South America is a fascinating continent that attracts travelers from all over the world. Here the heritage of pre-Columbian civilizations, the colorful flavor of modern cultures and incredible natural treasures are intertwined. As hikers and climbers, we are mainly interested in mountains. And in this regard, South America will please and surprise even the most experienced ones!
Across the continent from north to south stretches the Andes range, the longest mountain system in the world and the highest outside of Asia. Thanks to its location from the equator to the circumpolar regions of Patagonia, the Andes can boast a fantastic variety of landscapes, climate, and flora and fauna. Accordingly, the choice of mountain programs here is very wide: from simple one-day treks to climbs to the difficult six-thousanders! Choose the route that suits you and come with us to South America!
WHY YOU SHOULD COME TO SOUTH AMERICA WITH US
WE ARE THE LEADERS IN THE HIKING AND CLIMBING MARKET
With huge mountain experience in South America.
VARIED AND INTERESTING PROGRAMS
We hike a lot and visit places that are not accessible on regular excursions. We pass uninteresting places by transport to save time for the best locations.
EXPERIENCED TEAM LEADERS
We do not put on the route those team leaders who have not been on it before. Only experienced guides who know the most fascinating and beautiful places.
HELP IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRIP
The weather in the Andes is very changeable, and you need to be thoroughly prepared for the trek. Our managers will help you choose the right equipment.
NO HIDDEN COSTS
Traveling to South America is not cheap, so we make sure you are as informed as possible about all possible costs during your trip.
DECLARED TRIPS WILL DEFINITELY TAKE PLACE
You won't have to worry if your hike or climbing trip is cancelled due to our fault. But the purchase of the ticket must be coordinated with us.
TOTAL PROGRAMME GUIDANCE
Hotel reservations, camping, organization of bookings and transfers, reliable local partners, etc. We cooperate with a lot of stores, where our clients can get equipment and clothes with a good discount.
Kuluar – your life changing mountain experience!
TOURS IN SOUTH AMERICA with KULUAR in numbers
23
participants
13
groups were led
2
reviews on the site
Features of hiking and climbing in South America
The most important feature of hiking in South America is the enormous natural diversity. The main mountain range of the continent – the Andes – includes 5 climatic zones and is located on the territory of 7 countries. The Northern Andes are in Venezuela and Colombia. The central ones are in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. The southern ones are in Argentina and Chile. Each country has its own unique culture and distinctive mountainous landscapes. In the Andes, there are really high and symbolic peaks. For example, Aconcagua is the highest mountain on earth outside of Asia, Ojos del Salado is the highest volcano, and Chimborazo is the farthest point from the center of the Earth. At the same time, all of these are six-thousand mountains of great interest to climbers.
In addition to the mountains themselves, our South American hikes offer other legendary places: the Atacama Desert, numerous attractions of Patagonia, Lake Titicaca, the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu, the Iguazu Falls, and many others.
Another feature of active recreation in South America is a developed mountain infrastructure and convenient logistics. There are many roads and shelters for tourists in the Andes. This comes in handy if you are planning to climb in the Andes. The base camps of most popular peaks can be accessed by car. Because of this, climbing in South America can often be done much faster than in other parts of the world. As for regular hikes, many programs do not require you to spend the night in tents and carry a heavy backpack.
Finally, hiking and climbing in South America is an opportunity to experience the incredible culture of this continent. You'll visit stunning, atmospheric cities such as Quito, Santiago, Lima, Buenos Aires, and others, and also experience the grandeur and authenticity of ancient cultures, traces of which can be found in each of the countries in which we run hiking tours.
Hiking in South America
Tour to Chile: From the North to the South: Patagonia, Santiago, and the Atacama Desert
In this tour of Chile, we will visit what we consider to be the 2 most interesting regions of the country: Patagonia in the south and the Atacama Desert in the north. During the 14 days of the trip, members will visit a variety of places of great interest. Among them: the beautiful Serro Castillo Mountain that looks like a fairy tale castle, the Exploradores Glacier, San Rafael National Park, Marble Chapel Caves, Altiplano Plateau, Atacama Salt Caves and Geysers... And if you want more, you can fly to Easter Island.
This trip will be very comfortable for the members: all overnight stays in hostels and hotels, relatively easy crossings without heavy backpacks, we will cover most of the distance in hired vehicles.
