Ascent to Aconcagua, “Centinela de Piedra,” 24 days. 24-day trip. IFMGA/UIAGM guide

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

Description

The Cerro Aconcagua or “Centinela de Piedra” at 6962 meters is the summit of the Americas and the highest mountain outside Asia. This giant dominates all the 5,000 m summits which surround it. I invite you to climb Aconcagua with me on a 24-day guided trek.

As one of the “7 summits,” Aconcagua is a dream destination for many climbers and mountaineers. It is a very demanding but achievable climb. The ascent of Aconcagua by the normal route does not present major technical difficulties. In fact, the only tricky section lies just below the summit – the Canaleta is a corridor of rocks ascending more than 350 vertical meters with a 50% gradient. As your guide, I’ll help you navigate this difficult part safely.

We’ll also find many other difficulties on the climb to the summit: fog, altitude, cold and wind. The Viento Blanco (white wind) is a cold, strong wind that can blow violently for days. Furthermore, temperatures can suddenly drop down to sub-zero conditions, so it is essential to come extremely well equipped against the cold.

Proper technical gear is also essential. Depending on the season you can encounter firm hard-packed snow which can make climbing more difficult; crampons, ice axes and ropes are therefore indispensable.

Another thing to consider is your personal fitness level. You need to be very fit to be able to manage the effects of altitude and have the best chance at reaching the summit.

Though this is a challenging trek, it is also an incredibly rewarding one. I will make sure you are properly prepared and aid you in your altitude adjustment. Plus, I have great partners in Argentina that will help us in the organization of our trek. Together we will take on the mighty Aconcagua! And when we reach the summit, the views are incredible and the sense of accomplishment is immense.

So if climbing Aconcagua is your dream, don’t delay! Take this opportunity to summit the Andes.

I also lead ascents of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

Itinerary

Day 1	Flight to Buenos Aires Flight to Buenos Aires. Arrival in Buenos Aires – Transfers, free time, overnight at hotel.
Day 2	Buenos Aires - Mendoza Transfer to airport and flight to Mendoza (2 hour flight). Overnight at hotel (meals not included). Explanatory Conference on Aconcagua and equipment inspection by our guides. You can rent equipment during this time, if needed.
Day 3	Start of acclimatization Mendoza/Vallecitos Transfer to Vallecitos at 2900 m. Night at meal at Mausy refuge.
Day 4	Cadent 4000 m Cadent ascent of 4000 meters. Dinner and overnight at the shelter Mausy.
Day 5	Grand Camp Piedra Ascent to Camp Piedra Grand at 3400 m altitude. Transport equipment with mules. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 6	Adolfo Calle 4200 m - 4000 m Stepanek Ascension crossing the Adolfo Calle 4200 m and Stepanek at 4000 m altitude. Back to Grand Piedra Camp. Dinner and overnight at Grand Piedra.
Day 7	Vellecitos / Penitentes (2725) Piedra refuge descent to Grand Vellecitos. Transfer Vellecitos / Penitentes. Accommodation in the hotel. Preparation of loads for the mules. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included).
Day 8	Start of Aconcagua: Penitentes / Confluencia (3300) Transport to the entrance of Aconcagua Park. Presentation of license. Trek to Confluencia camp (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 9	Confluencia / Plaza Francia Trek to Plaza Francia (base of the South Face of Aconcagua), lunch and return to Confluencia.(Breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 10	Confluencia / Base Camp Plaza de Mulas (4260) Trek base camp to Plaza de Mulas. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 11	Base Camp Plaza de Mulas (4260) Acclimatization and reorganization of the gear for the top. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 12	Base Camp Plaza de Mulas / Bonete Summit (5100m) / Base Camp Plaza de Mulas. Trek to summit of Mount Bonete and back to Base Camp Plaza de Mulas. This trek takes about 6 hours to reach an altitude of 5100 m. This allows time to perfect our acclimatization (Breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 13	Base Camp Plaza de Mulas / Camp 1 Canadá (4910) / Base Camp Plaza de Mulas Acclimatization trek and transport equipment to Camp 1 Canada and return to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp (Breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 14	Base Camp Plaza de Mulas / Camp 1 Canadá (4910) Ascent to Camp 1 Canadá. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 15	Canadá Camp 1 / Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores (5250) Ascent to Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 16	Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores / Camp 3 Berlín - Cólera (5900). Ascent to Camp 3 Berlín. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 17	Camp 3 Berlín-Cólera / SUMMIT (6962) / Camp 3 Berlín-Cólera. Ascent from Camp 3 Berlín to Cólera the SUMMIT and return to Camp 3. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 18	Camp 3 Berlín - Cólera / Base Camp Plaza de Mulas Descent to base camp Plaza de Mulas. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 19 to 20	Contingency/bad weather days Extra days due to contingencies or bad weather that may prevent the normal development of the program. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner). Note: if we do not need these days and head back to Mendoza, hotels and meals are not included.
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, dinner)
Day 22	Fly to Buenos Aires Transfer to the airport. (Breakfast). Flight to Buenos Aires. Night hotel in Buenos Aires.
Day 23	Flight home Flight home. Breakfast – Transfer Hotel / Airport – International flight (meals not included).
Day 24	Arrival in home country

Price per person

Group of 4	5070USD
Group of 5	5070USD
Group of 6	5070USD
Group of 7	5070USD
Group of 8	5070USD

Price includes

Guiding fee
Accommodation
All meals during trip
Transport during the trip
Luggage transfer during the trip
Group equipment

Other details

Skill level required	Intermediate
Fitness level required	Extremely Fit
Meeting point	Mendoza
Accommodation	In Santiago, Mendoza and Penintentes the accommodation is in comfortable hotels. During the trek accommodation is in tents.
More info	Trip organized on request for a group of 4 people minimum - Dates to decide with the group. All the climbs can be completed with a day pack. Travel bags are transported by vehicles or porters. You will be guided by me, a French IFMGA guide, accompanied by a local English-speaking guide + kitchen team, porters and muleteers. This is a tour that is achievable by all as long as you have been training for it- 5 to 7 hours steady/gentle walking per day with a vertical ascent of 1000m.