- SLOPE: Approximate 1.300 mts.
- TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: Medium.
- PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: High.
- PATH: 5,5 kms to the summit.
- RISE TIME: 7 to 8 hrs.
- TIME LEFT: 3 to 4 hrs.
- DEPARTURE TIME FROM SPA – DAY 1: 12pm.
- ARRIVAL TIME TO SPA – DAY 2: 5pm approx.
Pili Volcano
(6.046m / 19.835ft)
Duration: 1 day
Pili Volcano - 1 day
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- Acclimatization in height and talk with the guides before the ascents.
- Health compatible with physical effort in height.
- Adapt an itinerary that considers breaks before the ascents to mountains.
- Good nutrition and hydration.
(Depending on the time of year, certain equipment may vary)
- First, second and third layers.
- Trekking boots.
- Trekking poles.
- Gloves, Hat for cold.
- Sunglasses.
- Sunscreen.
- Attack Backpack or Small Backpack.
- Transport.
- Mountain guide.
- Satellite and Communication phone.
- First aid kit, Oxygen.
- Mountain feeding.
- Life insurance.
- Accident insurance (in case of accidents, the transfer will be made to the nearest medical center).
Description
The Pili or Acamarachi (Caracol de piedra), volcano is one of nine mountains with over 6,000 meters from the 2nd region of Antofagasta and the nearest one to San Pedro de Atacama about 120 kilometers southeast, accessing by the route 27ch that goes to Paso Jama and then connect to a dirt road that goes to the Salar de Pujsa. This salt place is part of the national reserve of Los Flamencos, so by the path to the volcano you will see moving beauties in an arid, cold and deserted landscape.
It´s also known that Pili volcano was a sanctuary in the heights, where there are a pair of human statues that were found on an archaeological expedition near of the top of this volcano in 1972.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 The departure is at noon, from San Pedro de Atacama towards the base camp at 4,700 meters (above sea level), arriving at 4 pm approximately, making a stop at Salar de Pujsa. This camp is the first part of the ascent and it´s situated on the northeast side of the mountain.
During the day, after installed the camp, do you have to dinner and sleep early, the climb on the next day starts early.
DAY 2 It starts around 3 am. The first part of the ascent is stones, boulders and large stones where there is no path and it takes easily 3 or 4 hours to reach the shoulder of the Pili at a height of about 5,500 meters. The ascent route is along the north edge of the mountain. From this point, the climb becomes quite fast and tiring, since the slope in certain sections is close to 45º degrees.
Before climbing to the northern ridge, the highest of 6,046 meters, you´ll arrive at a flat spot where you can enjoy the small crater and rest. The last part of the climb is a slightly soft and tiring path, but not too long.
From the crater to the top it takes about 30 more minutes to climb and arrives at approximately 10 am. The descent is made almost by the same ascension route in about 3 hours. Once at the camp, you eat, rest, and disarm the camp to return to San Pedro de Atacama around 5 pm.
It’s a mountain where you need a good acclimatization, good experience and knowledge about techniques on walking on steep terrain, in addition to a good physical condition.
