 15 minutes in the summit you return to the altitude camp. In that place you will take a hot drink and rest after this long day. (B, PL, D)
Walking hours: 12 hours.

 

Day 13: Altitude Camp / Arenales Base Camp
You will have breakfast and then arrange everything to leave to the base camp. Already relaxed, you will enjoy the last images of this beautiful place. You will arrange the loads to be carried by mules on the next day. (B, PL, D)
Walking hours: 5 / 6 hours.

 

Day 14: Arenales Base Camp / Aguas Calientes Campsite
You will set down our base camp, and after the breakfast, you will start the descending trekking to the next camp called Aguas Calientes. Our thoughts will be submerged in the last days lived in this great mountain, that will be never forgotten. (B, PL, D)
Walking hours: 5 / 6 hours.

 

Day 15: Aguas Calientes Campsite / Quemaditos Refugee
As habitually, the day will start early. You will set down the tents and will walk in direction to the last camp, Quemaditos Refugee. Once you arrive, you will be able to make a toast for the great succeed. You have climbed the Great King of the Desert. (B, PL, D)
Walking hours: 5 / 6 hours.

 

Day 16: Quemaditos Refugee / Fiambalá City
After breakfast, the transfer will take you to Fiambala City where we will stay in a hotel. You will enjoy a farewell dinner in a wonderful restaurant. (B, D)

 

Day 17: Fiambalá City / Catamarca City
Transfer to Catamarca City. You will stay in a hotel. (B)

 

Day 18: Catamarca City
Breakfast. End of the services.(B)

 

Day 19: Extra day for contingencies that may prevent the normal development of the program (B, PL, D)

 

Day 20: Extra day for contingencies that may prevent the normal development of the program (B, PL, D)

 

 

Note

The above itinerary is intended as a guideline only. Although every effort will be made to adhere to it, changes may be caused due to weather conditions, transport failure or other unforeseen events. Please be flexible if necessary.