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Climbing Aconcagua and Vallecitos, 21-day expedition

Climbing Aconcagua and Vallecitos, 21-day expedition
Aconcagua
Aconcagua
Aconcagua
Mendoza

Join certified guide, Manuel, on an exciting 21-day mountaineering expedition and enjoy climbing Aconcagua and Cerro Vallecitos on an unforgettable Andean adventure!

Group

Andes

21 Days

Jan, Dec

High

Intermediate


Highlights

  • Climb to the summit of South America's highest mountain.
  • Enjoy a 21-day mountaineering expedition in the Andes with a local guide.
  • Join an Aconcagua climbing program with an additional acclimatization climb.

Description

Would you like to join a unique Andean adventure? Then come with me on this 21-day program in which you will enjoy climbing Aconcagua and Cerro Vallecitos.

At 6,960.8 m (22,837 ft), Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America. The nearby Cordón del Plata is a great place for acclimatization climbs in the Andes and the first stop on our 21-day expedition that will take us to the top of both Cerro Vallecitos and Aconcagua. Throughout our adventure, we will enjoy a unique mountaineering experience as well as discover the stunning Andean landscapes and life. You can find a detailed itinerary below.

Keep in mind that although climbing Aconcagua does not require technical skills, you will need prior mountaineering experience and a good fitness level. Of course, I will be there every step of the way to help and guide you and organize logistics.

So, are you ready to experience what climbing Aconcagua is all about? Then contact me now and let’s start planning an unforgettable adventure to the top of South America’s highest mountain.

Or, if you prefer, you can join me on a shorter Aconcagua Base Camp trek!

Price includes

  • Accommodation included
  • Guiding fee
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Personal insurance
  • Transportation start and back
  • Luggage transfer
  • Tents
  • Cooking utensils
  • Snacks

Itinerary

Day 1: Mendoza City

In this first day, we have our meeting in Mendoza Airport. Then we will go to our accommodation in the city to check the personal equipment. If necessary, we will go to a rental shop. After that, we will go to the Aconcagua Park Office to get the ascent permits and we will talk about the development of the expedition.

Day 2: Mendoza City – Parque Cordón del Plata

From our accommodation, we will have transportation to Parque Cordón del Plata, known as Vallecitos. We will stay in mountain refuges at 2.900 m. Acclimatization trekking near the refuge.

Day 3: Mountain Refuge – Veguitas Superior Camp (3.460 m.)

We will build the camp in Veguitas Superior. We will trek to the site, carrying equipment for 2 hours and a half.  Camp setting and acclimatization.

Day 4: Camp Veguitas Superior – Camp El Salto (4.200 m.)

We will begin our walk going passing by Camp Piedra Grande, and then the path will lead us up to Morena de los Escombros. Then we will have to overcome the challenge of “El Infiernillo” the hardest stretch of this section. We will arrive at El Salto Camp, normally used as a base for thousands of mountaineers. From there we will be able to see the whole valley of Potrerillos.

Camp setting and acclimatization.

Time: approximately 6 hours of trekking.

Day 5: Acclimatization and rest

Depending on individual conditions, and the excursionists’ physical and physiological state, we will trek, gear carrying, to La Hoyada (4700 m.) where we will take equipment and food for our camp before the summit.

Day 6: El Salto – La Hoyada (4650 m.)

After breakfast, we will dismantle our camp to begin our trekking to La Hoyada where we will set up the camp to have a sleep before the summit.

Day 7: Summit Day – Cerro Plata (6000 m.)

Before sunset we will leave La Hoyada Camp passing by El Portezuelo Plata – Lomas Amarillas, Portezuelo Cerro Vallecitos – Cerro Plata, before the summit of Cerro Plata.

Day of great panoramic views of our next challenge: Aconcagua. We will also see the mythical Quebrada de la Jaula.

Back to the camp and sleep.

Day 8: La Hoyada – Refuge (2900 m.)

This day we will dismantle our camp and go down to the refuges where we will have dinner and sleep.

Day 9: Parque Cordón del Plata – Puente del Inca (2725 m.)

In the morning, we will go to Puente del Inca or Penitentes. We will stop over in Uspallata to go shopping, buy some food, personal hygiene items, batteries, etc.

Accommodation in mountain refuges. Preparation of the mule loads and personal equipment.

Day 10: Puente del Inca – Horcones – Trekking to Confluencia (3400 m.)

We will head for Parque Provincial Aconcagua where we will present our permits and then we will trek for about 3 hours and a half to Campamento Confluencia. Medical checkup. Night in mountain tents.

Day 11: Confluencia – Plaza de Mulas (4300 m.)

Trekking to base camp Plaza Mulas. It is a 9-hour journey through ‘Playa Ancha’ to ‘Cuesta Brava’. When getting to Mulas, we will register, have a medical checkup, and set up our camp.

