301 - Expedition to the Volcanoes of the Andes

Expedition to the Volcanoes of the Andes

Summer season: two departures per month from January to March. Group programs with fixed departure dates.

Expedition to the Corona del Inca Crater and the Seismiles

An 8-day expedition to the Corona del Inca Crater and the Seismiles, through high-altitude lagoons, volcanoes, and remote landscapes in La Rioja and Catamarca.

This adventure reaching the 5.500 ma.s.l. explores some of the most extraordinary high-Andean landscapes in northwestern Argentina. The route crosses a vast volcanic region of La Rioja and Catamarca, home to some of the highest volcanoes on Earth, colorful mountain lakes, and the immense Corona del Inca Crater, where a deep-blue lake lies hidden among permanent glaciers. A true 4WD and unique adventure. EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS YOU MUST KNOW: Weather conditions in the high Andes are severe, even in summer. In the volcano area, temperatures usually range from -5°C to +5/+8°C at midday, with winds of 30 to 60–80 km/h that can make the wind chill feel like -15 to -20°C. Passengers must bring appropriate layered clothing for high altitude, including thermal base layers, boots, gloves, and protection for the head and neck. Children under 12 are not allowed. The program is not suitable for older adults in fragile health and is not recommended for passengers with high or low blood pressure. Please consult your doctor before traveling above 4,500 meters above sea level. During the journey to Corona del Inca Crater we reach 5.530 m.a.s.l., it is a long drive journey. No previous experience is required, but participants must be in good physical condition and able to tolerate altitude. IMPORTANT NOTE — NATURE IS IN CHARGE: The final itinerary is determined exclusively by the company, as last-minute changes may be required due to weather, storms, landslides, snow, or flooded rivers affecting roads and tracks. The order of excursions and overnight stays may also vary. The success of the expedition depends on both the weather in the Andes and the physical condition of participants. The full program can operate as planned only when high-mountain conditions remain stable. In some cases, strong winds or snowfall may block access to certain areas and require substitutions.

DAY	Day's Detail
1	Arrival in La Rioja and transfer to your hotel for overnight accommodation.
2	La Rioja – Aimogasta – Tinogasta – Fiambalá – Cortaderas. Travel through La Costa Riojana, visiting picturesque villages along the foothills of the Velasco range, including Sanagasta, Agua Blanca, Chuquis, Anillaco, and Aimogasta, cradle of olive growing in Argentina. Continue into Catamarca along the Ruta del Adobe, with stops at historic shrines, chapels, and adobe monuments between Tinogasta and Fiambalá. Later, head into the Andes through Quebrada de las Angosturas, the Chaschuil valley, Pastos Largos, and La Coipa, arriving in the remote mountain hotel of Cortaderas for overnight accommodation.
3	Cortaderas – Seismiles – Cortaderas. After breakfast, set out on a spectacular expedition across the high Andes toward the legendary Seismiles, a chain of volcanoes rising above 6,000 meters. The route includes Refugio La Coipa, Laguna de los Aparejos, and Portezuelo de las Lágrimas at 4,710 meters above sea level. Descend to the shores of Laguna Azul and continue to the breathtaking Pissis Balcony, where sweeping views open across Laguna Verde, Laguna Negra, the salt flats, the glaciers of Mount Pissis, and the vast Quebrada del Valle Ancho. Picnic lunch en route. Return to Cortaderas in the afternoon.
4	Cortaderas – Termas de Fiambalá – Los Sauces – Chilecito. Depart in the morning for the Fiambalá hot springs, where you may enjoy the thermal pools set on the mountainside among impressive rocky walls and panoramic valley views. After free time and lunch, return to La Rioja Province, visiting San Blas de Los Sauces and the archaeological site of Pucará de Hualco (fortress of the natives that lived until nearly 900AD), before continuing to Chilecito for overnight accommodation.
5	Chilecito – Cuesta de Miranda – Villa Unión – Jagüé. Travel across the spectacular Cuesta de Miranda, where the colorful slopes of Cerro Famatina create one of the most scenic drives in northwestern Argentina. Continue to Villa Unión for restocking and lunch, then drive through Villa Castelli and Vinchina along the dramatic “Dakar Routes,” crossing sandy riverbeds and tilted rock formations in the striking Quebrada de los Pozuelos. Arrive in the small pre-Andean village of Jagüé in the afternoon. Overnight stay and dinner.
6	Jagüé – Laguna Brava – Corona del Inca Crater – Jagüé. Early departure into the high Andes through the colorful Quebrada del Peñón to the lake pass at 4,370 meters above sea level, where Laguna Brava first comes into view, framed by snow-capped volcanoes. Continue north across volcanic ash fields, the Riojan Pumice Stone Field, and lava canyons beneath giants volcanoes such as El Bonete (4th highest peak of America), El Veladero, and El Reclus. Around midday, begin the final ascent to the rim of the immense Corona del Inca Crater at 5,500 meters above sea level, where a deep-blue lake fed by permanent glaciers lies inside the volcanic basin — one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the Andes. Picnic lunch en route. Return via Laguna Brava and descend to Jagüé for overnight stay and dinner.
7	Jagüé – Quebrada de la Troya – Villa Unión – Talampaya – La Rioja. Depart from Jagüé and travel through the Quebrada de la Troya, where millions of years of erosion have sculpted remarkable geological formations and exposed ancient fossil traces. Visit the Estrellas Diaguitas near Vinchina, then continue to Villa Unión. After lunch and restocking, head to Talampaya National Park, where you may choose an optional excursion inside the canyons. Return to La Rioja in the afternoon for overnight accommodation.
8	Breakfast and departure transfer to La Rioja airport or bus terminal.