With the intention of spending a couple of months in Latin America to improve my rather basic Espanol I took advantage of the abundant hills and mountains, summiting 6000ers, alpine peaks, and dormant volcanoes.
Cerro Chata 1140m, Alajuela, Cost RicaMy trip started in Costa Rica. Pilar had friends out there and we spent a few days visiting this tropical country. Cerro Arenales is a picture-perfect conical volcano that is a major tourist attraction and situated in a nation park - climbing it is sadly not allowed. Luckily for us neighbouring Chata offered us an adventure fix. Cerro Chata is a small extinct volcano holding a beautiful lake in its huge crater. The summit is on private land and climbing it is technically also forbidden.
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 | | Mud |
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 | | The Mud chute |
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 | Descent into
the crater |
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However, a well-travelled path leads to the summit through dense forest. The hike is challenging - steep muddy sections that are hard enough in the dry and after rain would be near impossible. Start the hike on the obvious path near the mountain lodge on the eastern side. A quite magical swim in the crater lake is the reward for climbing the steep, sketchy mud chutes to the lip of the crater. 6km round trip
 | | Ascending to the rim |
|  | | Crater Swim (special) |
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 | | Route Topo |
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Volcán Chiles 4707m, Putumayo, Colombia
When spending time in Colombia I visited the south of the country with two Colombian friends. Chiles is a beautifully situated extinct volcano on the Ecuadorian Colombian border. This part of the Andes is far from the tourist path and a local guide will need to be picked up in Tofino if you intend to summit this. You can stay with the guide in his house and he should provide dinner and lunch.
 | | The Paramo |
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 | | The hike in |
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 | | Summit scamble |
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We left the car at 6am and started the walking through beautiful Paramo (high, humid country). Frailejones plants cover this unique landscape.
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 | | Acuadorian Volcanoes |
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 | | Summit |
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 | | Scrambling |
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The ascent is steady at first however becomes loose and steep upon nearing the summit. The final summit push is grade 2 scrambling and climbing. Views of the summit into Ecuador are really special.
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| Route Topo |
Volcán Cumbal 4764m, Putumayo, Colombia
Currently dormant this summit would be an interesting summit in good weather. Our guide (and host - found in Cumbal) got us up at 2am for this one.
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| The Route |
It was windy, raining, and cold. We breakfasted by the wood burner in the kitchen before leaving the house full of optimism that the weather would improve. It didn't. The gruelling hike first through vegetated terrain and then up sandy switchbacks didn't reward us with a spectacular view. Instead, we were wet, buffeted by gusts and endured the lingering odour of the volcano as it gave of sulphur plumes. Memorable.
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 | | Local Guide |
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 | | The Icy Summit |
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 | | Terrible Conditions |
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Chachani 6057m, Arequipa, Perú
Spending a month exploring the Peruvian Andes I found myself in the beautiful Arequipa. This colonial town sits in the shadow of both El Misti and Volcan Chachani. Often touted as the worlds easiest 6000er Chachani is truly accessible to the trekking community. With rapidly depleting snow crampons or axes aren't really required. A short section of exposure may require a rope however most will be fine without.
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 | | Me on the approach |
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 | | Base Camp |
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 | | Amparo |
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Getting to the volcano independently is very difficult without your own transport. As such I booked through Quechua Explore - a local agency in Arequipa and there were two other Peruvians on the tour (though one failed to reach the summit). Day one involved a relatively flat hike for two hours or so to the base camp. Views of the coloured mineral rich hills were spectacular in the evening.
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 | | Dawn |
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 | | Above the snow line |
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 | Nearing the Summit
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Camping at 5200m is uncomfortable to say the least (I suffered a banging headache all night though was pleasantly surprised to snatch a few hours sleep). We breakfasted at 1am and set off on the sandy switchbacks at 1.30am! Ascending overnight with the gradual sunrise, the climb is far less arduous as it would be during the daytime heat. Eventually we arrive at the snow line and a few exposed sections allow us to reach the summit plateau.
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| Route Topo |
Top-out was at 6.30am and gives amazing views across to other volcanoes (like Amparo which is active and smokes incessantly in the distance).
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 | Summit
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 | | Sand-skiing descent |
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 | Descent rest
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To descend we "sand-ski" down the dusty slope which takes no time at all. The walk out carrying our tents was tough - we were highly sleep deprived. Well worth it though.
My time in Perú was well spent in the mountains. Additionally to Chachani I undertook many hikes and multi-day treks throughout the Andes - most independently and staying in guesthouses or campsites. A beautiful country that is a once in a lifetime experience.
