Expedition to Sacred Mountains

Objectives of the Tripthe aim is to visit different mountains which are part of the Andes and that share the characteristic of being considered as “Apus” or sacred mountains by the Incas. On these mountains one can find high altitude ruins as the ones found at the summit of LLullaillaco volcano, 6,700 masl. Some ancient mummies have also been found and this makes these mountains  true high altitude archeological sites.

It is also important to have the chance to be at, appreciate and feel the magical and dry Atacama Desert, as well as the great Santiago valley with its view of the central Andes. It is interesting to experience how our body reacts to high altitude.

El Plomo Mountain

This is an impressive mountain above Santiago Valley with hanging glaciers and amazing views of the Chilean central Andean range. In 1986 a 600 year old Inca mummy was found on this mountain making it more than just a mountain.

• Height:  5430 masl
  Geographical Coordinates:  Latitude  33 13  58 south
  Longitude  70 12 44 west

• Valley: Molina
  Side: Southeast
  Elevation difference: 1424 mt from La Olla   

Details of the Expedition:

• Length: 5 days/ 5 nights
• Hotel: 2 nights
• Camping: 3 nights
• Level of difficulty: moderate to demanding
• Meeting Point: Airport in Santiago
• End of Trip: Santiago
• Dates: Scheduled trips for  December 15th, January 14th . If these dates do not suit you, youcan organize your Special Date Trip from November to April (See Calendar).
• Group Size: 2 to 8 people max.

Included:

• All meals from day 1 to day 4, including wine and appetizers (exceptmeals for Day 0 )
• All land  transportation
• 2 hotel nights
• All gear for camping (GPS, UHF Radios, handy, satellite phone, maps, aerial photographs, tents for two, Therma Rest mattresses, kitchen tent, shade, first aid kit and more)
• Bilingual Guide (Spanish-English) accredited by Wilderness First Response.
• A Cook with a balanced diet in mind that will please the taste of the traveler and who has some vegetarian specialties.
• Book Collection about the trips which will help you enrich the experience and increase your knowledge of the places.
• Talks about minimal impact, land navigation, flora and fauna. The aim is to reinforce or to acquire basic knowledge to visit wild areas and enjoy outdoor life. Voluntary attendance.   

No Included:

• Air Trips, insurance,  personal equipment, meals day 0, tips or any other service not mentioned in this program .

Optional:

• Sleeping bag rental, edited video of the expedition or photo set.

Day by Day

• Day 0  Airport / Santiago
  We welcome you at the airport and take you to a Hotel in Santiago where we will discuss details of the trip.

• Day 1 Santiago / Piedra Numerada
  We will go from Santiago to Valle Nevado Ski resort where we will start our expedition. After a 4 hour trek along this valley we will set our first camp a t Piedra Numerada.

• Day 2 Piedra Numerada / La Olla
  Early in the morning we will start walking towards base camp at 4000 mask, at the skirts of El Plomo Mountain. From this point we will have nice views of the valley and the hanging glaciers.

• Day 3  La Olla / Summit / La Olla
  We will rise at dawn to go to the summit. As we walk up we will visit the place where a 600 year old mummy was found. We will then return to base camp where a delicious and well deserved meal will be waiting for us.

• Day 4 Extra day
  In case of bad weather  we use this day for another chance for the summit

• Day 5 La Olla – Santiago
  This is going to be a long walk . We will say goodbye to this huge mountain and beautiful valley to go back to Santiago. 

Licancabur Volcano

A mystic volcano between the border of Bolivia and Chile, it is the absolute ruler in the oasis that hosts the cosmopolitan town of San Pedro de Atacama. At the skirts of this mountain it is possible to find ancient Inca ruins and at the summit there is a lake.

• Height:  5916 masl
  Geographical Coordinates:  Latitude  22 49 52  south
  Longitude  67 52 50  west

• Side:  Northwest
  Elevation difference: 1320 mts

Details of the Expedition:

• Archeological Mountain Climbing
• Length: 6 days/ 6 nights
• Hotel: 3 nights
• Camping: 3 nights
• Level of difficulty: moderate to demanding
• Place: San Pedro de Atacama
• Meeting Point: Airport in Calama
• End of Trip: Airport in Calama
• Dates: Special Date Trip from November to April  (See Calendar)   
• Group Size: 2 to 8 people max.

Included:

• All meals from day 1 to day 6, including wine and appetizers (exceptmeals for Day 0)
• All land  transportation
• 3 hotel nights
• All gear for camping (GPS, UHF Radios, handy, Satellite phone, maps, aerial photographs, tents for two, Therma Rest mattresses, kitchen tent, shades, first aid kit and more)
• Bilingual Guide (Spanish-English) accredited by Wilderness First Response .
• A Cook with a balanced diet in mind that will please the taste of the traveler and who has some vegetarian specialties.
• Book Collection about the trips which will help you enrich the experience and increase your knowledge of the places.
• Talks about minimal impact, land navigation, flora and fauna. The aim is to reinforce or to acquire basic knowledge to visit wild areas and enjoy outdoor life. Voluntary attendance.   

