Trip duration
24 days
Trip level
Sustained
Max people per guide
20+ people
Mountain range
Andes
Best period
Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

Description

At 6962 meters, Aconcagua or ‘stone sentinel’ is the summit of America and the highest mountain in the world outside Asia. It is a giant that dominates all of the 5000 meter summits surrounding it.

I propose an 18-day expedition in 2 phases. The first 5 days are held in Vallecitos. There, we’ll be able to enjoy the scenery and prepare for an excellent acclimatization.

We will then travel to the Aconcagua area. During 11 days, we will continue the acclimatization. Then, we’ll begin the ascent.

Climbing Aconcagua

The difficulties for climbing up this summit are diverse: fog, altitude, cold and wind, especially the ‘white wind’, a very strong wind which can be violent. Temperature can drop a lot, so a very good equipment against cold is essential.

From a technical point of view, ascending Aconcagua via the normal route does not present any major difficulties. The only tricky section is 350 meters before the summit, a place called the ‘Canaleta’. This is a rock corridor with an altitude change of over 350 meters and tilted nearly 45%, which could full of snow at the time of our ascent.

Depending on the season, we can find very hard snow. This might render the ascent delicate in some places. Because of this, crampons, ice-axe and a rope are essential.

A good acclimatization to altitude, as well as a very good physical shape will be the keys to success to reach the summit. Besides, a hyperbaric chamber is provided to avoid any incident caused by altitude.

Furthermore, there is a high rate of success thanks to our partner in Argentina having a perfect knowledge of this itinerary: a local correspondent who can best manage all the problems inherent to Argentina.

Please contact me if you want to be a part of this unique adventure climbing the highest mountain in America.

And if you are planning to climb the highest summits in each continent, check this trip to ascent Kilimanjaro, in Africa.

Itinerary

Day 1	Flight to Buenos Aires Depart from Paris (or another city) – Flight to Buenos Aires. Arrival in Buenos Aires-transfers, free time and overnight at the hotel (meals are not included).
Day 2	Santiago or Buenos Aires – Mendoza (757 m) Transfer to airport and flight to Mendoza (2-hour flight). Overnight at the hotel (meals are not included). Explanatory conference about the Aconcagua. Equipment inspection. Help for equipment rental if needed.
Day 3	Mendoza / Vallecitos Proceeding to trekking permits. Equipment rental if needed. Transfer from Mendoza to Vallecitos at an altitude of 2900 m. Dinner and overnight at the Mausy hut.
Day 4	Cadent 4000 m Ascent to Cadent at an altitude of 4000 m. Dinner and overnight at the Mausy hut.
Day 5	Piedra Grande camp Ascent to Piedra Grande camp at an altitude of 3400 m. Equipment transfer with mules. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 6	Adolfo Calle 4200 m – Stepanek 4000 m Traverse ascension of the Adolfo Calle at 4200 m and the Stepanek at 4000 m. Back to Piedra Grande camp. Dinner and overnight at Piedra Grande camp.
Day 7	Vallecitos / Penitentes (2725) Descent from Piedra Grande refuge to Vallecitos. Transfer Vallecitos / Penitentes. Accommodation at the hotel. Preparation of loads for the mules (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included). Start of the climb to Aconcagua.
Day 8	Penitentes / Confluencia (3300) Transport to the entrance of Aconcagua Park. License presentation. Trek to Confluencia camp (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 9	Confluencia / Plaza Francia Trek to Plaza Francia (base of the South face of Aconcagua), lunch and return to Confluencia (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 10	Confluencia / Base camp Plaza de Mulas (4260) Trek to base camp Plaza de Mulas. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 11	Base camp Plaza de Mulas (4260) Acclimatization and reorganization of the equipment for the summit (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 12	Base camp Plaza de Mulas / Bonete Summit (5100 m) / Base camp Plaza de Mulas Trek to the summit of Mount Bonete and return to base camp Plaza de Mulas. This trek takes around 6 hours and we reach an altitude of 5100 m. This ascent allows us to improve our altitude acclimatization (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 13	Base camp Plaza de Mulas / Camp 1 Canada (4910) / Base camp Plaza de Mulas Trek for acclimatization and equipment transport to Camp 1 Canada and return to base camp Plaza de Mulas (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 14	Base camp Plaza de Mulas / Camp 1 Canada (4910) Ascent to Camp 1 Canada (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 15	Camp 1 Canada / Camp 2 Nido de Condores (5250) Ascent to Camp 2 Nido de Condores (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 16	Camp 2 Nido de Condores / Camp 3 Berlin – Colera (5900) Ascent to Camp 3 Berlin (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 17	Camp 3 Berlin-Colera / SUMMIT (6962) / Camp 3 Berlin-Colera Ascent to the summit of Aconcagua from Camp 3 Berlin-Colera and return to Camp 3 (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 18	Camp 3 Berlin-Colera / Base Camp Plaza de Mulas Descent to base camp Plaza de Mulas (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 19 to 20	Extra days Extra days due to contingencies or bad weather that might prevent the normal development of the program (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included). (Hotel costs and meals are not included in case of descent to Mendoza if these days are not used)
Day 21	Base camp Plaza de Mulas / Puente del Inca / Mendoza Descent to Puente del Inca. Transport to Mendoza. Accommodation at the hotel (breakfast, lunch and farewell dinner).
Day 22	Transfer to airport Transfer hotel/airport (breakfast). Flight to Buenos Aires. Hotel at Buenos Aires (meals are not included)
Day 23	Flight to France Breakfast – Transfer hotel/airport – International flight to France (meals are not included)
Day 24	Arrival to France