Peru: Climbing Volcano Coropuna (6425 m)

Climb the highest Volcano from Peru, it is easy ascent and have a unique experience

04 Days/03 Night April to November Moderate

About Arequipa: is the capital of the colonial era of the Arequipa region in Peru. It is surrounded by 3 volcanoes and has baroque buildings built of sillar, a white volcanic stone. In its historical center, there is the Plaza de Armas, an imposing main square, and to the north of it is the Neoclassical Cathedral Basilica of the 17th century, which houses a museum exhibiting works of art and religious objects.

Coropuna volcano (6425 m), located in the “Cordillera Volcanica”, is the largest and highest volcano in Peru and the third highest summit in entire country, but the most accessible of them. Coropuna has 6 conic summits along its main ridge, being the Western one the highest of them all. Even though there are no recorded eruptions in recent history, there are volcanic signs that suggest the volcano might still be active.

The climb is not technically difficult, but it is a high mountain and it is very important to be well acclimatized for the summit bid. This stand-alone program should be done after following an acclimatization period or as an add-on to any of our other programs in the region.

Coropuna is a stratovolcano complex of approximately 1000 km² of the Ampato mountain range of the Andes, in the south of Peru, located in the district of Viraco, province of Castilla and in the district of Salamanca (Condesuyos), province of Condesuyos in the department of Arequipa . With an altitude of 6425 meters above sea level, it is the highest volcano in Peru and the third highest elevation in the country, after the Huascarán of 6768 meters above sea level and the Yerupajá of 6634 meters above sea level.

Travel Program

Itinerary:

Day 1 Coropuna’s base camp (5150 m)
Day 2 Coropuna’s high camp (5554 m)
Day 3 Climb: Coropuna Volcano (6425 m)
Day 4 Back to Arequipa (2335 m)

Detailed Program

Coropuna’s base camp (5150 m)
Departure will be around 9:00 AM, driving Northwards to the next goal: Coropuna volcano, the third highest mountain in Peru and the highest volcano in the country with 6425 m. The volcano is located on the North most end of the Volcanic Range and to get there the trip is about 280 km. first on a good road that crosses a flat desert area, descending into an oasis like farmland, by the margins of Maja River, which is the same Colca River with another name. The river crossing is at the town of Punta Colorada, which is the lowest altitude in the entire program with 664 meters. From this point, the road begins to ascent to the town of Chuquibamba (2945 m), the last big town in the area, and the start of the dirt road. After 30 minutes drive, on the highland, the first close sight of Coropuna and its long and extensive glacier. It takes about 1,5 h to reach base camp (5150 m), located at the foot of the volcano. The vehicle drive all the way up. There will be no physical activity on this day.
Sunsets from base camp are very impressive and a great view to the neighboring Solimana volcano (6065 m), the most technical climb on the Cordillera.
The day’ trip takes between 6-7 hours.
Night in tents.

Coropuna’s high camp (5554 m)
A relaxing morning at base camp and after a good breakfast, the team will get ready for a 2-3 h trek to Coropuna’s high camp. The hike follows a trail through the moraine by a series of ridges until the high camp, located on a great sandy little valley well protected from the wind. After lunch, there will be a briefing on next day’s climb and a practice with the technical gear. All with the aim to have the best options on the ascent to the highest volcano in Peru.
Night in tents.
Ascent: 404 m / Highest altitude: 5554 m / Activity duration: 2-3 h / Distance: 2.2 Km

Climb: Coropuna Volcano (6425 m)
Coropuna’s Climb is not technically difficult, but it is physically demanding and the altitude plays a key roll during the ascent. The acclimatization archived in the previous days, will be determining for a good attempt.
Start time is around 2:00 AM, but it can be modified according to the team physical capacities and level of acclimatization. Once on the march, the ascent begins almost right away heading up to a the rocky ridge. Reaching the ridge is one of the three steep sections of the climb, having to find the way through a maze of big rocks. Once on the top of the ridge, it get notably easier, ascending up to about 5850 m, where the team will gear up for the glacier crossing. From this point, the guides will find the best way avoiding an icy area by traversing right and then back left to the upper end of the rocky ridge, being this the second steep section. After a good rest, will retake the ascent by a steep slope, the third and last steep section, doing some short switchback until reaching the plateau from where the summit will be visible and it will take about 1 h to cover an almost flat terrain, stand on top of the third highest mountain in the country.
This climb takes around 7 hours, there are few crevasses, but in general terms it is a very safe summit day for such a high mountain. Descend back to base camp will take about 3-4 hours, taking a short break at the high camp to regain strength, continuing down to base camp for a last night in the mountains.
Night in tents.
Ascent: 871 m / Descent: 1275 m / Highest altitude: 6425 m / Activity duration: 12-14 h / Distance one-way: 3.7 Km

Back to Arequipa (2335 m)
Easy going morning at base camp. After breakfast, the staff will pack down the campsite and prepare the vehicle for the trip back to Arequipa (6-7 h), making a lunch stop at the town of Corire in the Majes River valley. Arrival in Arequipa in the late afternoon, for a last evening in the second most important city in Peru.
Night in hotel.

Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner