Ojos del Salado

Ojos del Salado is a stratovolcano on the Argentina-Chile border in the high Andes and is the highest active volcano on Earth. It rises in the Atacama region and forms part of the Andean volcanic chain with prominent, arid highland terrain.

The mountain’s summit area includes a crater and several high-elevation lakes and ponds that are among the highest permanent bodies of water in the world. Routes to the summit are high-altitude climbs that typically involve glacier-free but steep and exposed terrain and require good acclimatization.

The volcano sits in a remote, arid high plateau environment with sparse vegetation and dramatic desert-high-mountain scenery. It is a major objective for high-altitude mountaineers visiting northern Chile and western Argentina.

Located in Chile’s Atacama Region near the international border, Ojos del Salado is accessed from highland roads and base camps in the Altiplano; the nearest large cities are several hundred kilometres away in the central-northern part of the countries.

• Elevation: At about 6,893 metres above sea level, it is widely recognised as the highest active volcano in the world and one of the highest peaks in the Andes.
• Climbing note: Straddling the Argentina-Chile border in the high central Andes, climbs are high-altitude endeavours that are generally non-technical but demand acclimatization and mountain logistics.

What to See#

• Summit crater: Summit crater area that includes high-elevation scree and snowfields reached by established climbing routes from the Chilean side.
• High-altitude lakes: High-altitude lakes and small permanent water bodies near the upper slopes, notable for being among the highest lakes in the world.

Ojos del Salado is approached overland by long, mostly unpaved mountain roads and track; climbers and visitors usually stage from towns such as Copiapó on the Chilean side or from Fiambalá on the Argentine side and continue by high‑clearance 4x4 into the foothills. Expect several hours to days of off‑road travel from the nearest major towns and require appropriate high‑altitude logistics.

• Plan any attempt on Ojos del Salado for the austral summer (roughly November-March) and only go with experienced high‑altitude guides-this is a very high, remote volcano requiring serious acclimatization and logistical support.
• Use Copiapó (Chile) as the usual logistical hub for Chilean approaches, allow extra days for acclimatization and vehicle travel on rough roads, and factor in side visits to the nearby high‑altitude lagoons and salt flats which are easily missed but geologically spectacular.