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ACOTANGO ONE OF THE TRIPLETS, 3 Days
Code: TPACOTAN

The easiest 6000er in the Sajama National Parks, Acotango volcano makes border with Chile where Lauca National parks is located.

Dates: Upon request
Price: Upon request (land services only)
Single Room Supplement: N/A
Difficulty: Moderated
Accommodation: 2 nights camping.

Acotango is a volcano located on the border between Bolivia and Chile. Together with its two brothers Maria Capunata and Guallatire (the only smoking volcano in the area) are known as Quimsa Chatas (meaning the triplets). This group is located within the boundaries of the Sajama National Park in Bolivia and Lauca National Park in Chile. Guallatiri.

To climb it from the Chilean side is a real dangerous task as there are many landmines. Fortunately, Bolivian Army is not as aggressive and our side is free from such a hazard. This is certainly the easiest 6000-meter volcano in the Sajama and Lauca National Parks and probably one of the easiest routes in the whole Andes. The climb of Acotango can be the ultimate trekking peak experience.

This itinerary has been designed for those who want to attempt only Acotango Mountain. Please note that to take this trip alone, you must already be acclimatized to the highlands. This means that you must have spent at least 3-5 days at the highlands doing light physical activity and to have already climbed at least a couple of peaks of about 5,500m (18,040ft), ideally to have made the MECONDOR or MEJKOTA trips. For more information about this subject, please refer to the page acclimatization at our website.

Itinerary:

D1. Transp.to base camp.
D2. Climb of Acotango. Trek to base camp.
D3. Transp.to La Paz.

Highlights:

Easy ascend to Acotango 6,056m (19,863ft); extraordinary view point to survey the whole Sajama and Lauca National Parks.
Great sightseeing of the highlands and Sajama National Park on the way in and out to Acotango.

Day 1. Transport to base camp.

Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Base Camp 4,700m (15,416f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Meals
L,D

A pleasant drive traversing the flat lands will take us towards Sajama National Park. Almost at Tambo Quemado near the border with Chile, we will take a secondary dirty road heading south and - minutes later - we will follow some trucks to an old abandon mining camp. At the road-head we will leave the car to continue some more meters by foot where we will set our campsite.

Day 2. Climb of Acotango. Trek to base camp.

Elevations
Acotango 6,056m (19,863f)
Base Camp 4,700m (15,416f)
Timing
Walking: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D

Although not difficult this is a long route so, an early start will be mandatory to climb all the way to the summit and back to base camp in the day. We will start walking over every time steeper terrain. Fortunately the ashes and the sands are very compacted and the last meters on a 40-degree slope are not that hard. The slope will take us on top of the ridge from where we can admire both national parks at each country side: Sajama and Lauca. The summit has normally a small ice or snow field. After taking lunch, if the wind allows us to stay up there, we will return to Base camp.

Day 3. Transport to La Paz.

Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Meals
B,L

No more walking today. Since we have plenty of time, we will pay a visit to Sajama National Park. Our vehicle will take us first to Sajama village where after registering our selves at the National Park rangers hut, we will have lunch in the highest ‘forest’ of the planet. The local species of trees are called keñuas (Polilepsis Tarapacana).and then to the hot springs where besides having a well-deserved relaxing hot bath we can have lunch, and later head back to La Paz.

ALTITUDE CHART

SERVICES

Included

Meals mentioned on the itinerary (three meals per day, snacks and boiled water).
Full land transportation on the trip.
Common camping equipment: 4 season tents (one per each two people), dinning tent, kitchen stuff, and tableware.
Common climbing equipment: ropes, carabiners, slings, snow stakes, ice screws.
Professional bilingual guide(s) during the trip and transfers (on mountaineering trips, we only work with professional UIAGM / IFMGA / IVBV international certified mountain guides).
Luggage transportation with porters and/or animals on trekking & climbing trips (20 kg / 44 lb per person max weight).
Cook(s) when camping.
National Park entrance fees.

Not included

International flight ticket.
Local flight tickets.
International & local airport fees.
Meals & accommodation in la Paz and other main cities.
Personal camping equipment: sleeping bag, foam pad, headlamps, and clothing.
Personal climbing equipment: plastic boots, crampons, harnesses, ice axe.
Insurance of any kind.
Any expense due to a rescue operation (rescuers fee, transportation, or medical cost).

MORE INFORMATION

Please get into our “Resources” page in our website, there you will find plenty of information about pre-departure, National Parks, suggested reading, useful links and much more.

If you would like us to make additional hotel reservations besides the accommodation that is included in your trip, please get into our Reservations page