Andes Flex: Pay for Peaks You Climb!

Difficulty

Challenging

Comfort

Basic

Join an unforgettable adventure beginning with the ascent of Nevado San Francisco (6,017m) — a stunning, non-technical peak that's perfect for acclimatization. After that, you’ll customize your journey, choosing how many and which summits to tackle, depending on your energy, ambition, and the expedition’s progress.

Climbing Options:

🔹 ‘Low’ 6000ers (USD 450 per peak):

Vicuñas – 6,067m
Tres Cruces Norte – 6,030m
Barrancas Blancas – 6,119m
Nevado Copiapó – 6,052m
Peña Blanca – 6,058m
Ermitaño – 6,125m
Solo – 6,205m
Copiapó – 6,087m

🔴 ‘Higher’ 6000ers (USD 900 per peak):

Ojos del Salado – 6,898m
Incahuasi – 6,645m
Tres Cruces Sur – 6,748m
Tres Cruces Central – 6,638m

⭐ Popular Expedition Combos:

Mt. San Francisco only → USD 2,550 (base package)
Mt. San Francisco + Ojos del Salado → USD 3,450 (base + one high 6000er)
Mt. San Francisco + Vicuñas + Barrancas Blancas → USD 3,450 (base + two low 6000ers)
Mt. San Francisco + Ojos del Salado + Pissis → USD 4,350 (base + two high 6000ers)

Maximo K. is the provider of this trip

The provider speaks: English, Spanish

Maximo is one of the world’s most accomplished high-altitude mountaineers, with over 25 years of climbing experience and a career spanning more than 118 expeditions. Born in Argentina, raised in Brazil, and educated in the UK, Max has led professional climbs since the age of 23, guiding teams through some of the most extreme and remote mountain regions on Earth—from the Andes to the Himalayas. His deep knowledge and calm leadership have earned him a reputation for precision, safety, and unwavering dedication. Recognized by Guinness World Records, Max holds the record for the most 6,000-meter peaks climbed, with 90 ascents in the Andes alone. He has summited over 260 peaks above 5,500 meters and participated in at least 11 expeditions to the world’s legendary 8,000-meter giants, including the formidable K2. In 2012, he launched the Andes 6K+ Project, an ambitious mission to climb all 104 Andean peaks over 6,000 meters—an effort that is now 85% complete. His solo season, during which he summited 30 of these peaks alone, remains a landmark achievement in South American mountaineering. Beyond his climbing exploits, Max is a passionate educator and researcher. He contributes to high-altitude medicine studies, teaches specialized courses for physicians, and plays an active role in the classification and naming of Andean peaks. As the founder of Andes Specialists, he continues to share his knowledge and love for the mountains with climbers from around the world. With more than 30 countries visited, Max remains as humble as he is accomplished—always seeking the next summit with the same curiosity and respect that first drew him to the heights.

View Maximo`s tours

The tour guides you'll probably meet as well

Jorge

Jorge was born in Trelew, a city in the province of Chubut, in Argentine Patagonia, near the sea. At the age of 12, his family moved to Epuyen, a small town nestled in the mountains of Northern Patagonia. It was in this environment that Jorge began to explore and climb mountains from an early age. At 15, a physical education teacher introduced him to the fundamentals of hiking through the forests and mountains of the region. He earned his Trekking Guide certification in 2011 and became a certified Mountain Guide in 2013 through the Provincial School of High Mountain and Trekking Guides in Mendoza. Over the course of his career, Jorge has climbed various mountains in Patagonia, the Central Andes, Bolivia, and Brazil. Since 2015, Jorge has been working as a guide with Gente de Montanha, where he is also responsible for expedition logistics during the summer season in Argentina. During the rest of the year, he returns to Epuyen, where he dedicates himself to mountaineering, climbing, trekking, kayaking, and cycle touring—always planning his next adventure. Throughout his career, Jorge has led more than 25 expeditions to Mount Aconcagua, completed over 42 expeditions to mountains above 6,000 meters, and helped more than 150 people achieve their mountaineering dreams. He has been guiding for Gente de Montanha for over 10 years.

