Transportation to and from the Mendoza airport. One night of lodging at 4* hotel in Mendoza before after the climb (two nights). Hotel includes breakfast. Welcome lunch. Assistance in obtaining the Aconcagua Climbing Permit. In & Out ground transportation between Mendoza City and Puente del Inca with mountain guides (by private vehicles).
Two nights of accommodation in Hosteria Puente del Inca (one before the climb and one after) in a dormitory style rooms with private bathroom (4 to 6 people per room). Dinner and breakfast are included in Puente del Inca. Help with gear prep. and packing loads for mule transportation. In & Out transfers between Puente del Inca and Horcones trailhead. Mules will carry climber’s personal equipment (30kg – 66 pounds per person) to Camp Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas Base Camp on the way in, and from Plaza de Mulas BC to Puente del Inca (30kg – 66 pounds per person) on the way out.
Two nights camping at Camp Confluencia including sleeping tents. Acclimatization hike to Plaza Francia (Aconcagua’ s South Face BC). All expedition meals (approaching hike, Camp Confluencia, Plaza de Mulas BC and altitude camps) and camping facilities.
Five nights camping at Plaza de Mulas BC including sleeping tents. Instruction of crampons use on the Horcones Glacier. Permanent radio link to Mendoza and base camps. Personal equipment storage in Mendoza, Puente del Inca and Plaza de Mulas. First quality tents in Confluencia, Plaza de Mulas and altitude camps. Porters. Professional Mountain Guides (one for every 3-4 climbers) accompanying the group from Mendoza and throughout the entire expedition.
Two extra days with all meals either in altitude or in base camp in case of bad weather.
Day
Itinerary (altitude in feet and meters)
1
Mendoza 2,500ft (760m) Transfer from airport to hotel in Mendoza. Lodging.
2
Puente del Inca 8,900ft (2,725m) Aconcagua Park permit purchasing. Drive to Puente del Inca. Lodging.
3
Confluencia 11,450ft (3,500m) Transfer to trailhead. Hiking to Confluencia. Camp.
4
Confluencia Trekking to Plaza Francia 12,800ft (4.000m) and back to Confluencia. Camp.
5
Plaza de Mulas 14,000ft (4,370m) Hiking to Plaza de Mulas. Camp.
6
Plaza de Mulas Trekking to acclimatize and instructions on using crampons on Horcones Glacier.
7
Plaza de Mulas Carry to Plaza Canada and back to Plaza de Mulas BC.
8
Plaza de Mulas Rest day at base camp.
9
Camp 1 - Plaza Canada 16,100ft (4,910m) Move to Plaza Canada. Camp.
10
Camp 2 - Nido de Condores 17,600ft (5,380m) Move to Nido de Condores. Camp.
11
Nido de Cóndores Rest day.
12
Camp 3 - Berlín 18,900ft (5,780m) Move to Berlin. Camp.
13
Contingency day
14
Contingency day
15
Summit 22,840ft (6,962m) Berlin to summit and back to Berlin
16
Plaza de Mulas Descent to Plaza de Mulas BC. Camp.
17
Puente del Inca Descent from Plaza de Mulas to trailhead. Transfer to Hosteria Puente del Inca. Lodging.
18
Mendoza Drive to Mendoza. Lodging.
19
Mendoza Transfer to airport.
The above itinerary is intended as a guideline only. Some changes are possible while on a climbing expedition. Please be prepared to be flexible if necessary.
Expeditions will be led by one mountain guide (Expedition Leader) and one assistant mountain guide for every 3-4 clients.
Porters
Expeditions include porters to carry team’s common equipment (tents, food, cooking supplies) to altitude camps. Ascent: from Base Camp to Camp 1 (Canada), from Camp 1 to Camp 2 (Nido de Condores) and from Camp 2 to Camp 3 (Berlin). Descent: from Camp 3 to Base Camp..
Contingency days
Expeditions include two extra days in case of bad weather. Reserve days come with all meals included and take place in either the altitude camps (Plaza Canada, Nido de Condores or Berlin) or even at Base Camp (only before starting the climb). These days can be taken only on Aconcagua. If they are not necessary such days are not exchanged by nights in any other place (e.g. Mendoza, Puente del Inca).
Expeditions supplied equipment
First quality mountain tents (The North Face). Complete cooking supplies for the altitude camps. MSR quality pans. Camping Gaz stoves. Pots. Radio handy FM 2m band. Ropes. Complete medical kit with specific medicine for mountain sickness. MSR liquid fueled stove and a large pan to melt water.
Confluencia base camp
This base camp provides food service in dining tents furnished with electric power, tables and chairs. This campsite in Confluencia has its own bathroom facility. Permanent BLU radio link with Mendoza, Plaza de Mulas, Puente del Inca and VHF radio link with Park Rangers and Rescue Patrols.
Plaza de Mulas base camp
This base camp has a dining tent furnished with tables and chairs, electric power, a cooking tent, its own bathroom facilities and a safe place to store your belongings while you are in the altitude camps. Permanent BLU radio link with Mendoza, Plaza de Mulas, Confluencia, and VHF radio link with high camps, Park Rangers and Rescue Patrols.
Extended itinerary
This optional program (an extension of the standard climb) is highly recommended for people living at or close to sea level. Members of the Extended Itineary have 2 additional days in Plaza de Mulas with all meals plus the rest of the services included in the Standard Itinerary. Sleeping tents. Mountain guide. An acclimatization guided climbing to a higher than 16,500ft hill in the surrounds of Plaza de Mulas. The total number of days at Base Camp is seven (6 before and 1 after the climb).