Trekking in Patagonia – a journey to the edge of the world
On this trek, we will visit 2 countries at once: Argentina and Chile. We will walk through the Torres del Paine National Park, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. We will also look at its highlight: the Torres Towers. Furthermore, we will visit Ushuaia, the southernmost city on Earth and the center of Tierra del Fuego National Park. We will visit Los Glaciares National Park, a place where giant glaciers are concentrated. The most famous of them, Perito Moreno, will be remembered for the rest of your life. Meet the sunrise at the foot of the majestic Mount Fitzroy, the hallmark of Patagonia. And if these adventures are not enough for you, you can also travel with us to the Iguazu Falls, one of the new wonders of the world.
Trekking is of medium difficulty, and does not require special skills and experience in previous mountain hikes, but we recommend getting fit to get the most out of this trip. The weather in Patagonia is very changeable, so you should be especially thorough in choosing the equipment and clothing, on which it is definitely better not to save. Along the route we sleep in both hostels (in the cities), and tents.
Trekking in Peru: Machu Picchu, Salkantay Valley, Ausangate Trek
The main attraction and goal of this trek in Peru is the legendary lost city of Machu Picchu. We will climb up to it along one of the trails used by the Incas centuries ago. In addition, members will learn about other archaeological antiquities that can be found in the Urubamba Valley. There will also be trekking high in the picturesque Andes, the fantastic Rainbow Mountains, which have only recently become accessible to tourists, and an introduction to the culture of Lima and Cuzco.
If this is not enough, you can extend your program by visiting Lake Titicaca, the oasis of Huacachina, Colca Canyon, or El Misti Volcano, and by flying over the Nazca Lines.
The trekking part of the route includes some challenging crossings with up to 5,000-meter climbs, so mules will carry the majority of the supplies along the way. We recommend that you start your running training at least a month before the start to make the trip as easy as possible, so that it will bring only positive emotions.
Peru: Cordillera Blanca – trekking around Alpamayo
Alpamayo (5,957 m) is one of the most beautiful peaks not only in the Andes, but in the whole world. On this trek through Peru we will be able to see it from many angles, and at the same time admire the highest mountain in the country, Huascarán (6,768 m) and the other peaks of the Cordillera Blanca range. We will visit the two base camps of Alpamayo and meet the alpinists planning to climb it. In addition to the mountain part, we will explore the colorful cities of Lima and Huaraz, the culture and life of the Peruvian Indians, ancient ruins, and much more. And for the most inquisitive, we suggest you join the Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountains program, which will take place just before the trek around Alpamayo. This will also help improve acclimatization and prepare for challenging hikes.
The members will experience high mountain passes and overnight stays in tents, with heavy backpacks with the bulk of their belongings transported by mules. We recommend that you prepare physically to go through the difficulties of the hike as easily as possible.
Chile and Bolivia: Atacama Desert, Uyuni Salt Marsh and Volcano Climbing
This trip through Chile and Bolivia will take in the world's driest desert, the Atacama, and the fantastic Altiplano Plateau, teeming with numerous volcanoes, colorful lagoons, smoky geysers, and endless salt marshes. We will enjoy these lunar landscapes and even climb several volcanoes. One of them is just under 6,000 meters high (Likankabur, 5,916 meters)! And the Uyuni salt marsh is so stunning with its ethereal minimalism that it attracts photographers from all over the world. Also, there is an astronomical tour of Chile, an introduction to the capital Lima, and much more on the program. You will surely not get bored!
Along the route, we will stay in hostels and hotels and walk only with light backpacks, so you can apply for this tour even without prior mountain experience.
Climbing in South America
Climbing Ojos Del Salado
Ojos Del Salado (6,893 m) is the highest volcano on earth and a part of the "7 Volcanoes" program. In addition, thanks to convenient logistics and developed infrastructure, it is one of the most accessible six-thousanders. You can drive up to the base camp of this volcano by jeep, and the snow on its slopes practically does not stay. All this makes Ojos del Salado very popular with climbers. Nevertheless, you should take into account the impressive altitude (Ojos is nearly seven thousand meters high!) and seriously approach the preparation and selection of equipment.
