Ascent to Mount Aconcagua, Extended Route
Join a 20-day program to the top of Aconcagua including a previous ascent to Cerro Bonete (5000 m). Ideal for climbers that want to make sure they acclimatize right.
Group
Andes
20 Days
Jan, Feb, Dec
Extremely Fit
Intermediate
Highlights
- Take advantage of extra acclimatization days, including a Mt Bonete ascent
- Join a highly skilled guide with extensive experience in Aconcagua
- Reach the top of the highest mountain in the world outside Himalaya
Description
Would you like to climb to the top of the highest mountain in South America? Then join us on this inspiring 20-day trek to the summit of one of the world’s seven summits!
At 6,960.8 m (22,837 ft), Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America. It is located in Mendoza and belongs to the beautiful Andes Range. On this program, we will get to the summit of Mount Aconcagua via the “Normal Route” and enjoy a prior acclimatization climb to the stunning Cerro Bonete (5000 m).
The Aconcagua “Normal Route” does not present technical difficulties. However, altitude is usually an important obstacle and good acclimatization is therefore key. This program’s main goal is to increase the chances of summit success and it’s the ideal choice for climbers who want to obtain some extra acclimatization.
On this unforgettable adventure, we will set off on a 40-km long trek to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp which will take three days. Once there, we’ll head up to the top of Cerro Bonete (5000 m) and enjoy magnificent views of Aconcagua. After that, we’ll start climbing towards our main objective: the Aconcagua summit. The last part of the expedition consists of going a little higher each day, spending the night in different high camps.
This program has been thought to take into consideration the real demands of an Aconcagua trek, including some extra rest days in case the weather is bad or we need more time to recover. A type of white wind is very common in Aconcagua and can make the ascent more difficult. If this happens, we’ll use our extra days to increase our chances of reaching the summit.
For further information, you can find the complete itinerary and the next departure dates for this trip below this description.
So, are you ready for an unforgettable Aconcagua trek? Then contact me and join me on this amazing 20-day expedition to the highest summit in South America!
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Accommodation included
- Transportation start and back
- Transport during the trip
- Luggage transfer
- Group porters
- Mules and horses
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Camping equipment tents
- Camping equipment cooking utensils
Price details
- Out of the total amount, USD400 are a non-refundable deposit.
The following items are not included in the price:
- Lunch and dinner in Mendoza.
- Aconcagua Park climbing fee (tax charged by Mendoza government, according to dates).
- Rescue or all other costs due to the abandonment of the expedition.
- Personal equipment.
- Rescue or all other costs due to the abandoning of the expedition.
- Extra nights in the hotel.
- Any other item not listed as included.
Porters can carry up to 30kg per person.
Itinerary
Day 1: Mendoza (760 m)
Our expedition starts in Mendoza, Argentina. A representative of INKA Expediciones 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 meet me and the team members.
-Accommodation: Hotel double or triple room.
Day 2: Mendoza - Penitentes (2700 m)
We will obtain individual entrance and ascent permits. You will be personally assisted in this procedure.
After this, we’ll travel to Villa de Penitentes, where we’ll stay at a hotel in the mountain.
There, we’ll get the equipment ready for transportation to the base camp, by mule.
-Accommodation: Hotel
-Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.
Day 3: Penitentes - Confluencia (3368 m)
We drive you to Horcones Park Entrance, where we’ll get our first view of the mountain.
We will get our permits checked at the Ranger station. Then, we’ll head off to Confluencia by walking 4 or 5 hours.
-Accommodation: tents.
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 4: Acclimatization trek to Plaza Francia (4200 m)
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 at Plaza Francia, the base camp of the impressive Aconcagua South Wall. This is one of the nicest points of the expedition.
-Accommodation: Tents.
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 5: Trekking from Confluencia to Plaza de Mulas (4250 m)
After 8-9 hours hiking acrossPlaya Ancha and climbing up through a very steep path, we’ll 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.
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 6: Rest day at Plaza de Mulas
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.
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 7: Ascent to Mt Bonete at 5000 m
We’ve included this climbing in order to acclimatize better, and give you more chances to summit. Also you’ll enjoy a spectacular view of the west face of Aconcagua.
-Accommodation: Tents
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 8: Rest day at Plaza de Mulas
We’ll stay in Plaza de Mulas to rest from the climbing of Bonete.
Then, we will divide expedition loads to carry to the high camps (community gear, fuel and food).
We double carry to keep pack weight down and help ensure good acclimatization.
-Accommodation: Tents.
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 9: Carry equipment to Camp 1: Plaza Canada (5050 m) and return to Base Camp.
This is a challenging day where we’ll gain almost 700 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 .
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 10: Rest day at Plaza de Mulas
This is a day we’ll mainly use to recover energy, to rest, to hydrate ourselves and for abundant meals.
-Accommodation: Tents. -Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 11: Base Camp to Camp 1: Plaza Canada (5050 m)
The following morning we’ll finally start the ascent to Aconcagua.
We’ll move to Camp 1, called Plaza Canada. Until now, we were working on getting an optimal acclimatization. We want everyone to have the best possible chance to summit.