Not included
Air tickets to and from Mendoza. Aconcagua Climbing Permit. Extras, food and beverages out of regular supply in Mendoza, Puente del Inca, Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas. Abandon of itinerary expenses. Sleeping bag and personal gear. Trip cancellation and/or travel insurance. Porters to carry climbers personal equipment. Additional hotel nights if for reasons beyond our control (e.g. weather) the group returns early. Eating utensils for the upper camps.
Abandon of itinerary expenses
Extra camping nights in Plaza de Mulas or Confluencia base camps and hotel nights in Puente del Inca or Mendoza out of the included in the expedition. Extra mules (expedition includes 30kg per person). Ground transportation to Mendoza (expedition includes transportation for the group, but not individual transfers). Expenses incurred in the case of a rescue.
At arrival (Day one of itinerary)
Our staff will greet you at the airport (we suggest that you arrive in Mendoza in the morning or noon) and escort you to the hotel in Mendoza. A mountain guide will check out your personal equipment at the hotel.
Due to the great demand for spaces the past season, we will offer our future customers even more departures for 2008-2009.
Trip
Extended Itinerary From
Standard Itinerary From
Extended & Standard To
NR#1
November 23, 2008
November 25, 2008
December 13, 2008
NR#2
December 2, 2008
December 4, 2008
December 22, 2008
NR#3
December 7, 2008
December 9, 2008
December 27, 2008
NR#4
December 12, 2008
December 14, 2008
January 1, 2009
NR#5
December 15, 2008
December 17, 2008
January 4, 2009
NR#6
December 18, 2008
December 20, 2008
January 7, 2009
NR#7
December 21, 2008
December 23, 2008
January 10, 2009
NR#8
December 26, 2008
December 28, 2008
January 15, 2009
NR#9
January 2, 2009
January 4, 2009
January 22, 2009
NR#10
January 7, 2009
January 9, 2009
January 27, 2009
NR#11
January 12, 2009
January 14, 2009
February 1, 2009
NR#12
January 17, 2009
January 19, 2009
February 6, 2009
NR#13
January 22, 2009
January 24, 2009
February 11, 2009
NR#14
January 27, 2009
January 29, 2009
February 16, 2009
NR#15
February 2, 2009
February 4, 2009
February 22, 2009
NR#16
February 7, 2009
February 9, 2009
February 27, 2009
NR#17
February 12, 2009
February 14, 2009
March 4, 2009
Private groups
If the specified departure dates are not suitable, or you want to vary the itinerary we would be happy to devise a program to suit your interests. Contact us at info@aconcaguaadventures.com
Approach
Mendoza City, in Argentina, is the starting point to climb Mount Aconcagua. A highway leads to Puente del Inca (about 180 kilometers from Mendoza). The entrance to the Park is a few km from Puente del Inca. Park Rangers are based at this trailhead (Horcones). It is the most important route because 70% of climbers choose this side to get into the Park. Through the Horcones Valley you have access to the intermediate camping site of Confluencia, and Plaza de Mulas (Base Camp). To Plaza de Mulas there is a simple and well-traced route. The river can be crossed through bridges. It is about 35 kilometers from Puente del Inca (and 1500 meters of difference of level), so it is advisable to do the approach in two days, choosing Confluencia as a middle camp. Camp Confluencia (11,450ft / 3,500m) This is the recommended site for resting. There is water and good places to set up tents. Park Rangers are based here as well. Once in Confluencia, it is advisable to do a day-hike to Plaza Francia (12,800ft / 4,000m) to continue the acclimatization process. Puente del Inca to Confluencia: 3-4 hours.
Camp Plaza de Mulas (14,000ft / 4,370m) Plaza de Mulas is an excellent place to obtain the necessary acclimatization. There is water around as well as rocks that protect the tents. From there it is possible to do some climbs to the nearby mountains, all of them over 5000 meters high. The Horcones Superior Glacier is also in the area, and it is a magnificent place to visit and practice on using crampons. There is medical service and a permanent Park Ranger Station. Confluencia - Plaza de Mulas: 7 - 9 hours
Please Note: hiking hours are used as a reference only.
Climbing route
This is a non-technical route but strenuous and physically demanding where the effects of altitude are felt. Climbers in excellent physical condition can climb Mount Aconcagua by the Normal Route.
It is a non-technical route but strenuous and physically demanding where the effects of altitude are felt. Multiple reasons (high altitude, expedition length, extreme temperatures, hard winds, etc) make this climb much more difficult than Mount Kilimanjaro and peaks in South America. It requires carrying heavy loads (12/15 kilos avg.) for multiple days.
Those climbers interested in this expedition must be not only physically fit but also mentally strong. Basic experience in mountaineering and proper training and conditioning is required. We recommend you that you have experience climbing to at least 18,000ft / 5,500m before attempting Aconcagua.
Airlines
The best way to reach Mendoza is via a connecting flight from either Buenos Aires (Argentina) or Santiago (Chile). From Buenos Aires it is 2 hours by plane or 13 hours by bus to Mendoza. From Santiago it is 50min by plane or 6 hours by bus. If you come from Santiago you will have the opportunity to survey the Andes as you cross over into Argentina.
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