ROOF OF THE AMERICA AND ONE OF THE SEVEN SUMMITS
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Andes and the highest in the American continent. Aconcagua is one of the «7 summits of the world» and is therefore a very desirable goal for mountaineers from all countries of the world.
The origin of the name Aconcagua derives from the Aymara, Kon-Kawa (Snowy Mountain).
The Araucanians, in Chile, gave it the same name as the river they called Aconca-Hue (in native language it means «coming from the other side»).
Other historical texts determine that Aconcagua means «Stone Sentinel» and comes from the Quechua language: Akon-Kahuak.
Mount Aconcagua is located between 69º 56′ west longitude and 32º 48′ south latitude. Aconcagua is located entirely in the territory of the province of Mendoza, Argentina, near the border with Chile. Aconcagua belongs to the Aconcagua Provincial Park, in the area called Andes Secos.
Aconcagua is a great massif that has two summits: the north and the south, the most visited is the north summit, the south summit is totally technical and dangerous.
Itinerary
Day 1: Mendoza (746 m) – Penitentes (3,194 m)
Our expedition starts in Mendoza, we will pick you up at your hotel with private transportation. After picking you up we will drive west for 3 hours until we reach Penitentes, here we will stay at the refuge at 3,194 masl.
Lodging: Refuge.
Meals: dinner
Transfer by car: 3 hours
Elevation: +2,448 m (746 masl to 3,194 masl)
Day 2: Penitentes (3,194 m) – Parque Provincial Aconcagua – Confluencia Camp (3,400 m)
This day we will leave the refuge in Penitentes at 10 am, the bus transport will take us to the entrance of the Aconcagua National Park Control, at this point we will hand in the permits. We will continue hiking for 4 to 5 hours until we reach the Confluencia camp, here we will rest, eat and walk around the camp.
Lodging: Mountain tents 4 seasons.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner
Estimated hiking time: 4 to 5 hours.
Elevation: +206 m (3,194 masl to 3,400masl)
Day 3: Confluencia Camp (3,400 m) – Plaza de Mulas Camp (4,300 m)
This day we will leave the Confluencia camp at 7 am, we will hike to Plaza de Mulas for 6 to 8 hours, it will be a long and strenuous day. At the Plaza de Mulas camp we will present the permits to the Aconcagua Provincial Park control.
Lodging: Mountain tents 4 seasons.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 6 to 8 hours.
Elevation: +900 m (3,4000 masl to 4,300 masl)
Day 4: Rest day in Plaza de Mulas Camp (4,300 m)
This day we will rest, have lunch and we can walk around the camp. Also, you can take advantage of the rest and so you will go to the medical control that allows you to continue climbing the mountain, this medical test is mandatory for all mountaineers and authorizes you to continue on the mountain.
Lodging: Mountain tents.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 5: Plaza de Mulas (4,300 m) – Cerro Bonete Summit (5,050 m) – Plaza de Mulas (4,300 m)
We will continue our acclimatization process above 5,000 meters and our first objective will be Bonete Peak. It is an easy and short hike. This peak is an excellent viewpoint of the Aconcagua massif.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 5 hours up and 3 hours down.
Elevation: +750 m (4,300 masl to 5,050 masl)
Day 6: Plaza de Mulas Base Camp (4,300 m) – Nido de Cóndores (5,550) – Plaza de Mulas Base Camp
This day we will take food and equipment to high camp II at Nido de Cóndores. We will leave a deposit and descend to Plaza de Mulas to rest and recharge our energy.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 6 hours up and 2 hours down.
Elevation: +1,250 m (4,300 masl to 5,550 masl)
Day 7: Plaza de Mulas Base Camp (4,300 m) – Nido de Cóndores (5,550 m)
This day we will start climbing the mountain towards the summit, we will hike to our first high altitude camp: Nido de Condores. After 6 hours of hiking, we will reach the campsite, take some time to rest, eat and prepare for the next day.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 6 hours.
Elevation: +1,250 m (4,300 masl to 5,550 masl)
Day 8: Nido de Cóndores (5,550 m) – Colera High Camp (6,000 m)
We will climb to our last altitude camp and from Colera we will start the ascent to the summit. Sleeping at 6,000 meters will be important to adapt to the altitude.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 2 hours.
