While it might not be a household name, Nevado San Francisco is a sparkling gem of the Andes — a perfect introduction to the world of high-altitude mountaineering. Straddling the breathtaking Chile–Argentina border in the heart of the Atacama Desert, this peak is often hailed as the world’s most accessible 6,000-meter summit. And for good reason.
Our expedition follows a well-established route used by climbers acclimatizing for the mighty Ojos del Salado, the tallest volcano on Earth. With a carefully crafted acclimatization plan and the support of 4WD vehicles, we’ll ascend to dizzying heights — reaching up to 5,200 meters with ease, no need for heavy packs or technical climbing. This is high-altitude made comfortable, and adventure made achievable.
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.
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.
Tour highlights
Summit Nevado San Francisco (6,023m)
One of the world’s most accessible 6,000-meter peaks, perfect for high-altitude experience.
Stay at a Private Camp on Laguna Verde
Camp complete with Starlink internet, hot showers, and full comfort at 4,300 meters.
Smooth Acclimatization with 4WD Support
Reach extreme altitudes easily without heavy loads or technical climbing.
Route details
Day 1
Arrival in Copiapó – 800m
We’ll meet you at the airport, just 50 km from Copiapó, and take care of final gear checks and any last-minute shopping. In the evening, enjoy our first group dinner and get to know your fellow adventurers!
Included: Transport, hotel 🛏️
Day 2
Copiapó → Laguna Santa Rosa Hut – 3,700m
A scenic 210 km drive takes us deep into the Andes, where we'll settle into a cozy hut beside the shimmering Laguna Santa Rosa. Included: Breakfast, transport, lunch, dinner
Day 3
Acclimatization Trek on Siete Hermanas – 4,780m
Today we head up Siete Hermanas, aiming for the summit or as high as possible to support a strong acclimatization. Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4
Move to Laguna Verde Basecamp – 4,300m
After breakfast, we drive 120 km to our private, fully equipped camp at beautiful Laguna Verde, complete with Starlink internet, generator, hot showers, and cozy facilities. Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5
Acclimatization Climb on Mulas Muertas – 5,200m
We’ll hike up Mulas Muertas, taking it easy and steady to let our bodies adapt to the altitude without pushing too hard. Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6
Rest and Recharge at Laguna Verde – 4,300m
A full day to rest, relax, and enjoy the stunning high-altitude landscapes. Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7
High Altitude Acclimatization to Tejos – 5,900m
We drive up to 5,900m and take a short hike reaching 6,000–6,100m, preparing perfectly for the big climbs ahead. Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8
Recovery Day at Laguna Verde – 4,300m
Another well-deserved rest day to fuel your strength for the summit pushes. Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9
Summit Day: Nevado San Francisco – 6,023m
After an early breakfast, we drive to the trailhead at 5,000m and climb the north ridge to the summit at 6,023m. Expect a challenging but rewarding 5–7 hour ascent — a huge step for your acclimatization and confidence! Included: Breakfast, packed lunch, transport, dinner
Day 10
Return to Copiapó
After an incredible adventure, we drive back to Copiapó for a well-earned rest. Included: Transport, hotel
Day 11
Departure Day
Say goodbye to the desert and mountains as you fly home with unforgettable memories. Included: Hotel breakfast, airport transfer
Difficulty
Challenging
Does not require specific skills, but one must be in good health
Tour provider's comments
🥾 Previous high altitude trekking experience (highly recommended)
💪 Solid cardiovascular fitness
You don’t need to be a technical climber, but you should be familiar with the effects of altitude and basic snow walking. Treks like Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, or even Machu Picchu are great preparation.
Accommodation
Comfort
Basic
Hotel
2 nights
Camp Site
2 nights
Tent
7 nights
2 nights
Hotel in Cumbres de Atacama
4 stars hotel with shared rooms.
2 nights
Refugio Laguna Santa Rosa
Shared rooms
7 nights
Tent
As well as dining tent and kitchen tent at basecamp
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 (7 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.
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
11 days
10 nights
It's important to know
Personal equipment you need for the tour
Having the right mountaineering gear is essential for a successful expedition. Your equipment will be personally checked by one of our guides upon arrival at the hotel. Don’t worry if you’re missing something — you can easily rent or buy all necessary mountaineering equipment in Copiapo.
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
Summit Down Jacket Heavy hooded down jacket for cold conditions
Snowproof jacket A good snow, rain and windproof jacket
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
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
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
Single layer boots Any single layer boot such as Nepal Extreme, Latok, Batura, pro Thermic Salomon, Super Mountain 9 Salomon, etc
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.
Other Equipment
Inflatable matress An inflatable mattress and its repair kit
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…
Trekking poles Gives you more stability during walk and summit push.
I’ve heard San Francisco is just a walk—is that true?
Not exactly. While it’s not a technical climb, Nevado San Francisco reaches an impressive 6,023 meters — and altitude at that level is no joke. Many people have underestimated this mountain, facing serious consequences from cold, exhaustion, and altitude-related issues. Respect and preparation are key.
What experience do I need for San Francisco?
To join this expedition, prior experience at high altitudes is highly recommended. You don’t need to be a technical climber, but you should be familiar with the effects of altitude and basic snow walking. Treks like Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, or even Machu Picchu are great preparation.
If I get to the top of San Francisco and I feel good, can I climb Ojos del Salado?
Yes, absolutely! You’ll need to adjust your return flight and pay an extra fee to continue, but both are easily managed with our Starlink internet at basecamp. In fact, many of our climbers decide to continue after San Francisco once they see how well they’ve acclimatized.
What’s the best way to get to Copiapó for the expedition?
The best option is to fly first to Santiago, Chile (usually via LATAM), and then take a connecting flight with Sky Airlines to Copiapó. This second flight can often be inexpensive. Alternatively, consider searching for direct flights from your home country to Copiapó, as LATAM sometimes offers cheaper connections.
What are the mountain huts like during the expedition?
The huts are mostly abandoned and maintained only occasionally by climbers and commercial expeditions. Laguna Santa Rosa Hut is better preserved thanks to its proximity to a CONAF (National Park Service of Chile) station. It comfortably fits nine people on mattresses. We primarily use Laguna Santa Rosa, and Tejos hut is available for emergencies.
Can I rent mountaineering equipment in Copiapó, and how much does it cost?
Yes, all essential gear can be rented in Copiapó. Please let us know in advance. 2024 rental prices are: 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 rated -5ºC to -10ºC ($90).
Can I realistically climb 3 summits in just 11 days?
Yes, and that’s our goal — but the focus is optimal acclimatization, not ticking summits. The itinerary includes peaks like Siete Hermanas and Mulas Muertas. Depending on weather and group condition, not all acclimatization summits may be completed.
Is there electricity at basecamp to charge electronics?
Yes! We have solar panels and a generator at basecamp so you can charge your phone, camera, GPS, or other electronics.
Can I exchange currency easily in Copiapó?
Yes. There are exchange offices that accept USD, Euros, and British pounds. The best rates are typically for US dollars.
Will there be communication available during the climb?
Yes. Our basecamp has Starlink internet, and we carry a satellite phone for emergencies or urgent communication throughout the expedition.
Cancellation of booking
In case of booking cancellation the next policy applies. Tourists will receive a full amount they paid for the reservation in case they cancel more than 35 days in advance of the tour start date. In the event of cancellation within the period of 34 to 16 days before the tour start date - they are entitled to receive 50% of the booking amount. Cancelations made within 15 days before the tour starts will not be entitled to a refund.
