Nevado Tres Cruces

Nevado Tres Cruces is a multi-summit volcanic massif in the high Andes, with principal peaks that straddle the Argentina-Chile border in the Puna region. It forms part of the high Andean chain of volcanoes and is visited by climbers for its high-elevation routes.

Mountaineers tackle the massif’s different summits from established approaches on the Argentine or Chilean side, encountering high-altitude desert, rock and snow/ice terrain. The surrounding region is sparsely populated and characterised by high plateaus, saline lakes and other volcanic peaks.

The peaks have long been known to local communities and, in the modern era, have been visited by scientific parties and mountaineers exploring the high Andes. They remain a notable feature within the broader chain of Andean volcanoes.

The massif rises in Catamarca Province on the Argentine side of the Andes, near the international border with Chile, in a high-elevation, arid mountain environment.

• Mountaineering context: The massif is a destination for high-altitude mountaineering and lies in the Puna region of the Andes, with glaciated slopes and high plateaus typical of the area.

What to See#

• Tres Cruces massif: A multi-summit volcanic massif in the high Andes that includes at least three principal peaks often referred to as Norte, Centro and Sur, lying along the Argentina-Chile border region.

• Treat visits as high-altitude expeditions: plan acclimatization days and don't attempt routes without an experienced local guide familiar with the Andes and the region's weather patterns.
• Go in the austral summer (roughly December-March) when mountain passes are most likely to be passable and base roads are least likely to be closed by snow.
• Arrange 4x4 transport and local permits through a reputable operator in Catamarca-access tracks are remote and unmarked in places, and solitary travel carries serious risk.