No Included:

• Air Trips, insurance, personal equipment, meals day 0, tips or any other service not mentioned in this program

Optional:

• Sleeping bag rental, edited video of the expedition or photo set.

Day by Day

• Day 0 Airport in Calama/ San Pedro
  We will welcome you at the airport in Calama to then take you to San Pedro de Atacama.

• Day 1 San Pedro / Valle de la Luna
  We will start early this day and travel around the Atacama Desert where we will have a delicious lunch and then enjoy a quiet and moving sunset at the mystic Valle de la Luna.

• Day 2 San Pedro / Hot Springs
  We will go to Bolivia, to the beautiful Laguna Azul where we will set our first camp by the relaxing hot springs.

• Day 3 Hot Springs / Inca Ruins
  After a relaxing hot spring bath we will go to our base camp at 4,600 masl , right by the skirts of Licancabur Volcano. We will set our camp in some Inca ruins which are several centuries old.

• Day 4 Inca Ruins / Summit / Inca Ruins
  We will start climbing to the summit early in the morning and at the top we will have almost surreal views of the Atacama valley and of the sacred lake at the summit of this volcano. We will then return to our base camp for a well deserved meal.

• Day 5 Inca Ruins / San Pedro
  After enjoying some magical moments at this mystic place we will return to San Pedro de Atacama for a nice shower.

• Day 6 San Pedro / Airport in Calama
  It is time to leave the amazing dessert and San Pedro to take the plane back.

• Note:  This trip includes an extra day in case of bad weather or to get used to high altitude.

LLullaillaco Volcano

A giant at the heart of the Atacama Desert, it is the third highest summit in Chile. It can be considered a true high mountain archeological site at above 6700 masl since ruins and other Inca traces can be found. These   constructions are at the highest elevation men have ever built in the history of mankind. Besides, in 1999 a scientific expedition discovered 3 mummies in an excellent state of preservation.

• Height:  6739  masl
  Geographical Coordinates:  Latitude  24 43 0  south
  Longitude  68 32 6  west
  
• Valley:  Las Zorras gully
  Side:   North.
  Elevation difference: 1100 mts from advanced camp

Details of the Expedition:

• Length: 9 days/ 9 nights
• Hotel: 3 nights
• Camping: 6 nights
• Level of difficulty:  demanding
• Meeting Point: Airport in Calama
• End of Trip: Airport in Calama
• Dates: Scheduled trip December 1st. Special Date Trip from November to April (See Calendar)   
• Group Size: 2 to 8 people

Included:

• All meals from day 1 to day 9, including wine and appetizers (exceptmeals for Day 0)
• All land  transportation
• 3 hotel nights
• All gear for camping (GPS, UHF Radios, handy, Satellite phone, maps, aerial photographs, tents for two, Therma Rest mattresses, kitchen tent, shades, first aid kit and more)
• Bilingual Guide (Spanish-English) accredited by Wilderness First Response .
• A Cook with a balanced diet in mind that will please the taste of the traveler and who has some vegetarian specialties.
• Book Collection about the trips which will help you enrich the experience and increase your knowledge of the places.
• Talks about minimal impact, land navigation, flora and fauna. The aim is to reinforce or to acquire basic knowledge to visit wild areas and enjoy outdoor life. Voluntary attendance.    

No Included:

• Air Trips, insurance, personal equipment, meals day 0, tips or any other service not mentioned in this program .

Optional:

• Sleeping bag rental, edited video of the expedition or photo set.

Day by Day

• Day 0 Airport / San Pedro de Atacama
  We meet you at the airport and then take you to San Pedro de Atacama.
  
• Day 1 San Pedro / Valle de la Luna / San Pedro
  We will start early this day and travel around the Atacama Desert where we will have a delicious lunch and then enjoy a quiet and moving sunset at the mystic Valle de la Luna.
  
• Day 2 San Pedro/ Camp 1
  We will go into the heart of the driest dessert in the World, cross some lakes and salt flats to finally reach our Camp 1 at 4600 masl.
  
• Day 3 Camp 1/ Camp 2
   We use this day for walking  around
  
• Day 4 Camp 1/ Camp 2
  We will take things easy since this place it is well known for producing air sickness so we will walk only 500 mts up to our second camp where we will have only the dessert and a clear and starry sky as company.
  
• Day 5 Camp 2 / Camp 3
  Again this is going to be a quiet day to get used to the height, we will set our camp at 5600 masl. Starry and quiet nights will be our own companion.
  
• Day 6 Camp 3- Summit - Camp 3
  At dawn we will be on our way to the summit along a long strip of snow, a few meters before the summit we will find large volcanic rocks that will take us back in time. At the summit we will find Inca constructions and wood taken to the summit by these people some 500 years ago. After enjoying the amazing view from the top we will return to camp 3 to eat and celebrate the chance of being at this sacred place full of history.
  
• Day 7 Extra Day
  We use this day for another chance to the summit in case of bad weather.
  
• Day 8 Camp 3 - San Pedro
  It is time to get back to civilization.
  
• Day 9 San Pedro - Airport in Calama
  This trip has come to an end but memories will stay with us for a long, long time.
  
• Note:  This trips incluyes an extra day in case of bad weather or to get used to high altitude.