Itinerary
- Day 1
Santiago to Arica to Putre
You'll arrive in Arica from Santiago and drive straight to Putre, settling in at 3,500 meters for your first night. This elevation gets your body ready for the higher altitudes coming up on the tour.
Landmarks Putre - Day 2
Putre
Starting from your Putre hotel, you'll hike to Cerro Surunche at 3,878 meters. The trail climbs gradually through a deep gorge and semi-desert landscape with cacti scattered around. From the top, you'll see the Nevados de Putre range spread out ahead. If you've got energy left, there's a second, lower peak you can tag before heading back to the hotel.
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Cerro Surunche (3,878m)
- View of Nevados de Putre from summit
Optional Activities
- Second lower peak ascent
Landmarks Cerro Surunche Nevados de Putre - Day 3
Chungara Lake
Today you're walking around Chungara Lake where the elevation stays fairly consistent but you'll see plenty of wildlife like flamingos, viscachas, llamas, and vicuñas. The lake sits at 4,600 meters with volcanoes reflected in the water including Parinacota, Guallatire, Acotango, Umurata, Capurata, and Bolivia's Sajama. You'll drive back to Putre (about an hour), dropping 1,000 meters.
Included Activities
- Guided walk around Chungara Lake at 4,600m
- Wildlife viewing - flamingos, viscachas, llamas, vicuñas
Landmarks Chungara Lake Parinacota Guallatire Acotango Umurata Capurata Sajama - Day 4
Jurasi Hot Springs
From Jurasi Hot Springs you'll hike up to two unnamed rock peaks around 4,800 meters. The 1,000-meter climb takes you through a canyon with rock formations and views that get more impressive as you go higher. After summiting, you'll soak in the thermal springs to relax. It's only 20 minutes back to Putre by car.
Included Activities
- Guided hike to two unnamed 4,800m peaks
- Bath in Jurasi Hot Springs
Landmarks Jurasi Hot Springs - Day 5
Cerro Guane Guane
You're climbing Cerro Guane Guane at 5,050 meters, which is a manageable first 5,000-meter peak sitting above the pass to Bolivia. The ascent of about 800 meters is straightforward with a clear trail. From the summit you'll see Pomerape, Parinacota, Umurata, Acotango, Capurata, and Guallatire all around you. After descending, you'll stop in Parinacota village before the drive back to Putre.
Included Activities
- Guided ascent of Cerro Guane Guane (5,050m)
- Visit to Parinacota village
Landmarks Cerro Guane Guane Pomerape Parinacota - Day 6
Salar de Surire
You'll drive about 2 hours from Putre on a dusty track past the village of Guallatire to reach the white Salar de Surire salt flat. Keep an eye out for rare Nandus (rheas) along the way. You'll photograph the mountains, vicuñas, and flamingos before spending the night at the Conaf Refugio on the lakeshore. The sunset here is really something.
Included Activities
- Drive to Salar de Surire
- Wildlife and photography viewing - flamingos, vicuñas
Optional Activities
- Nandu (rhea) spotting
Landmarks Salar de Surire Guallatire - Day 7
Unknown 5,400m Volcano
You'll summit an unnamed volcanic peak around 5,400 meters with views over the Salar de Surire. The 15-minute drive from the refuge puts you at the trailhead, then you climb steeply through loose rock and boulders to the summit ridge. The panorama includes all the surrounding peaks and the vast white salt desert. The descent is a scree run down thin volcanic rock. After returning, you'll drive back to Putre for the night.
Included Activities
- Guided ascent of unnamed 5,400m volcanic peak
- Panoramic views of Salar de Surire
Landmarks Salar de Surire - Day 8
Rest Day in Putre
This is your rest day in Putre to recover from the climbing. You can head back to the hot springs if you want, or do some lighter walking around town to stay loose.
Optional Activities
- Visit to hot springs
- Light hiking
Landmarks Putre - Day 9
Cerro Tarapaca
You're climbing Cerro Tarapaca at 5,775 meters, one of the striking Nevados de Putre. After an hour's drive you'll start hiking on steep, slippery scree with challenging ridges for the 1,100-meter ascent. The descent is a fun scree run. From the peak you'll see the Peruvian volcanoes Misti and Chachani. You'll spend another night in Putre.
