The stark beauty of the Parinacota volcano is sure to take your breath away. It is probably one of the most favorite peaks to climb in Chile despite the fact that it is a potentially active stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is one that is able to produce explosive eruptions and its lava is said to be viscous.
Parinacota had its last eruption about 1700 years ago. The volcano collapsed around 8000 years ago, producing a massive amount of debris in the avalanche. Due to the debris blockage drainage, Lake Chungará was formed which happens to be the biggest lake in the area.
The peak has become a favorite for people to climb due to its perfect symmetry and magical views it offers. There is a normal route to the top of this summit that seldom has an incline over 40 degrees, making it accessible for anyone in good shape.
Paninacota is located in the Northeast part of Chile, bordering Bolivia. The easiest way to get there is from starting out in Arica and taking a bus to Putre. The entire ride is a climb in elevation and takes every bit of three hours. It is recommended to stay over night in Putre before attempting the climb to give yourself time to acclimatize. There is transportation from Putre that can take you to Sajama Village where there is a track that leads to a foot path. Also, you can catch a bus to Parinacota village and walk in from there. There is a Lauco National Park Ranger that is located here and can direct you to the best access point.
It is important to note that if you plan on climbing Paninacota you will require a “border zone permit”. People rarely check to see if you have one but it's one of those thing you need to have “just in case”. The border permits are free so there is no excuse to not get one.
The most popular time to climb this massive summit is from the end of June until September. Of course you are welcome to climb it all year round but it can get extremely cold in the winter, temperatures are unpredictable and winds are ferocious. The border police can usually help you out with weather forecasts. It is fairly a straightforward climb but an ax and crampons is recommended since in can get icy.
Camping is permitted pretty much anywhere but it is recommended to not leave your tent behind at any point, as there have been thefts. It is a good idea instead of leaving your tent up if you want to climb more, to take it down and hide your gear you don't want to carry. The path is fairly well marked with small rocks and aim for the Eastern long ridge. Once you reach the ridge there is only one way to go to the crater.
The views of the surrounding mountains, volcanoes and Chungará Lake are unbelievable. There is a reason why people travel from around the world to take a long bus ride and ascent this summit. It is worth every bit of effort. Come see for yourself what heaven looks like!