# Atacama Refuge, Argentina: what it is and when to go > Atacama Refuge is a mountain hut in Argentina, at 5,250 m above sea level. Interests: Mountains and Hiking. The best time to visit is January to March, a short season because of the altitude. In December there are 13 h 42 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 18. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/atacama-refuge/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-08 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Mountain hut · Mountains, Hiking - **Where:** Argentina - **Elevation:** 5,250 m - **Best time:** January to March. - **Nearest airport:** MDZ Mendoza, 643 km as the crow flies - **Beds:** 3 - **Coordinates:** -27.05977, -68.54761 ## What it is and where Atacama Refuge is a mountain hut in Argentina, at 5,250 m above sea level. Its coordinates are -27.05977, -68.54761; the nearest main airport is Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ, Mendoza), 643 km as the crow flies. How to get around Argentina (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-27.05977%2C-68.547614) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-27.05977%2C-68.547614) - **Beds:** 3 It is one of the [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/montana/) and [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/senderismo/) places in Argentina. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Atacama Refuge is **January to March**, and the season is short because it sits at 5,250 m: above 1,800 m there is snow until June and it returns in October. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Best time | 13 h 32 | | February | Best time | 12 h 55 | | March | Best time | 12 h 12 | | April | Possible | 11 h 21 | | May | Better not | 10 h 40 | | June | Better not | 10 h 18 | | July | Better not | 10 h 27 | | August | Better not | 11 h 02 | | September | Better not | 11 h 51 | | October | Better not | 12 h 40 | | November | Better not | 13 h 22 | | December | Possible | 13 h 42 | In December there are 13 h 42 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 18. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. | What you come for | Best time | Possible | | --- | --- | --- | | Mountains | January to March | April and December | | Hiking | January to March | April and December | It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Atacama Refuge has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you. When to go to Argentina in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Argentina To enter Argentina there are 8 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Book Patagonia's refuges and transfers”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Argentina checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Argentine peso (ARS); plugs: Type C and I · 220 V · 50 Hz (you need an adapter for the three flat-pin plug); emergencies: 911 for everything · 101 police · 107 ambulance. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Tejos Refuge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/tejos-refuge/): Mountains · Hiking · 3.2 km - [Ojos del Salado](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/ojos-del-salado/): Highest volcano in the world · 5.6 km - [Cerro El Muerto](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/volcan-el-muerto/): Mountain in Argentina · 6.3 km - [Cerro Medusa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/volcan-medusa/): Mountain in Argentina · 9.9 km - [Ata volcano](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/volcan-ata/): Mountain in Chile/Argentina · 13 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Argentina guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/). ## More in Argentina: Mountains - [Aconcagua](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/aconcagua/): highest mountain in both the Southern and the Western Hemispheres (6967 m) - [Fitz Roy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/monte-fitz-roy/): mountain of Chile - argentina - [Tupungato](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/cumbre-sur/): Volcanic dome in the Andes - [Cerro Torre](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/cerro-torre/): mountain in Southern Patagonia in South America - [Mercedario](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/cerro-mercedario/): andean mountain in Argentina - [Maipo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/maipo/): mountain in Chile Every Argentina place under Mountains, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/montana/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Atacama Refuge? It is a mountain hut in Argentina. ### When is the best time to visit Atacama Refuge? January to March, and it is worth checking carefully: at 5,250 m the season is shorter than lower down. In December there are 13 h 42 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 18. ### How do you get to Atacama Refuge? The nearest main airport is Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ), 643 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-27.05977%2C-68.547614) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Argentina is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Argentina map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Tejos Refuge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/tejos-refuge/), [Ojos del Salado](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/ojos-del-salado/), [Cerro El Muerto](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/volcan-el-muerto/). The rest is in [the Argentina guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/argentina/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/639993032), licensed under the ODbL. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).