At (6,962m) Aconcagua is the highest peak in the southern hemisphere & the highest peak outside of the Himalayan ranges. This is a classic high-altitude expedition in the stunning High Andes, and a stepping-stone to 8,000m peaks.
Aconcagua, known as the stone sentinel by the Incas, lies close to the Chile/Argentine border, but wholly within Argentina. With spectacular and relatively straightforward terrain on the normal route, this is one of the most regularly climbed “high” mountains of the world. While it is a very physical climb, it is one of the more achievable Seven Summits and is ideal preparation for Himalayan high-altitude climbing.
Our 20-day itinerary includes a number of acclimatization days & spare weather days, and an ascent of a 5,000m peak to optimize our acclimatization and maximize your summit chances. We include porter support for group gear to ensure that we conserve and manage our energy levels. Our expert local guides are seasoned veterans who focus on safety and help you to enjoy and learn as much as possible from this ascent. The expedition is led by our founder, Everest summiteer Ricky Monday.
Highlights:
Our expedition starts in Mendoza, Argentina. A representative of 14 Summit trek will be waiting for you at the airport. We will stay at the hotel in the city. A group meeting will follow and you will be introduced to your guides and team members.
Accommodation: Hotel double or triple room. – Transportation: Airport – Hotel in Mendoza.
After you obtain individual park entrance and ascent permits, assisted by your guide, we meet at our commercial office to finalize all the arrangements of the expedition. Later we travel to Villa de Penitentes, where we stay at a Hotel in the mountain. There we get the equipment ready for transportation to the base camp by mule.
Transportation: Mendoza – Penitentes – Accomodation: Hotel – Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
We drive you to Horcones Park, where we get our first view of the mountain. We will get our permits checked at the Ranger station. Then, we head off to Confluencia by walking 4 or 5 hours.
Transportation: Penitentes – Horcones – Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals. Breakfast, Lunch Box & Dinner
We’ve included this day in order to acclimatize better, and give you more chances to summit. We’ll trek for about 5 hours until we arrive to Plaza Francia viewpoint, where we can see the impressive Aconcagua South Wall. This is one of the nicest points of the expedition.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box & Dinner
After 8-9 hours hiking across “Playa Ancha” and climbing up through a very steep path, we reach Plaza de Mulas, the biggest base camp in Aconcagua Park. By the end of the day, most of us will feel the altitude.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome– Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box & Dinner
The first day in Base Camp is always a rest day and a good occasion to take a bath and explore the local terrain.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This is a challenging day where we gain 1.000 m. with a heavy load on easy terrain. Then we’ll return to Base Camp. It’s important to take advantage of the comfort and lower altitude at Base Camp.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box & Dinner
This is a day we mainly use to recover energy, to rest, to hydrate ourselves and for abundant meals.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The following morning we start the ascent to Aconcagua. We move to Camp 1, called “Plaza Canada”. We meet with the load that we brought the days before and we assemble the camp to stay overnight. Until now, we were working on get an optimal acclimatization. We want everyone to have the best possible chance to do summit.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp 2, called “Nido de Condores” (meaning Condor Nest), is located in a high pass at 5550m and provides a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This day is dedicated to improving the acclimatization to altitude. The guide may propose different activities according to the condition of the group. We take the opportunity to rest and give our body more opportunities to acclimatize.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We start a 4 hours walk to Camp 3, located on the North Ridge. We will prepare our tents, eat and rest, to be ready to get the summit.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
It is the most demanding day of the expedition. We climb the North Ridge to Independencia Refuge at approximately 6.500 m. We ascend through the “Portezuelo del Viento” , climb “La Canaleta”, and the “Filo del Guanaco”, that leads us to the summit. The prize is waiting for us, a 360° view and the experience of overcoming, that you only finally understand once you reach it. At the end of this experience, we descend to Camp 3.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We have two extra days set aside on our itinerary to attempt summit. These extra days are built in to provide the best possible conditions for each participant to summit.
Accommodation: Tents – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Return from Camp 3 to Base Camp. We’ll enjoy a great dinner to celebrate the experience.
Accommodation: Tents/Dormitory Dome – Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We have breakfast and then start the descent from Plaza de Mulas to Penitentes. There is a private transport waiting for us to take us to the hotel in Mendoza City.
Transportation: Horcones – Penitentes – Mendoza – Accommodation: Hotel double or triple room –Meals:Breakfast, Lunch Box
We have breakfast at the hotel. Check Out and end of services.
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