Tupungato Volcano Climb

We head south from Santiago into the dramatic Cajón del Maipo, following the stunning Colorado River Valley to the trailhead at Chacayar (8,250 ft). Here, mules and local arrieros (cowboys) will be ready to assist with our gear. We’ll then hike about 4 hours to our first campsite at Baños Azules (9,000 ft), a serene spot nestled deep in the mountains.

We continue our journey deeper into the Colorado River Valley, surrounded by untouched Andean landscapes and the soothing rush of the river nearby. Our mule team carries the heavy gear, allowing us to enjoy the stunning scenery and focus on the hike. After several hours on the trail, we reach a beautiful camp at Valle Hermoso, where we’ll spend the night under the stars, with possible sightings of condors gliding in the afternoon skies.

Refreshed from a night in the valley, we pack up and continue our scenic approach toward Tupungato Base Camp. The gradual altitude gain is excellent for acclimatization, and the path offers more incredible views as the mountains grow taller around us. By late afternoon, we arrive at Base Camp (13,800 ft)—a remote, peaceful plateau that will serve as our expedition hub for the coming days.

Today is all about acclimatization. At this altitude, it’s essential to let our bodies adjust to the thinner air. We’ll spend the day resting, hydrating, and enjoying the views, setting ourselves up for summit success. We’ll also prepare for the expedition-style climbing ahead—carrying loads up to higher camps and returning to sleep lower for optimal adaptation.

We begin our first gear carry to Camp I, enjoying a moderate day of climbing. Along the way, we may encounter Nieve Penitentes—striking, blade-like snow formations sculpted by the sun. After dropping off supplies, we return to Base Camp for the night.

With our bodies acclimatized and gear in place, we relocate to Camp I and settle in for the next stage of our ascent.

We carry a load to Camp II, a breathtaking plateau with panoramic views of Cerro Polleras, Chimbote, and other towering Andean peaks. After soaking in the scenery, we return to Camp I.

Today we move up to Camp II, continuing our steady climb into the thin air and stunning surroundings.

We do a gear carry to Camp III, gradually pushing higher while keeping our acclimatization on track. We return to Camp II for rest.

Depending on the group's acclimatization, we move to Camp III, inching closer to our summit bid.

We ascend to our final high camp—a stark and silent perch at 18,200 ft, perfectly positioned for a summit attempt.

Summit attempt! Weather permitting, we’ll aim for the majestic summit of Tupungato (21,681 ft).

This day serves as a second summit opportunity in case of poor conditions on Day 13. Alternatively, if we summited the day before, we’ll use today to rest and recover at High Camp.

If conditions have prevented a previous attempt, today is our last opportunity to stand on Tupungato’s summit.

If we’ve already summited, we begin our descent from High Camp, heading gradually down toward Base Camp.

After celebrating at high camp, we make our way back down to Base Camp for a well-earned rest.

We retrace our steps through the Colorado Valley, once again aided by our trusty mule team. After two days of descent, we arrive back at Chacayar and drive to Santiago. That evening, we celebrate our expedition with a farewell dinner—a moment to reflect on the journey and share stories from the mountain.

Fly home or continue your travels in South America.