Llullaillaco Volcano Ascent - 6739 masl - Tuzgle Volcano Ascent

Expedition to the highest Inca sanctuary, where the famous mummies of the Children of Llullaillaco were found

  • Start Date : 2025-Oct-18
    End Date: 2025-Oct-31
  • Hora Inicio: 2 pm
    Hora Fin: 9 am
  • Meeting Point:Salta City
    End: Salta City
  • Duration:14 days
    Availability: 4 spots
Llullaillaco Volcano Ascent (6739 masl) and Tuzgle Volcano (5518 masl)

Proposal

Incas Summit

Just as in Asia there are 14 mountains that exceed 8000 masl, there are also 13 mountains higher than 6500 masl in America and in the Western Hemisphere. The seventh (7) of those 13 is the Llullaillaco Volcano, the highest Inca sanctuary, at 6739 masl, a majestic mass that rises in the west of Salta province, in the Andes Mountains that borders Chile.

In 1999, in an organized archaeological expedition, they found very close to the summit, two Inca mummies that today are displayed in the high mountain museum of Salta city.

In this expedition we also include, in the acclimatization process, an ascent to the Tuzgle Volcano (5550 masl), another of the emblematic mountains of northern Argentina.

Itinerary

Day 1: Salta (1187 mts.). Meeting in the city. Equipment check and guide presentation. Night in hostel.

Day 2: Salta / San Antonio de los Cobres (3,700 meters). Vehicle transfer. Night in a hostel.

Day 3: San Antonio de los Cobres. Short acclimatization walks around the town. Night in hostel

Day 4: San Antonio de los Cobres / Tuzgle Volcano Base Camp (4,500 meters). Transfer to the base camp of the Tuzgle Volcano. Camp.

Day 5: Tuzgle Base Camp / Tuzgle Volcano Summit (5,518 mts.) / San Antonio de los Cobres. Hostel night. We will try to reach the summit of the volcano, we will return to the vehicles and from there again to San Antonio de los Cobres.

Day 6: San Antonio de los Cobres / Tolar Grande (3,500 mts.). Vehicle transfer and en-route circuits. Night in hostel

Day 7: Tolar Grande / Llullaillaco Volcano Base Camp (4,900 meters). 4x4 vehicle transfer to the Llullaillaco base camp. Rest, hydration, high camp.

Day 8: Base Camp / Camp I (5800 mts.) / Base Camp. Porting of equipment to camp 1 and return to base camp.

Day 9: Base Camp (4,900 mts.). Rest at base camp.

Day 10: Base Camp / Camp I. Ascent to Camp 1. Camp and preparation for the summit day.

Day 11: Camp I / SUMMIT (6,732 mts.) / Camp I. Summit attempt day (check the use of extra days); return to camp 1

Day 12: Camp I / Base Camp / Tolar Grande. Hostel night. Descent to base camp and transfer to Tolar Grande.

Day 13: Tolar Grande / San Antonio de los Cobres / Salta. Final transfer to Salta. End of the expedition.

Day 14 and 15: Extra days to use in case of bad weather or that you need to use for better acclimatize.

Note

The ascent to Llullaillaco Volcano presents no technical difficulties on rock or ice. It has a VERY DEMANDING level of difficulty, demands a large physical requirement and a high risk level since it combines demanding activities in remote regions (without infrastructure for medical care) at high altitudes. (see difficulty)
 

Included Services
  • Professional mountain guides
  • Specific advice on materials and personal equipment.
  • Transfers from Salta City to Llullaillaco
  • Transfers from Llullaillaco to Salta
  • 5 nights in hostel in Salta, San Antonio de los Cobres and Tolar Grande
  • Technical safety equipment, VHF radios, mountain first aid kit.
  • Heaters and kitchen elements.
  • Tents during the whole expedition.
  • Satelital phone
  • Full board (all meals) during the entire expedition: breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner.
  • Personal Accident Insurance
  • Permanent assistance

Services NOT included
  • Expenses for evacuation and eventual transfer.
  • Tips
  • Personal Equipment (check list request)
  • Transfers from each passenger's city of origin to Salta

Photo and Video Gallery


Where do you sleep

in hostels with basic amenities and high mountain tents.

Faq

If I have never climbed  a mountain, can I dream of reaching this summit ?

As long as you are physically fit and you can take previous trekking and mountaineering trips with us or on your own. In case your experience is basic , it is essential that you take a long or two short trip to summits higher than 4000 m.a.s.l.

