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Llullaillaco National Park

National park of Chile

Photo: Lion Hirth (User:Prissantenbär), Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Llullaillaco National Park, home to the Llullaillaco volcano, is one of the Atacama Desert's most iconic national parks and destinations of northern Chile. Llullaillaco is the second-highest volcano in the world, after Ojos del Salado on the Argentine border.

Getting there and around

Getting there

Llullaillaco National Park is quite remote from the main national highways. To get to the park's northern entrance, you need to take Route B-55 from Antofagasta towards the Socompa border crossing.

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Getting around

There is a network of trails for backpackers. The main legs are those of Correntoso–Río Pangal, Río Pangal–Refugio, Lago Sargazo–Laguna Fría, Saltos Ríos Chaicas and Laguna Chaiquenes. Good fitness is needed.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Ricardo García Posada Airport

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Read before you go to Llullaillaco National Park

Articles and travel topics about Llullaillaco National Park and Chile.

Nature & adventure

Chilean national parks

Chile is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world – no other country is as elongated but narrow as Chile.

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Travel tips

Driving in Chile

Because only Santiago has a good public transport network, and there is only very little of the passenger rail network, driving is a must if you want to see the beauty of Chile.

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Nature & adventure

Fjords

Fjords or fiords are long narrow inlets of the ocean often with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. The two countries that are most known for their fjords are Norway and Canada, with New Zealand, Chile,…

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Travel tips

Driving

Driving a car gives a traveller more independence and flexibility than scheduled transportation, such as air travel, rail travel, or bus travel, and may be faster or more comfortable than cycling.

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandThe park isn't a draw for casual sightseeing, but is a major draw in mountaineers eager to hike the Llullaillaco volcano.

Get inLlullaillaco National Park is quite remote from the main national highways. To get to the park's northern entrance, you need to take Route B-55 from Antofagasta towards the Socompa border crossing.

Fees and permitsBefore climbing Llullaillaco, you must fill out a climbing permit and disclaimer of liability and hand them in to the park office. A Google Form is also available (check with CONAF if you need to fill out both).

Get aroundThere is a network of trails for backpackers. The main legs are those of Correntoso–Río Pangal, Río Pangal–Refugio, Lago Sargazo–Laguna Fría, Saltos Ríos Chaicas and Laguna Chaiquenes. Good fitness is needed.

SeeBy far, the thing to see is Llullaillaco, the volcano perched at 6739 m. Getting here, however, requires at least a week and a half (return).

EatAll food must be brought with you; leave-no-trace principles apply.

SleepWithin the park there is a camp set up for mountaineers, with it being almost the only accommodation in the area. Otherwise, there are no designated lodges or campsites within the park.

Stay safeAdvice for altitude sickness apply to all the park. Even the lowest parts of the park are at 3,500 m, which is very high, close to the altitude of Lhasa.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Llullaillaco National Park" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Llullaillaco National Park", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Lion Hirth (User:Prissantenbär), Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

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