Mario

Mario is a renowned Chilean high-altitude mountain guide and the leading expert on expeditions in the Atacama region. He currently holds the record for the most ascents of Ojos del Salado — the world’s highest volcano — with over 60 successful summits. With a guiding career that began in 2001, Mario has led expeditions across much of the Andes, with a strong focus on the remote and challenging terrain of the Atacama Andes. His extensive local knowledge, combined with his calm leadership, has made him a trusted figure in high-altitude expeditions. Mario’s mountaineering résumé includes a remarkable ascent of Kangchenjunga (8,598 m) in Nepal, completed without supplemental oxygen or the support of sherpas, showcasing his technical skills and endurance at the highest level. In addition to guiding, Mario is a highly skilled ski mountaineer who has represented Chile in international ski touring competitions, including world championships and South American events. Today, Mario serves as Head of Operations and Safety on the Chilean side of Ojos del Salado, where his deep experience and commitment to safety continue to benefit climbers from around the world. Whether you're aiming for a high-altitude summit or exploring the vast Atacama, Mario is the guide you want by your side.

Tour highlights

Iconic High-Altitude Summits

Take on legendary peaks like Ojos del Salado (6,898m) or choose from a range of lower 6000ers depending on your goals, and mountain conditions.

Expert Support, Comfort, and Unique Landscapes

Perfect balance of expert guiding, comfortable camps, and spectacular landscapes, from the waters of Laguna Verde to the untouched beauty of the Andes

Seamless Altitude Progression and Acclimatization

From gentle warm-up hikes to major climbs like Nevado San Francisco (6,017m), every step is carefully designed to prepare you for big summits ahead.

Route details

Arrive during daylight hours to make the most of your time. Our team will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with the expedition team. Depending on your arrival, you might visit a gear store today or the next morning.
Included: Airport transfer, hotel night & breakfast

Difficulty

Challenging

Does not require specific skills, but one must be in good health

Tour provider's comments

Previous experience with multi-day treks at altitude
Good health and solid physical preparation
Excellent cardiovascular training if you choose the higher peaks

Accommodation

Comfort

Basic

Tent

9 nights

Hotel

2 nights

Camp Site

2 nights

Dining tent and kitchen tent at basecamp
Group equipment (tents, stoves, cookware, kitchen gear, fuel, etc.)

Tickets to group meeting place

Group meeting place

Copiapó

Calculate tour price with tickets from your city

Partnered with

Weather during the tour

Weather conditions along the route

You will get a weather forecast for this tour’s route based on

the forecasts for this season
the statistics from previous years’ trips

Tour conditions

Included

English speaking leader;
Professional english speaking guides with experience on every 6,000m peak;
Average guide ratio of 1:2 to 1:3 on summit days;
Transportation from Copiapó airport to hotel and back;
2 hotel nights in Cumbres de Atacama (4 stars, shared rooms);
All transportation in 4×4 vehicles throughout the expedition;
2 nights at Refugio Laguna Santa Rosa (shared rooms);
Camping setup at Laguna Verde base and all summit camps;
Tent nights (9 to 10 nights), including set-up and breakdown;
Dining tent and kitchen tent at basecamp;
All meals during the expedition (breakfast, trail snack, dinner);
Clean drinking water throughout the expedition;
Transport of expedition gear and food via vehicle (no load carrying by clients);
Medical support: Oximeter checks, health monitoring, emergency oxygen;
Group equipment (tents, stoves, cookware, kitchen gear, fuel, etc.);
Toilet tents at Laguna Verde;
Solar charger for USB devices;
Starlink internet at basecamp (free basic access).

Extras

Flights to/from Copiapó (CPO);
Personal mountain gear (sleeping bag, boots, down jacket, etc.);
Rental of personal equipment (available in Copiapó, pre-booking required);
Meals in Copiapó (approx. 3 meals);
Travel insurance (recommended);
Extra nights in hotel or private rooms (upon request);
Private tent supplement;
Expenses due to early descent or abandoning the expedition;
Tips for guides;
Personal medication or medical expenses.