I do not have the equipment that is required, can I rent it? What should I buy?

We will advise you on this. Almost everything can be rented. There is equipment that should be purchased as underwear, footwear and trekking clothes, trekking poles, headlamp, gloves ,among others.

How demanding is this expedition? How much do we walk per day?

We do not walk every day. The expedition length is due to the period of acclimatization to the height that our bodies need; there are days when we only rest.

Where do we spend the night?

Overnight is  in mountain camps in igloo tents, for 2/3 or 4 people; or hostels depending the night

Do we have to carry a tent?

Tents are included in the service.

What is the minium age to be part of the expedition?

18 years old  

How much does the backpack weigh?

Between 8 - 12 kilos to the base camp. 15 kilos from the base camp (except on the summit day.  That day we will be carrying only water,food and headlamp.

Is there porter service?

No. In this isolated mountain, porting must be done by ourselves.

What do we eat?

In all our expeditions we provide the meals service ON FULL BOARD

  • Cold meals/Lunches: Milanesa (tradional Argentine beef cut)  and tomato sandwiches,  sandwiches, snacks, salads, tapas, etc.
  • Dinners: Vegetable stews-bacon-red chorizo, chicken and vegetable casseroles, pasta with various sauces or stew, roasted meat, Chaw Fan, chicken with rice , pizzas ....
  • Breakfasts and snacks: Tea, Coffee, Cappuccino, Mate Cocido, Mate, Milk powder; bread, cookies, jam, honey, dulce de leche; cereals, fruit.
  • Individual bag with energetic snacks: Nougats, bars, nuts, chocolates, alfajores, candies, others ...

It is necessary to complete the personal / medical file to clarify if you have any special diet

Difficulty graduation

Mochila: Peso / Duración de la Jornada.

Exigencia Física

Técnico: Dificultad en el Terreno / Equipo.

Fortaleza Psicológica

Exposición a la Altura

Backpack (M)

This point has to do with the weight that we must carry in our backpacks. Trekkings or crossings where we have pack animals allow us to bear less weight on our backs. And the multi-day journeys in Patagonia (without the option of having pack mules) generally make us carry more weight, especially in the early days.

20% Up to 5 Kilos: Short excursion walks / Trekking Talampaya

40% Up to 8/10 Kilos: Round-trip trekking / Vallecitos 3 and 4-day programs

60% Up to 12/15 kilos: Crossing trekking with porting / Crossing of the Andes Paso Portillo

80% More than 15/18 kilos: Cross-country trekkings with little or no portage / Trekkings in Patagonia (Paso Vuriloche, PN Lanin or Nahuel Huapi, etc)

100% More than 25 Kilos: With a lot of equipment on top and little or no porting / Continental Ice

Fitness (F)

We consider physical demands to the wear that we can suffer both aerobic (climbs = possible shortness of breath) and muscle (resistance = many hours walking) and of legs and joints (descents = knees / ankles).

20% half a day or less with little unevenness.

40% more sustained slopes and longer days in the activity. 2-3 days / more than 6 hours per day.

60% Long ascents and descents with a longer duration. Ascents to more than 4000 meters in the central mountain range / intense 4-day trekking (Uruguayan plane)

80% Important work of legs in resistance. Very long days. Very long day ascents (Lanin - Domuyo) or more than 5000 meters. Ice courses.

100% Maximum demand. Aerobic work and constant effort on legs. Continental Ice, Aconcagua, mountains of more than 6000 meters.

Technical (T)

The technical difficulty is mainly based on the terrain. How much can it cost us to climb a slope, if it is very steep or if we have to use our hands in some section (simple climbing), both in rock and snow-ice, or materials such as crampons and pegs in other ascents.

20% flat land

40% trails with moderate ups and downs. General crossing trekkings . Sierra de la Ventana, Córdoba, Patagonia, Cuyo, north, others. Classic ascents

60% Steeper slopes and trails. Possible use of crampons. Domuyo, Cordón del Plata, Cordillera Central.

80% Mixed terrain, with snow or ice. Alvear, Lanin, Tronador. Bolivia, Peru.

100% Highly technical terrain. Glacial transit and climbing in sections. Hill climbing with sections on slopes of more than 60 ° inclination

Psycho (P)

We maintain that this point, the psychological factor, represents a relevant factor. Each one needs a factor of conviction, confidence, self-control and will power to achieve a goal. And depending on the attitude with which we face distances, slopes, terrain and many other objective factors, we can achieve performance with very different results.

