Tinguiririca Volcano

Tinguiririca is a high Andean stratovolcano in Chile’s O’Higgins Region, rising to about 4,280 metres above sea level. It forms part of the Southern Volcanic Zone of the Andes and has a classic conical summit profile.

The upper slopes are often capped by snow and ice and the volcano is visited by experienced mountaineers and glaciologists rather than casual tourists. Routes to the summit involve steep alpine approaches and glacier travel at the highest elevations.

Geologically it is one of several volcanic centers in central Chile associated with subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath South America. The mountain sits within a rugged, high-Andean landscape of ridges and valleys in the O’Higgins administrative region.

Located in central Chile’s Andes, Tinguiririca lies inland within O’Higgins Region and is accessed from mountain roads and highland trailheads in that region.

• Altitude and difficulty: Summit altitude is about 4,280 metres, so climbs require acclimatization and alpine equipment for snow and glacier travel at higher elevations.
• Environment: Part of the Andean volcanic chain in central Chile, the volcano is snowcapped for much of the year at its upper slopes.