Misti Volcano has an altitude of 5825 meters, it is located in the region of Arequipa, it is not a technical mountain, but nevertheless it is a stratum volcano with a presence of ash and sand. These characteristics increase the difficulty of this volcano to make it less easy, and so we advise any friends or clients, to trekking to Misti´s summit it is mostly a trek of altitude.

Misti Volcano is the most popular symbol of the City of Arequipa, to speak about this volcano it is to speak about the Arequipeños and about their rich history. Thanks to this volcano and its acid eruptions (ashes), at present the City of Arequipa is provided with some of the richest grounds for agricultural activity, on the foot of the Misti Volcano there are rich valleys such as the Chilina Valley, which has been inhabited from before the arrival of the Spanish in 1540.

To order to climb this Volcano, technical preparation is not needed as it is not a technical mountain; it is a stratum volcano which consists of ashes and of volcanic lava.

To climb this volcano is mainly a test of altitude. The only difficulty that we will have when climbing this volcano is the volcanic ash and sand, (in some cases dunes which are formed in the sand). We will find these elements on the volcano will make our ascent a little more difficult.

Peru is recognized internationally by the presence of the Andes Mountain Range. Arequipa is a region privileged for being provided with active volcanoes, snow-capped mountains of more than 6000 meters high and mountain ranges such as the Chila Mountain Range in the Colca Canyon.

The trips towards the volcanoes in the region of Arequipa are organized bearing in mind of quality standards, and safety.

Remember that to be able to do an ascent at altitude a sufficient acclimatization is needed. In all of our programs of ascent up the volcanoes and snow-capped mountains in Arequipa, we assume that, our clients have given themselves sufficient time to acclimatize before the trek. Nevertheless if you are not acclimated to the altitude, you must consult with us about the ascents for every snow-capped mountain or volcano trek.

Our goal is not only to sell climbing tours, our goal is that our clients arrive at the summit of the volcanoes and snow capped peaks on the climbing tours. In order to do this it is necessary at the time of the consultation for the climbing tour, that you tell us if you are acclimatized to the altitude.

If already you are acclimatized we can do the ascent and follow the program and you can. And if not, it does not matter, we can add one or two more days to the same program. If you do not have a lot of experience we recommend to you to do an ascent in private service and the guide will be able to take you up to the summit slowly to the suit your rhythm.

The programs on our website about ascent are only programs, as these can be adapted to the physical experience and acclimatization of each of our clients.

Our guides are trained and qualified in the High Mountain School in the region of Huaraz.

CLIMBING VOLCANO MISTI
Duration of the tour:  2 days and 1 night.
Difficulty              : Easy
Altitude in feet: 19,101 ft (5825 meters)
Location: 16°17′40″S / 71°24′32″W / 
South Western Peruvian Mountain Range, 95 miles (150 km) from the City of Arequipa
Type of volcano: Stratum volcano

MISTI VOLCANO TREK HAS TWO ROUTES TO CLIMB, THE SOUTHERN AND THE NORTHEN ROUTE:

• CLIMB MISTI VOLCANO SOUTHERN ROUTE
  
• CLIMBING VOLCANO MISTI BY THE DAM NORTHEN ROUTE
  
  

We will leave from the City of Arequipa at 8 in the morming and we will head by 4x4 to 3300 meters, in 2 hours.

From here we will walk until we reach the base camp (named eagles nest situated at 4800 m.h.s.l). We will walk for 6 hours.

At night we will have dinner and camp here.

After breakfast we will leave at 3 in the morning to reach the summit (5825 meters), duration of 7 hours and then we will descent from the summit (5825 meters) until 3300 meters, where our car will be waiting for us.

We will return to the City of Arequipa.

When we arrive in the City of Arequipa, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Our passengers will be collected by 4x4 from their respective hotels; we will leave the City of Arequipa located at 2325m. We will then head towards the Misti Volcano. We take the road by 4x4 via Cabrerías up to 4000 m.

In the journey between the City of Arequipa (2325m.) and 4000 meters (up to where we will go by car) we will be able to observe the South American camels (vicuñas) at full freedom, inside the Aguada Blanca and Salinas National Reserve. Inside this reserve we can also see some shaven birds such as the hawk and the eagle, and sometimes vultures such as the condor. Also in this zone there is a bird which its diet consists half of dead animals and half from animals it catches itself (vulture) and half shaven, this bird has the local name of Cara Cara, and if we are lucky we will be able to see some wild guanacos that are a species of wild South American camel.

In this national reserve we can also spot a species of Andean rabbit called vizcacha and if we are lucky some Andean foxes.

Characteristics of the ascent to the Misti Volcano via Aguada Blanca y Salinas:

• We will travel by 4x4 to 4000 meters of altitude.
  
• In order to do this ascent in the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve you will need special acclimatization. 
  
• The Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve is protected by military personnel as here lays the biggest dam in the City of Arequipa.
  
• Only some tour agencies such as Pablo Tour have the authorization to climb this volcano from the dam.

You will be collected from your hotel at 9.am, we will leave in the direction of the Chachani Volcano and we will pass the cabrerías until we reach an altitude of 4150 meters. From here we will begin our ascent to the Misti Volcano until we arrive at 4800 meters. (Campsite Monte Blanco) this day we will walk for 4 hours.

Very early before the sun rises we will have our breakfast, in order to begin the ascent (4:00 am) towards the summit of the Misti Volcano (5825 m). During the ascent we will watch the dawn from the volcano, according to our clients the dawn from the Misti Volcano, is the best part of the ascent. Of course it is impossible to watch the dawn from the southern side of Misti (see first option).

This day to arrive at the summit of the Misti Volcano we will need to walk approximately between 5/6 hours.

When we arrive at the summit we will observe an iron cross, we can remain on Misti´s summit for approximately 20 minutes. This is in order to appreciate the incredible mountain range and especially the ring of fire (the set of volcanoes aligned in the south of Peru).

The ring of fire is composed of a set of aligned volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, Ubinas (erupted in 2007) Sabancaya (erupted in 1991), the snow-capped Ampato Volcano (where was discovered the Juanita mummy), the extinct Volcano and glacier Coropuna and the snow-capped Hualcahualca Volcano.

For the descent we will cross some dunes and volcanic ash, this does make our descent much easier and more fun. The descent will take us as a maximum one hour and a half to arrive at 4100 meters where our 4x4 will be waiting for us.

We will meet with our 4x4 at approximately 12:30 pm; we will arrive in the City of Arequipa at 2:30 pm. You will be transferred to your hotel or place of preference.

Important: On our climbing tours we will include a porter to carry the food and cooking materials.