If you are heading out from Copiapó to Ojos del Salado or the Seismiles Route on your own, you can rent camping gear and high-altitude clothing from Vulcano Expediciones, and we deliver it to Copiapó when the order is for a group or a full expedition. For single items (one down jacket, one sleeping bag) the transfer from San Pedro de Atacama is not worth it, and it makes more sense to pick them up in San Pedro or rent them in Santiago. We also rent 4x4 trucks with low range prepared for the Puna, which can be quoted together with the gear for delivery in Copiapó.
Our gear base is in San Pedro de Atacama, about 800 km north along Ruta 5. For December we have a confirmed full camp order for a group that starts in Copiapó and ends its trip in San Pedro, and we will drive it down ourselves. Here is how that kind of rental works and what you should know before asking for a quote.
What We Deliver to Copiapó and What We Don't
| Type of order | Example | Do we deliver to Copiapó? | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expedition or group | 4-season tents, dining dome, -20 °C sleeping bags, mats and kitchen for 4–8 people for 10–15 days | Yes, the transfer is included in the quote | Return in Copiapó, or in San Pedro if your route ends there |
| Full personal kit | Down jacket, sleeping bag, mat, crampons and ice axe for 1–2 people | Depends on volume and dates; quoted case by case | Pick-up in San Pedro if you pass through beforehand |
| Single items | One down jacket or one sleeping bag for a few days | No, the freight costs more than the rental | Pick-up in San Pedro or rental in Santiago |
From the field: the case that works best is the group that climbs from Copiapó to the Puna and then crosses north. We hand over the gear in Copiapó and receive it in San Pedro, so nobody has to drive 800 km back just to return tents.
Reference Gear Prices
Daily rates are the same as in San Pedro (the item-by-item detail is in how much it costs to rent mountain gear in San Pedro). On top of that comes the transfer to Copiapó, which is spread across the whole order.
| Item | Daily rate (CLP) | What it is for in the Puna |
|---|---|---|
| 4-season geodesic tent (2P) | $20,000 – $32,000 | Wind above 70 km/h at Tejos and Atacama |
| Down sleeping bag, -15 °C to -25 °C comfort | $14,000 – $22,000 | Nights below -20 °C above 5,000 m |
| Insulating sleeping mat (R > 4.5) | $6,000 – $9,000 | Frozen ground steals more heat than the air |
| 800+ fill power down jacket | $14,000 – $20,000 | Summit day and high camps |
| Crampons + ice axe | $14,000 – $21,000 | Penitentes and ice on the upper mountain |
| Garmin inReach with SOS | $15,000 – $22,000 | No mobile signal beyond Laguna Verde |
For orders of 10 days or more we put together a per-expedition price instead of adding up day by day. Double boots are the most requested item for Ojos del Salado; if you don't own a pair in your exact size, let us know well ahead, because they are the first thing to run out.
What you absolutely need to bring is in the gear and clothing list for Ojos del Salado.
4x4 Truck Rental for the Puna
Our trucks leave prepared for volcanic gravel and altitude: low range (4L), All-Terrain tires, two spares, 12V compressor, recovery boards and tow straps. The reference rate runs from $95,000 to $140,000 CLP per day (USD 100 to 150). If the route ends in San Pedro, returning it there carries no one-way surcharge, because that is our base.
Quoting truck and gear together usually works out better than separately: there is a single transfer to Copiapó and the gear travels in the same truck. If you want the truck with camping gear, Starlink, GPX tracks and the DIFROL permit sorted, that is our supported self-drive through the Puna de Atacama.
If You Rent from a Car Rental Company in Copiapó
Rental companies in Copiapó and at Desierto de Atacama airport have 4x4 trucks, but they are set up for mining work and city driving. For the Puna you need to ask for or check:
- Low range (4L) that works. Test it in the parking lot before signing.
- All-Terrain tires in good condition and two mounted spares. Volcanic gravel cuts highway tires.
- Jerry cans for 60 to 80 extra liters of fuel. After Copiapó there is nowhere to refuel on the road to Paso San Francisco.
- Authorization to leave the pavement. Many contracts exclude it and the insurance does not cover off-road driving.
- Security deposit: usually USD 1,000 to 1,500, and windshields broken by stones are deducted from it.
- Return in another city: if you finish in San Pedro or Calama, ask about the one-way surcharge; sometimes it changes the whole trip budget.
Everything about driving, tire pressures and huts is in 4x4 logistics and huts on the Seismiles Route. If you are looking for a day traverse to test the vehicle before going above 4,000 meters, check our guide to the Salar de Pedernales and Laguna Turquesa tour at 3,370 m, sand driving and sandboarding on the Copiapó Dune Sea and Cerro Medanoso tour, or the winter route to the frozen waterfall of the Juncalito River at 3,900 m.
Warning: the most common mistake we see is cutting acclimatization days to save truck rental days. On Ojos del Salado you pay for that at Refugio Tejos (5,837 m), not on the invoice.
Renting Gear or Going with a Guided Expedition
If you are adding up truck rental, gear, fuel, satellite communication and spare days for wind, do the full math before deciding. Independently, Ojos del Salado comes to around USD 2,200 to 3,400 per person; the breakdown is in how much it costs to climb Ojos del Salado and the risk comparison in Ojos del Salado unguided vs. guided expedition.
If you already have altitude experience and travel as a group, renting the gear and driving yourself is a reasonable option. If it is your first 6,000 m peak, we would go with a guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bring just a sleeping bag or a down jacket to Copiapó?
No. For single items the transfer from San Pedro costs more than the rental. You can pick them up in San Pedro de Atacama or rent them in Santiago before traveling.
Can I return the gear in San Pedro de Atacama?
Yes, and it is what we recommend most if your route continues north after the Puna. We deliver in Copiapó and receive the gear at our base in San Pedro.
How far in advance do I need to book?
For group orders, at least three or four weeks, especially between November and March, which is the Ojos del Salado season. Double boots and 4-season tents are the first to run out.
Does Vulcano rent 4x4 trucks for trips starting in Copiapó?
Yes. We rent trucks with low range prepared for the Puna and deliver them in Copiapó, normally together with the group's gear. If you prefer not to drive, our expeditions from Copiapó include the 4x4 logistics.