-Accommodation: Tents.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 12: Move to Camp 2: Nido de Condores (5560 m)
Camp 2, called Nido de Condores (meaning Condor Nest), is located in a high pass at 5560 m and provides a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains.
-Accommodation: Tents
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 13: Carry equipment to Camp 3: Camp Colera (6000 m) - Return to Camp 2
This day, we carry equipment to Camp 3 called Camp Colera. After carrying the equipment up, we return to Camp 2 to sleep, to give our bodies more chances to acclimatize.
-Accommodation: Tents.
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 14: Camp 2 to Camp 3: Camp Colera (6000 m)
We’ll start a 4 hour walk to Camp 3, located on the North Ridge. We will prepare our tents and eat and rest, to be ready to get the summit.
-Accommodation: Tents.
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 15: Summit day! (6961 m)
It is the most demanding day of the expedition.
We’ll climb the North Ridge to Independencia Refuge at approximately 6500 m. We’ll ascend through the Portezuelo del Viento, climb La Canaleta, and the Filo del Guanaco, which 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.
Day 16 to 17: Spare days
We have three 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.
Day 18: Return to Base Camp
Return from Camp 3 to Base Camp. We’ll enjoy a great dinner to celebrate the experience.
-Accommodation: Tents.
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 19: Base camp-Penitentes-Mendoza
We’ll 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.
-Accommodation: Hotel double or triple room
-Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 20: Mendoza - End of services
We have breakfast at the hotel. Check out and end of services.
Details
Accommodation -Two (2) nights accommodation at a three-star hotel in Mendoza City (prices based on double or triple occupancy), breakfast included.
-One (1) night accommodation at in Penitentes breakfast and dinner included.
-Mountain camps: during the expedition, we'll sleep in double tents or in bedroom doms for 4 or 8 people in camps, and in double tents in high camps. |
More info All departure dates are confirmed, regardless of the number of registered participants. NOV30 - DIC19: Guide Agustín Aramayo (speaks French). DIC07 - DIC26: Guide Heber Orona. FEB08 - FEB27: Guide Andrés Jones. About the client-guide ratio: Up to 3 clients: 1 Guide for the whole expedition 4 clients: 1 Guide for the whole expedition + 1 assistant for Base Camp-Summit-Base Camp From 5 to 8 clients: 2 Guides for the whole expedition 9 clients: 2 Guides for the whole expedition + 1 assistant for Base Camp-Summit-Base Camp From 10 to 12 clients: 3 Guides for the whole expedition Basic equipment required: a) Clothing: Light Weight Long Underwear. Expedition Weight Long Underwear. Fleece Jacket. Fleece Trousers. Parka. Jacket. Waterproof/breathable. Wind Pants. Waterproof/breathable. b) Headgear: Sun hat. Balaclava. Wool or pile ski hat. Head lamp. Glacier glasses. c) Hands: Synthetic gloves. Mittens. Gore-Tex over mitts. d) Footwear: Light hiking boots or trekking shoes. Climbing double (or triple) plastic or synthetic boots. Gaiters. Wool socks. Liner socks. e) Climbing Equipment: Ice axe. Crampons. Ski poles. f) Camping: Backpack. -20°C Sleeping bag. Ridge Rest sleeping pad. Therma rest pad. Dish, glass, knife, spoon and fork. Pocketknife. Water bottles. Pee bottle. Pee Funnel (for women). Sunscreen. Lip screen. Personal first aid kit. g) Traveling: Large duffel bag with lock. Smaller duffel with lock. Plastic bags. Travel clothes. Toiletry bag. Camera gear. Should you hire the help of a porter? If you have never carried a backpack of 20kgs over 5000 or 6000 meters, you have to know that it's a very demanding physical activity. You need to be very well trained. Otherwise, we recommend you hire the services of a personal porter to have a better chance of reaching the top. It is very common to hire a porter. Trash and personal waste It is mandatory to remove everything from the mountain. You can't leave food behind just because you are exhausted from carrying it. So please think about this carefully when organizing your backpack. The same happens with trash and personal waste: nothing can stay on High Camps. 1) NON-STOP FLIGHT OPTIONS FROM LONDON TO MENDOZA (*) From London to Buenos Aires:
From Buenos Aires to Mendoza:
2) NON-STOP FLIGHT OPTIONS FROM NEW YORK TO MENDOZA (*) From New York to Buenos Aires: -Airline: United EWR–EZE (11 h 5 m) US$1,005 round trip - Airline: American - LATAM Operated by American Airlines for Latam Airlines Argentina JFK–EZE (10 h 44 m) US$1,083 round trip - Airline: Aerolineas Argentinas - Delta JFK–EZE (10 h 55 m) US$1,270 round trip From Buenos Aires to Mendoza:
(*) Total price includes taxes + fees for 1 adult. Additional bag fees and other fees may apply. |
Meeting point Mendoza. On day 1 of the expedition one of our representatives will wait for you at the airport and drive you to the hotel. You'll have the meeting with the guide and the rest of the group that same day at 5PM.
Once you have booked your flight let us know so we can arrange your reception at the airport.
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About the guide
Mendoza based company specialized in expeditions and trekkings to Mt. Aconcagua. All the trips are run by the best certified and professional guides, with unrivalled logistics and infrastructure.
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