Argentine Aconcagua Adventure
17 days / Year Round
Pricing: Pricing is based on group size and seasonality, please check with us to secure the best pricing.
Highlights:
• Tackle the highest summit in the Western Hemisphere with a multi-day ascent up Aconcagua. This is the ultimate mountain experience for individuals without technical experience. The summit is the tallest peak outside of Asia.
• Push your limits physically and mentally. Our guides, porters, cooks, and mules will provide the logistical support to get you to the 22,840-ft peak in the Andes mountain range.
DAY 1: MENDOZA
Once you arrive in Mendoza, you will meet your guide who will escort you back to the hotel. We will spend the day relaxing and then indulge in a nice evening out in Mendoza and enjoy the local cuisine.
DAY 2: PENITENTES
After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we will apply for our climb permits. The park service requires all members of the party to sign their own permit form and fill out the appropriate information. After we obtain our permits we will head out to Penitentes, where we will give our bags to the mule service and check into our hotel at the base of Penitentes Ski Resort, situated at 8,900 feet. This will be our first night at altitude and we will begin our acclimating schedule from here.
DAY 3: CAMP CONFLUENCIA
After a good breakfast at the hotel, we will sign in with the park service and then begin our hike to Camp Confluencia, situated at just below 3,380 meters. After we arrive at camp, we will have a good portion of the day to rest while we continue to acclimate. At Camp Confluencia, we will enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and take time to appreciate the altitude in this arid environment.
DAY 4: PLAZA FRANCIA
After breakfast, we will make our way to Plaza Francia and a view of Aconcagua from the imposing South Face. There is a great viewing area for pictures and we will have lunch here at our maximum elevation. The South Face has only been climbed by a select few and its treacherous avalanches can be seen from Plaza Francia. This will be a long trek where we will take our time and adjust to the ability level of the group. We will arrive back to camp with time to rest before we eat dinner.
DAY 5: PLAZA DE MULAS
We will grab an early-morning breakfast and begin our long trek towards Plaza de Mulas. This will be our longest day on the trail, which follows the Valley de Los Horcones along rocky terrain as we slowly gain altitude throughout the day. We will have lunch on the trail at an unused campsite known as Refugio Ibanez and then continue on to our base camp at Plaza de Mulas.
DAY 6: PLAZA DE MULAS
Today we will enjoy a little rest with casual walks and some leisurely meals.
DAY 7: PLAZA DE MULAS
After a good breakfast we will hike up a local peak, Cerro Bonete (16,600 ft), to get further acclimated and begin our preparation for our summit push. Breakfast will be served at Refugio Plaza de Mulas and we’ll eat lunch on the trail.
DAY 8: PLAZA DE MULAS
Today will be our fist look at the mountain and the terrain that we will cover once we depart from base camp. We will climb up past Camp Canada and progress to a higher elevation to further acclimate.
DAY 9: PLAZA DE MULAS
We will have another rest day before we begin our summit push, with a day hike for anyone who feels strong. In the evening, we will check and pack our gear.
DAY 10: CAMP CANADA
After a good breakfast, we will leave the Refugio and climb up the scree slopes to the pinnacles surrounding the flat promontory of Camp Canada (4,907 m - 16,100 ft). We will spend the night and prepare for our hike to Nido de Condores.
DAY 11: NIDO DE CONDORES
Today we will make our way back up the mountain to Nido de Condores to spend the night. Nido de Condores is a large flat area with some sizable rocks that provide wind breaks. The view to the south, across a vast scree field called the Gran Acarreo, reveals the famous Canaleta Couloir and the summit of Aconcagua.
DAY 12: NIDO DE CONDORES
This day is scheduled for rest and weather delays.
DAY 13: CAMP CHOLERA
Our route will ascend the subtle crest of the northwest ridge towards Camp Berlin at (5,791 m -19,000 ft). We will push on from here and move up to our high camp, known as Camp Cholera. This camp, situated at 5,823 m (19,100 ft), offers better protection from the wind and is usually less crowded than Berlin Camp. Camp Cholera offers a more direct route to the summit and reduces our time at the extreme altitudes.
DAY 14: SUMMIT - CAMP CHOLERA
Today we will reach the summit! From our high camp, we will depart very early in the morning, hiking along the Northwest ridge, passing the highest refuge in the world, Refugia Independencia (21,476 ft). From these ruins, we will continue climbing up and right, crossing the Cresta del Viento (Windy Crest). From here we will traverse the upper part of the Gran Acarreo, which leads to the Canaleta, the most famous and challenging part of the Normal Route. The Canaleta is an approximately 30-degree scree gully that rises 500 m (1,500 ft) and requires great patience and stamina. Above the Canaleta, we will find ourselves on the Cresta del Guanaco, the ridge that joins the lower South Summit to the higher North Summit. We follow the ridge crest to the 6,962 m (22,841 ft) true summit, where an aluminum cross marks the highest point in the Western Hemisphere! The 360-degree views from the summit are truly awe-inspiring.
DAY 15: PENITENTES
After breakfast, we will descend back to Base Camp and enjoy a celebratory dinner, a hot shower, and plenty of rest before we make our way back to Penitentes.
DAY 16: MENDOZA
In the morning, you can choose one of two different descents. Anyone who wishes to hike the remaining 25 km will depart in the morning with your guide and meet the party back at the trailhead around 15:30 pm. We will also have the option of a helicopter ride to the trailhead. Either way, we will spend the night in Mendoza and enjoy a dinner in the city.
DAY 17: DEPART
After a nice breakfast, we will escort you to the hotel to catch your return flight.
• Our guides receive extensive training about topics such as botany and so are able to make our guests aware of interesting flora and fauna.
• We also encourage our guides to avoid careless off road driving or hiking and we ask that our guests respect the same.
• We are dedicated to training, and a career path for all employees, casual or full time.