Climbing Aconcagua
Aconcagua (6,962 m) is a record-breaking mountain. It ranks first in height not only in South America, but also in the Southern and Western hemispheres, as well as the entire planet, not counting Asia. Despite these impressive regalia, to climb Aconcagua is quite simple technically: you do not need special skills or special equipment, but you will have to put a lot of effort to reach the goal. We also need good acclimatization, which will be taken care of by the experienced team leaders of Kuluar.
A nice bonus to the summit will be learning about the culture and cuisine of Argentina, as well as the magnificent scenery of the Andes.
Climbing Chimborazo and Cotopaxi
Ecuador is known for its many beautiful volcanoes, developed mountain infrastructure, and convenient climbing logistics. On this program we will climb two of the most famous volcanoes in the world: Chimborazo (6310 m) is the highest mountain in Ecuador and the farthest point from the center of the Earth, and Cotopaxi (5 911 m) is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.
In just 10 days of this program we will not only make 2 exciting climbs, but we will also learn about the exotic culture of Ecuador, visit its capital, ride the cable car and explore the human-inhabited Pululaua Crater. In the process, the members will be able to improve their skills and prepare for the summit climb.
Climbing Chachani and El Misti Volcanoes
In this relatively short but very intense program in Peru, we will climb El Misti (5,822 m) and Chachani (6,057 m) volcanoes. The latter is considered one of the most accessible 6,000 m, so if you are planning to climb such a significant altitude for the first time, consider this option.
In addition to the two exciting climbs, the members will visit many interesting locations. We will acclimatize on the other side of the country, where the famous Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountains and Lake Titicaca will meet us. In addition, the distinctive cities of Cuzco and Arequipa, whose historic center is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, await us. A great opportunity not only to climb 6,000 meters, but also to learn about the culture of distant and exotic Peru.
Climbing Alpamayo
The Alpamayo (5,947 m) is slightly lower than the neighboring peaks in the Cordillera Blanca range, but it is so beautiful and majestic that in 1968 the German magazine "Alpinismus" gave it the title of the most beautiful mountain on the planet. Today Kuluar has no program of climbing Alpamayo, but it will definitely appear in the near future. In the meantime, you can take the track around the summit described above and see if the Germans understand something about the beauty of mountains 🙂
Climbing Nevado del Tolima
We suggest climbing the interesting and very beautiful five-thousand meter peak, Nevada del Tolima (5,276 m), which is located in Los Nevados National Park in Colombia. It is an active volcano that members will have to climb in crampons and belay – a memorable adventure guaranteed! In addition to the climbing, our program includes an introduction to the nature, culture, and traditions of exotic Colombia: the picturesque Tatacoa Desert, the Valley of the Giant Palms, a tour of the world's best coffee plantations, and much more. And at the end of the trip, we will relax on the luxurious beaches of the Caribbean Sea... Join us!
The best seasons to go to South America
As we wrote above, South America is very diverse. This also applies to the climate, which can be very different even in nearby regions. Therefore, we advise you to study the peculiarities of the specific places you are going to visit before your trip. And below we will give the most generalized data, typical for the continent as a whole.
Peculiarities of South American programs in summer – June, July, August
As you know, the seasons are reversed in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. While our summers are hot, South America is in the midst of winter. That's why there aren't many programs in the Andes in June, July and August. The exception is trekking tours and climbs in countries close to the equator, where the change of seasons is practically not noticeable. In Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, for example, the high season for visiting the mountains is from May to September, because in these months there is less rainfall.
Should I go to South America in the fall?
Our autumn is the South American spring. This is the time when individual hikes and uncomplicated climbs begin to take place in regions far from the equator. In low latitude countries, high mountain climbs are also possible. For example, climbing the Chimborazo is available year-round, including in the fall.
Winter in South America – hiking and climbing
The winter months are the best time to hike and climb in countries that are at high latitudes, i.e. Argentina and Chile. It's summer, which means it's warm and relatively dry. Aconcagua, Ojos del Salado, and Patagonia trekking are traditionally done in winter. So if your goal is the Southern Andes, plan your trip between December and March.
Hiking and climbing in South America in spring – March, April, May
As you may have guessed by now, during "our" spring months, it's fall in South America, which means it can already be cold in the high mountains of countries away from the equator. But in the equatorial and tropical countries – Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia in April and May begins the high season to visit the mountains. During this time, there are many tourists from all over the world.
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