Optional Add-ons

Single Tent & Hotel Room – USD 410
Includes 2 nights in private hotel room at Cumbres de Atacama in Copiapó, 2 nights in a private tent at Laguna Santa Rosa, and 9 nights in a private tent at Laguna Verde.
Bring Your Loved One to Base Camp – USD 1,250
Let your family or partner join the first part of the trip at 4,400m altitude with hotel, transport, permits, refuge, meals, guides, and drivers included.

Equipment Rental Costs – Copiapó

2024 rental prices – confirm availability in advance:

Thermal sleeping pad – $35
Down jacket – $115
La Sportiva double boots – $130
Down mittens – $50
Crampons – $50
Climbing helmet – $40
Ice axe – $50
Sleeping bag (-5ºC to -10ºC comfort) – $90

Group size

From 2 to 10 tourists

Duration

14 days

13 nights

It's important to know

Having reliable mountaineering equipment is essential for a successful expedition. All personal gear will be carefully checked by one of our guides at the hotel. Equipment rental is available in Copiapó and Mendoza; please inform us in advance about your requirements, so we can confirm availability and pricing.

Head

Bandana
Buff or similar

Hat
Woollen hat or similar for cold days

Sunglasses (cat 3 or 4)
With side protection to fit your face

Sunscreen and lip balm
30 FPS or more

Batteries
AA or AAA batteries depending on your headtorch. Can be purchased in local store.

Headtorch
Working headtorch and spare batteries

Torso

Light down jacket

Summit Down Jacket
Heavy hooded down jacket for cold conditions

T-shirt
Synthetic fibre long or short sleeve t-shirt

Fleece jacket
Used alone or as part of a layer system for better performance

Legs

Trekking pants
Light trekking pants

Gaiters
For snow, sand or scree terrain

Base layer pants
For very cold days and summit push

Snowproof pants
Goretex or similar pants will be used for high wind or during snow conditions

Fleece Pants
Fleece, polartec or similar. To be used with other layers for very cold conditions

Hands

Waterproof gloves
A pair of good waterproof gloves for ice climbing with padded knuckles

Hand warmers
Chemical hand warmers for the summit push.

Mittens
Thick down mittens for summit push

Gloves
Fleece or polartec gloves for every day use

Feet

Sandals or crocs
Sandals or crocs for river crossing or hanging around camp

Trekking boots
Waterproof trekking boots, try wearing them before the expedition

Trekking socks
Good thick trekking socks

Thick expedition socks
For summit day

Double boots

A pair of double or double plastic boots such as Koflach Exped, Koflach Vertical, Asolo Ottomilla, Asolo AFS, Trezetta, Scarpa Vega, Scarpa Inferno, La Sportiva Baruntse, Olympus Mons, La Sportiva Spantik, Scarpa Phantom, La Sportiva G2.
Single layer boots such as La Sportiva Nepal XT, EVO, Batura or Boreal Latok, ARE NOT SUITABLE.

Technical equipment

Crampons
Crampons with antibott system

Other Equipment

Carbo gels
These gels help out on recovery

Snacks
Salty snacks, sweets, etc. Any sort of tasty ready food as complement. On high altitude mountains we don’t normally worry about vitamins and proteins as these kinds of food are too hard to digest. You can buy all these in a local market.

Sleeping Bag
A good down sleeping

Rucksack
A decent rucksack with hip belt and rain cover

Personal Hygiene kit
Soap, tooth brus, come, etc

Sleeping mattress
We prefer taking 2 foam sleeping mattress because of sharp rocks. If you have an inflatable mattress you should also bring a foam mattress to protect the inflatable one against sharp rocks. Don’t forget bringing a repair kit if you have an inflatable mattress.

1 litre thermos
Metallic good quality 1 litre thermos for the summit push. You must have one. Please do not bring smaller ones.

Water bottle
Nalgene 1 litre bottles or similar are great for expeditions! We prefer to not use camelbacks as its hose pipe might freeze

Duffel Bag
Used to transport or store your equipment. In many cases, we transport your personal gear on animals and we don’t want your equipment to get wet or have mule smell…