Challenge; conquer the "easiest" 6070 Meters in Peru.
Chachani Mt. is considered the easiest 6070M peaks in the world, and is located 24km north from the city of Arequipa.
Chachani means “skirt” in Quechua and a female character is normally attributed to the mountain by local legends.
Chachani still retains its ice covering, though this too is fast disappearing. The fact that Chachani tops the magic 6070m has led to a growing number of climbers on the mountain.
"Easiest Summit", please don't consider easy. You will feel tired, dusty, cold, tired, thirsty, headache, for sure other symptoms which is normal at high altitude, all those symptoms happen after 5-7hrs been over 5000M. For participants with better acclimatize to altitude and good shape, we advise to attempt the summit of Chachani in ONE DAY. Why? because from the trailhead to the summit takes between 5-7hrs of uphill trekking (no ice or rock climbing). If everyone been before in high altitudes over 4500M the possibilities to reach the top is 70% in a period of 5-7hrs before the high-altitude symptoms affect your feeling and energy.
So, to avoid altitude sickness naturally, you need optimal acclimatization, good physical condition, and to drink plenty of water before and during the challenge. Welcome to Chachani challenge.
FULL DAY TREK ITINERARY TO CHACHANI VOLCANO
We leave at midnight (00:00HRS) from the guest hotel located in downtown in Arequipa only.
At pick-up time we really recommend to check again all your equipment´s to avoid any inconveniences on the mountain and then we will travel in our 4WD for about 3 hours from Arequipa (2400m) up to 5100M which is known as El Collado (End of the road) - The road from Arequipa up to Chachani is not good condition, bumpy and dusty/muddy road between Chachani and Volcan Misti - In case you suffer car sickness be aware about that and ask the guide and driver to stop along the way to recover your body performance.
At 3AM all climbers wake up and then safety talking about the mountain and check all equipments as Ice Axe and Crampons (included) only if we find snow on the way up following a single serpentine track attach the summit of Chachani.
The first section of the path is very gradual passing a rocky section up to the base camp of Chachani (5200M) - This first section will be not to hard but hiking on the dark the headlamp will be very helpful - If the weather is good you will enjoy the starry sky and great surrounding views, but if the weather condition is not good (foggy/raining/snowing) will be harder and colder and for sure you will need to wear good waterproof clothes and use the climbing gear as ice axe, crampons to reach the top on the safety way.
The second and last section will be very steep but the path will very clear (if there is not snow) but harder for everyone because at that altitude the oxygen is less (5600M) and everyone start to feel tired and suffer headache.
After between 5 and 7 hours of uphill trek you will reach the summit of Chachani (6070M) offer spectacular view of Arequipa valley, the surrounding volcanoes and snow peaks and clean blue sky.
The return to the 4WD will be done by the same way, it might be the hardest part of this challenge because the climbers will feel pain in their knees and ankles after being using the crampons all the way up. The descending can be between 2 or more hours according how you feeling.
From the end of the road behind Chachani, we drive for about 3 hours to your hotel in Arequipa. Normally we end this adventure around 4PM.
BEST TIME TO CLIMB CHACHANI VOLCANO
April to December, on the rain season same days are with good weather (blue sky) permiting to climb this volcano. before to book your tour please see the weather report.
Between June and September is the dry season in all the Andes and the coldest season during the night and we recommend to bring good sleeping bag to stay warm during the night.