20% We will not be much affected.

40% This is a normal level of attention.

60% We require more motivation, enthusiasm and concentration.

80% The activity will require us to be very connected and convinced.

100% Maximum control and emotional-psychological performance.

Adventures (A)

It is the factor that, the height above sea level, influences us depending on the activity we carry out. Managing and overcoming symptoms caused by altitude is the key to this point

0% + sea level.

20% Up to 2000 masl.

40% + 2000 masl.

60% + 4000 masl.

80% + 5000 masl.

100% + 6000 masl.

Gradual Adventure Activity Difficulty System designed by Leandro Scheurle.
Copyright Argentinaxtrema.com © 2009. All rights reserved.

Required equipment

GENERAL EQUIPMENT
  • Backpack for trekking (70 to 90 liters)
  • Large Bag  (90 or more liters). It wiil be carried by the mules
  • Warm sleeping bag (-15 comfort degrees, eg 1000gms of feather or synthetic good).
  • Insulated sleeping pad (10 to 15mm).
  • Inflatable insulating mattress (optional) 
FOOT WEAR
  • High mountain boots (synthetic or plastic double boots)
  • Trekking shoes 
  • Light trekking shoes (trail-running type)
BASE LAYER
  • Underwear.
  • Cotton shirts (to be in the camp and to sleep)
  • T-shirts and / or short-sleeved synthetic shirts
  • Synthetic shirts with long sleeves
  • Pants or leggings made of polypropylene or similar (not cotton). To wear as warm indoor pants
  • Thin gloves made of polypropylene or similar (not cotton)
  • Fleece cap
  • Pairs of synthetic thin socks (not cotton)
  • Buff neck 
MIDDLE LAYER 
  • Trekking socks (synthetic-thermal)
  • thick mountain socks
  • cotton or wool socks ( wool is for sleeping)
  • 2 long trekking pants
  • Shorts
  • Sweatshirt (Fleece 100 or Fleece 200)
  • Thin - Feather duvet jacket
  • Thick feather-duvet jacket
  • Fleece gloves (with fingers)
  • Sun hat
 OUTER LAYER 
  • Waterproof jacket - parka (gore tex or similar)
  • Pants cover (gore tex or similar)
  • Waterproof and breathable gloves
  • Ski gloves 
  • Mountain gaiters
 TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT
  • Crampons (possible to rent)
  • Climbing helmet
  • Trekking poles
 PERSONAL ELEMENTS 
  • Passport, ID card, ID.
  • Medical insurance
  • Medical and personal information completed, authorization.
  • Permit  printed for payment.
 MISCELLANEOUS
  • FRONTAL flashlight with batteries (with spare batteries)
  • Sturdy plastic bags for storing clothes.
HEALTH & HYGIENE
  • Sun glasses with UV protection Category 4
  • Spare lenses (can be goggles, highly recommended)
  • Personal first-aid kit (medication with the relevant recipe)
  • Sunscreen , Lip balm
  • Soap, shampoo (small) and small towel.
  • Toilet paper. Baby wipes.
KITCHEN ITEMS
  • Containers to drink water, for at least 4 liters (2 bottles of 1 liter and 1 bag of hydration with hose of 2 lt.)
  • Small thermos
  • Personal dishes: Plate, glass / jug, cutlery
 OPTIONAL, not mandatory (check space and weight)
  • SILVER TAPE for blisters and repairs
  • Mini - sewing kit
  • Binoculars. Camera or video equipment
  • Book, travel diary, pencil, pen

Rental Equipment

Trekking sleeping bag

Booking in Advance

US$ 16 + options

Pair of Trekking Poles

Booking in Advance

US$ 10 + options

Rental mittens

Booking in Advance

US$ 8 + options

Pair of Crampons

Booking in Advance

US$ 15 + options

Rental : helmet, crampons and ice ax

Booking in Advance

US$ 36 + options

Combo Top: helmet, crampons, ice ax and full harness

Booking in Advance

US$ 50 + options

Category 3 sunglasses - Shepra Julbo Spectrom

Booking in Advance

US$ 5 + options

Backpack for trekking and mountaineering - Woman

Booking in Advance

US$ 10 + options

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Contact and Enquiries

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