Elevation: +450 m (5,550 masl to 6,000 masl)
Day 9: Colera High Camp (6,000 m) – Aconcagua Summit (6,962 m) - Colera High Camp (6,000 m)
The most desired and demanding day of the expedition has come. We will climb the North Ridge up to the Independencia Refuge at 6,500 m. We will continue climbing through the Portezuelo del Viento, then we will take the path that climbs up La Canaleta and the Filo del Guanaco that leads us to the summit. The reward awaits us: a summit with a 360° view that dominates the entire horizon, the experience of overcoming is wonderful. We will take some time to rest, take pictures, hydrate or eat to get some energy. Finally we will descend to Colera High Camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Estimated climbing time: 8 hours up and 3 hours down.
Elevation: +962 m, -962m (5,550 masl to 6,000 masl and return)
Day 10: Colera High Camp (6,000 m) – Plaza de Mulas Camp (4,300 m)
After breakfast in the morning, we will disarm the camp, then we will begin the downhill to Plaza de Mulas.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Estimated climbing time: 3 hours down.
Elevation: +962 m, -962m (6,000 masl to 4,300 masl)
Day 11: Plaza de Mulas Camp (4,300 m) - Penitentes (3,194 m) - Mendoza (746 m)
Last day in Aconcagua Provincial Park. A long hike will be waiting for us until we will arrive at the entrance and control point of the park, where the transport will be waiting for us to return to Penitentes. After picking up our luggage we will travel from Penitentes to Mendoza.
Meals: Breakfast.
Estimated climbing time: 7 hours down.
Transfer by car: 3 hours
Elevation: -3,554 m (4,300 masl to 746 masl)
Day 12: Extra day
We have an extra day reserved in our itinerary to attempt to summit in case of bad conditions on the mountain.
Inclusion
- Mountain Guide
- Transfer from Mendoza Airport IN - OUT
- Lodging in Mendoza, 3 * hotel, 2 nights, breakfast included, double occupancy
- Transportation Mendoza - Penitentes - Mendoza
- Assistance to obtaining permits ascent
- 5 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, box lunch, teatime and dinner)
- Transfer Penitentes - Horcones
- Transfer Horcones Penitentes
- Mule services: Penitentes - Plaza de Mulas
- Mule services: Plaza de Mulas – Penitentes
- Food in Confluencia BC (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Lodging in domo or tent (confluencia and plaza de mulas)
- Food in Plaza de Mulas BC (breakfast, lunch or packed lunch dinner) lodging in domo in
- Dining tent at base camp
- Base camp toilets at base camp
- Radial communication between base camp and high camps
- Assistance to coordinate reservations, sending and receiving equipment.
- Provision of weather forecast for all our expeditionary
- Our camps have solar energy to charge your portable equipment.
- Reserved in advance and can prepare food for vegetarians or celiacs
Exclusions
- Airplane ticket to Mendoza and to the country of origin.
- Personal porters (We can organice it for the best altitude movemments)
- Ascent permit fee (USD $ 800 p/p) / (We will help with all the procedure without extra cost)
- Individual gear (Discount in Mendoza with our rental partnership).
- Extra costs as a result of abandoning of the expedition.
- Evacuation and rescue insurance. Costs as a result of an emergency rescue.
- Accident and rescue insurance (you can ask us about the agreement we have with Global Rescue for a preferential price)
- Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, mail, telephone calls)
- All other services not listed as Included
- Personal climbing equipment (Helmet, Crampons, Ice axe,Double Boots).
- Does not include last lunch.
- Accident and rescue insurance.
- Hotel during your stay in Huaraz
- Travel luggage and trip cancellation insurance.
- Personal expenses.
- Shower at Plaza de Mulas ($20).
- Sleeping bag (-30 ºC) and insulating mattress.
- Extra days in hotels in case of anticipated arrivals outside the calendar.
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Transfers outside the calendar of Penitentes to Mendoza and Airport, in case of premature abandonment of the expedition
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Expedition Information
$3,500
Q1, Q4
Aconcagua
Mountaineering,
Trekking
Fitness Level
4
Technical Level
2
Group Size
3-6