Included Activities
- Guided ascent of Cerro Tarapaca (5,775m)
- Views of Misti and Chachani peaks
Landmarks Cerro Tarapaca Misti Chachani - Day 10
Putre to Sajama
Today you're crossing into Bolivia, passing through two border checkpoints. The scenic drive takes you through Lauca National Park with major volcanoes in view, then into Sajama National Park where you'll see those same mountains from the Bolivian side. The actual drive time is about 2.5 hours. You'll stay the night in Sajama village.
Included Activities
- Drive through Lauca National Park
- Drive through Sajama National Park
Landmarks Lauca National Park Sajama National Park 
- Day 11
Sajama National Park Walk
Your hike today shows off what Sajama National Park has to offer, with llamas, vicuñas, hot springs, distinctive Quinual trees, and geysers along the route. You're heading to an idyllic lake beneath the Condoriri mountains, ascending roughly 800 meters to get there.
Included Activities
- Guided walk in Sajama National Park
- Wildlife viewing - llamas, vicuñas
- Visit to geysers and hot springs
Landmarks Sajama National Park Condoriri 
- Day 12
Acotango (6,080m)
Today you're summiting Acotango at 6,000 meters, your first peak in this altitude range. A minibus takes you to 5,000 meters, then you'll start before dawn with headlamps on a gentle trail that gradually gets steeper and reaches a scenic ridge. The final section is usually icy but straightforward. From the top you'll see Sajama, Parinacota, and the active smoking cone of Guallatire.
Included Activities
- Guided ascent of Acotango (6,080m)
- Mountain guide included
- Provisions and equipment rental included
Landmarks Acotango Sajama Parinacota Guallatire - Day 13
Rest Day in Sajama
You're taking it easy in Sajama village today. Relax at the hot springs or take some gentle walks if you feel like moving around a bit.
Optional Activities
- Visit to hot springs
- Easy walking
Landmarks Sajama - Day 14
High Camp Parinacota
You'll leave Sajama early in the morning with your vehicle helping for most of the journey. Then you'll walk the rest with your pack from the base of Parinacota, climbing about 200 meters through loose volcanic ash to high camp at 5,300 meters. The camp sits southeast of the volcano below a distinctive ridge. The ascent is tiring despite the gentle slope because of the unstable terrain. From camp you'll see countless lakes and volcanoes all around. It's cold and very windy, so you'll rest in your tents. Dinner offers an unforgettable high-altitude sunset.
- Meals
- Dinner (Simple meal taken before tents with high-altitude mountain setting and sunset views)
Included Activities
- Drive from Sajama to mountain base
- Guided hike to high camp (5,300m)
- Equipment rental and provisions
Landmarks Parinacota - Day 15
Parinacota Summit (6,348m)
Around midnight you'll wake for a quick cold breakfast and start hiking toward the crater by headlamp. The slope isn't super steep but it's physically demanding. You'll strap on crampons where the ice takes over, and though those sections are demanding, they're not technically difficult. The darkness makes it somewhat monotonous, but the views improve as dawn approaches. In about 6 hours you'll reach the crater rim just as sunrise hits, lighting up the ice fields. The summit view shows Sajama and Pomerape (Parinacota's nearly equal twin), plus many other volcanoes. You'll descend back to high camp, pack up, reach your vehicle, then relax in nearby hot springs before settling into better accommodation at the local restaurant lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Brief cold breakfast before midnight departure)
Included Activities
- Guided ascent of Parinacota (6,348m)
- Mountain guide included
- Provisions and equipment rental included
- Hot springs bath after descent
Landmarks Parinacota Pomerape Sajama - Day 16
Reserve Day
This is your reserve day in case the Parinacota summit didn't happen on day 15. If you successfully summited, you'll start heading toward Arica or La Paz instead, depending on your plans.
- Day 17
Return to Arica or La Paz
Your journey back can go through Arica, Chile or La Paz, Bolivia based on your flight. If you're heading to Arica, you'll transfer to a bus at the Tambo Quemado border station. If La Paz is your destination, the tour provides vehicle transport.
Included Activities
- Transport to Arica or La Paz
Landmarks Tambo Quemado Arica La Paz