Day 12: Plaza de Mulas (4300 m.)

Day of rest, hydration and acclimatization. Checkups. Trekking and short walks over the area with great panoramic views of Mount Aconcagua and the camp.

Day 13: Plaza de Mulas (4300 m.) – Camp 1 Canadá (4930 m.)

The objective of this day is to climb to Camp 1 ‘Canadá’ to set up our camp. Acclimatization.

Day 14: Canada – Camp 2 ‘Nido de Cóndores’ (5350 m.)

This day we will climb to Camp 2 ‘Nido de Cóndores’ carrying equipment to be left there. Back down to Canadá.

Day 15: Canadá – Nido de Cóndores (5350m.)

This day we will ascend to Nido de Cóndores to set up our camp. Overnight.

Day 16: Nido de Cóndores – Camp 3 ‘Cólera’ (5900 m.)

Ascent to Camp 3, camp setting. We will start the preparations for the summit. The guides will evaluate the physical conditions of every participant, checking if they are ready for the summit.

Day 17: Cólera – Summit (6962 m.)

The high point of this expedition: reaching the summit of the American Giant. Before sunset, we will begin the ascent to reach the summit at noon and be able to go down to Cólera and rest.

Day 18: Cólera – Plaza de Mulas

We will dismantle the camp in the morning and we will descend to the base camp Plaza de Mulas. Rest and overnight.

Day 19: Plaza de Mulas – Puente del Inca – Mendoza

Descent to Puente del Inca. Transportation to Mendoza. Accommodation. End of our services.

Day 20 to 21: Extra days

Extra days in case of bad weather or factors that determine acclimatization.

 

FAQs

What experience and how fit do I need to be to climb this mountain? Is this program suitable for children or older people?

Previous experience is required. It is necessary to master mountaineering techniques. It is recommended to have experience in high mountains, in mountains over 4,500 m.a.s.l. such as Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, the volcanoes of Ecuador and Mexico, and mountains of Argentina such as Vallecitos or Plata.

Aconcagua is located within a Provincial Park that only allows the ascent to people over 18 years old.

Will I need to bring any technical equipment of my own? Is it possible to rent equipment, and if so, what would be the approximate cost of that?

You should have the following technical equipment at your disposal: crampons, an ice axe, and a climbing helmet. It is possible to rent this equipment in the city of Mendoza, on day 1 of the expedition. The value depends on the rental houses. It can cost 300usd approximately.

Will there be porters to help to carry group and personal equipment?

The expedition includes:

  • 15 kg of personal equipment to base camp "Salto de Agua" and base camp "Plaza de Mulas".
  • Carrying expedition equipment to base camps and high-altitude camps.

How will accommodation and meals be handled on the mountain?

Regarding meals, the expedition includes a full board from lunch on day 1 to lunch on the last day. If you need a special menu (celiacs, vegetarians, etc.), please let the organization know in advance.

Lodging included:

  • Sixteen nights of lodging in shared high mountain tents
  • Two nights of lodging in Mendoza City
  • One night of lodging in a mountain refuge

What is the guide-to-client ratio to climb this mountain?

The ratio is 1 guide per 3 clients.

What is the best time of the year to climb this mountain?

Aconcagua can only be climbed from the end of November to the beginning of February. The best time is usually January. This period is regulated by Aconcagua Park.

Can I join a group?

Yes, of course, you can join a group. Please check out our open dates!

Which is the meeting point?

The meeting point is in the city of Mendoza. We can also coordinate when you arrive to pick you up at the airport.

Do I need some kind of pass to enter Aconcagua Park? How much does it cost?

Aconcagua Park has an entrance permit that costs 850 USD for foreigners in high season by the normal route, and

950 USD for foreigners in high season by the Punta de Vacas route. You can find out the value of the previous season on the official site: https://www.mendoza.gov.ar/aconcagua/

Aconcagua Park also has as a mandatory requirement that each expedition member has mountain rescue and evacuation insurance. For specific information, contact your insurance agency. MONS recommends for high mountain insurance: https://www.ripcordrescuetravelinsurance.com/ or https://www.globalrescue.com/

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration
Hotel Orly Santiago Chile
See rooms
Sheraton Santiago Hotel and Convention Center Santiago Chile
See rooms
Crowne Plaza Santiago Santiago Chile
See rooms

About the guide

Guide profile image

Manuel

Mountain Guide

Manuel is a professional licensed guide and Head guide and general director of MONS – Actividades de Montaña, company provider of expeditions and treks in Cordillera de los Andes.

He has also summited in several mountains in Argentina.

Languages

English

Certificates

EPGAMT


What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

Valeriya

You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.

Joshua

We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.

Cami

Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.

 

4.8

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