Plizio Visual Lab

Ojos del Salado

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Mountain

Weather…

Nevado Ojos del Salado is a giant volcano in the Atacama region and holds the title of the highest active volcano on Earth. Located on the border between Argentina (Catamarca Province) and Chile, it is the second highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere after Aconcagua. Despite its enormous altitude of 6,893 meters, the mountain is rarely covered in snow due to the extremely dry conditions of the Puna desert. A unique feature of the volcano is its permanent crater lake at approximately 6,390 meters, which is considered the highest lake in the world. Ojos del Salado is a target for numerous expeditions and frequently hosts world record attempts for motorized altitude climbs, as its volcanic slopes are navigable by vehicles up to significant heights. It remains a pinnacle of volcanic exploration in South America.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	4	3	1	-2	-6	-8	-9	-7	-5	-3	0	2
Rain mm	42	39	31	18	8	5	4	3	5	11	21	35

📋 Practical info

🧭

Getting there

The absolutely highest volcano in the world is frequently approached via Fiambalá in Argentina or Copiapó in Chile. A highly robust expedition vehicle is strictly necessary just to reach the base camps located at incredibly extreme altitudes.

📅

Best season

The only truly realistic time window for the highly demanding ascent is during mid-summer, between late December and February, as otherwise massive amounts of deep snow and exceedingly low temperatures brutally thwart any progress.

⛰️

Terrain & paths

The incredibly harsh terrain consists largely of desert-like Puna, massive gravel and loose ash fields, and in the final phase, frequently requires overcoming incredibly steep, highly rocky, and partially iced passages dangerously near the summit.

🎒

What to bring

Extreme altitude mountaineers require the absolute warmest available insulation clothing for temperatures drastically below zero, sharp crampons, ice axes, and frequently a highly reliable rope for the intensely demanding final meters to the main summit.

🅿️

Parking

Permanent, paved parking spaces do not exist. The motorized caravans ultimately end at strictly designated, fully unpaved base camps (such as Refugio Tejos), where all off-road vehicles remain safely behind during the strenuous multi-day climb.

⚠️

Safety

The incredibly extreme altitude of nearly 6,900 meters is the primary, genuinely lethal danger, strictly mandating incredibly rigorous acclimatization schedules. Furthermore, icy winds can drastically drop the perceived temperature in mere minutes.

⏱️

Time needed

Due directly to the truly enormous altitude and incredibly remote location, a complete, fundamentally safe expedition typically requires two to three full weeks, with the vast majority of days dedicated entirely to careful, slow altitude acclimatization.