Aucanquilcha

Aucanquilcha is a stratovolcano in Chile’s Antofagasta Region in the Central Andes. The mountain rises to about 6,176 metres and forms part of the high Andean volcanic chain.

Climbers and high-altitude travelers are drawn by the volcano’s height and alpine conditions; the summit complex includes crater features and extensive volcanic deposits. Historic mining activity on the flanks produced visible ruins and altered access routes.

Volcanic construction and eruptive events created the layered cone and summit caldera structure typical of Andean stratovolcanoes, and later human activity exploited fumarolic sulfur deposits.

The volcano sits in the high-altitude desert of northern Chile within Antofagasta Region, well inland from the Pacific coast and among other high peaks of the Central Andes.

• Elevation and altitude risk: At roughly 6,176 metres above sea level, it is one of the higher volcanic peaks in the Central Andes and requires high-altitude preparation for ascents.
• Mining heritage: Historic sulfur extraction left mine ruins at high elevation; these remain visible to visitors and on satellite imagery.

What to See #

• Summit and crater complex: The summit complex comprises multiple peaks and crater features typical of a composite volcano, with extensive fumarolic and sulfur-bearing deposits historically exploited by miners.
• Historic mining remains: Remains of high-altitude mining infrastructure and access tracks are present on the volcano's slopes from historic sulfur extraction operations.