Trip's Difficulty Grading

Unless specifically requested Andean Summits organize “Soft Adventure trips”, which means that any healthy person who regularly make some physical activity, is able to accomplish any of the trips we organize. If you are not sure about your health, please consult your doctor before signing for a trip.

In most of our trips our main challenge is to achieve a good acclimatization process with our clients. This is a mandatory process that everybody has to go through. Please refer to our acclimatization page to get more information about this subject.

Our clients must understand and accept that adventure travel can be sometimes strenuous or dangerous and that certain risks are an integral part of the type of trips we organize. Since there is not a formal Rescue System in the country, the group will normally be by their own. Although we usually fully complete our trips, sometimes there are situations like: lack of acclimatization, clients who get sick or changes in the weather conditions, can force our guides to change the itinerary or even cancel partially or totally the trip in order to guaranty the safety or the clients and the staff.

Please be sure to understand the trip's grading and choose the right trip for your outdoor experience and endurance.

Grade 1. Gentle

Trekking pre-Hispanic trails & Trekking Peaks

Distance to be hiked per day is relatively short (from 3 to 6 hours) with visible paths. Moderate variances in altitude to be gain/lose 1.000m (3.280ft) max. When trekking peaks, glacier traversing or snow fields crossing may be required but no climbing is needed.

Mountaineering expeditions & Mountaineering School

Routes reach no more than 45°. Summits may or may not be covered with glaciers. Crampons may be required. Mountains and volcanoes listed in this level, reaching more than 6.000m (19.680ft), do not require technical climbing knowledge. Using the French system can be rated from “F” facile (easy) to “PD” Peu Difficile (a little difficult).

Rock climbing

For the curious rock climber. Not much experience is needed and specialized technical gear is not required (i.e.: rock climbing shoes). For safety reasons, we always use rope even in the easiest routes. The routes difficulty is less than IV (UIAA), 5.8 (USA), or 5+ (French system).

4WD expeditions & Cultural trips

Relatively short and easy drives from 4-7 hours per day, usually on gentle terrain: paved and/or dirty roads in good conditions.

Mountain biking

Little previous mountain bike experience is required, although, you must be familiar with the use of the mountain bike gear and brake systems. These tours are relatively short with visible paths and have moderate variance in altitude (often downhill rides).

Sea Kayaking

No previous sea kayaking skills is required. Like in any other water sport, you must know how to swim.

Grade 2. Moderate

Trekking pre-Hispanic trails & Trekking Peaks

Moderate difficulty. Previous trekking experience is required on slippery or exposed terrain. Travellers should be accustomed to walk 6 or more hours per day. The paths are relatively difficult and can be hidden at times. Altitude gain can vary between 1.000m (3.280ft) to 2.000m(6.860ft).

Mountaineering expeditions & Mountaineering School

For the adventurous climber, moderate technical difficulty is involved. Technical climbs on ice & snow reaching 60°. Knowledge on the use of climbing equipment. Using the French system can be rated as “AD” Assez Difficile (fairly difficult).

Rock climbing

For the adventurous rock climber, moderate technical difficult is involved. Requires basic knowledge on technical climbing and equipment skills. The routes difficulty is less than V (UIAA), 5.9 (USA), or 6+ (French system).

4WD expeditions & Cultural trips

Moderate difficulty drives up to 10 hours per day, usually on bad condition dirty roads. 

Mountain biking

Moderate difficulty. Previous mountain biking experience is required. Travelers should be able to ride their bikes on unstable terrain like: sand, grass or gravel with confidence. Riding periods of time can extend up to 5-6 hr/day. Paths are relatively difficult and can be hidden at times. Short sections carrying the bike on the shoulder may be required. Altitude gain can vary between 500m (1.640ft) to 1.000m (3.280ft) per day.

Sea Kayaking

Previous sea kayaking experience is required. Travelers should know how to swim in rough water and be accustomed to row 5-6 hr/day with. Good experience dealing with medium size waves and knowledge of self-rescue is required.

Grade 3. Strenuous

Trekking pre-Hispanic trails & Trekking Peaks

Maximum difficulty. Treks are located in the high mountains and can reach higher than 5.000m(16.400ft). The altitude gain per day may be more than 1.000m (3.280ft). Traveler must be accustomed to walk 6-8 hr/day and be familiar with this type of area. At times, a path may not exist. High saddles, loose rock terrain or thick forest.

Mountaineering expeditions & Mountaineering School

For the intense climber, maximum technical difficulty is involved. Routes may have vertical sections; narrow frozen gullies, frozen waterfalls, and mixed rock and ice terrain. Requires good technical knowledge. Using the French system can be rated from “D” Difficile (difficult) to “TD” Tres difficile (very difficult). Rock climbing For the intense rock climber, maximum technical difficult is involved. Requires extensive knowledge of technical climbing and equipment skills. The routes difficulty is less than VI (UIAA), 5.10 (USA), or 7+ (French system).

4WD expeditions & Cultural trips

This is the most difficult of our 4WD trips. May involve long periods of time in a jeep (10-12 hr/day) and crossing strong rivers. Roads may become desolate for indefinite periods of time without any access to outside help. 

Mountain biking

Maximum difficulty. Rides are located in the high mountains and can reach higher than 5.000m (16.400ft). The altitude gain per day may be more than 1.000m (3.280ft). Traveller must be accustomed to ride 6-8 hr/day and be familiar with the technical rides. At times cross-country riding may be required traversing rocky terrain with big obstacles, loose rock terrain or thick forest.

Sea Kayaking

We do not organize this level of sea kayaking difficulty yet.