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Climbing Aconcagua and Vallecitos, 21-day expedition

Climb Aconcagua
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

Fit

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

- Guiding fee

- Accommodation included

- Transportation start and back

- Luggage transfer

- Personal insurance

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Snacks

- Camping equipment tents

- Camping equipment cooking utensils


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.

 

Details

Meeting point

Mendoza Airport

About the 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

Kumari Selvakumar

5.00

Sept 14, 2022

I’m extremely happy with the ease with which I could book via your site reliable and experienced guide. Thank you so very much, and I’ve started to recommend your site to my friends. Dimitris is not only an awesome guide, but a wonderful person who was always looking out to give me the best experience I can have when he found out how much I love climbing! He is the Best!

Niklas Warren

5.00

Sept 6, 2022

I am very pleased with Explore-Share! This was my first international climb, and the communication and response time were great. Herbie is a very skilled guide and very efficient. The entire booking process & payment was smooth. I will definitely use Explore-Share again. Thank you.

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5.00

Aug 23, 2022

I was looking for a local guide for a hike I was planning and came across Explore-Share. They seemed to have good reviews and so decided to give them a try. The experience was very positive and completely happy with their service. I will be using them again for next trip.

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5.00

Aug 17, 2022

Easy to set up and find the perfect trip. Informative site that is easy to use. Guides are all great to work with and communicate all arrangements needed. As simple as can be!

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4.00

July 16th, 2022

Thank you explore-share for a wonderful via feratta experience. We have been wanting to learn for a long time but don't have the facilities in Scotland. The guide Mitja was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, answering all my many questions and providing advice. On the day head to take another group but he quickly arranged another guide Borut, who was brilliant. We had a fantastic morning learning via ferrata at Hvadnik in the gorge. It gave us the confidence to later hire our own equipment and go out in Mojstrana. Altogether a five star + experience. Thank you.

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5.00

July 20, 2022

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Yvonne Morrison

4.00

May 8, 2022

Our first time with Explore-Share. An absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. Extremely good value, very well organised with attention to detail. We travel widely and this has by far been the best of experiences. Well done to all concerned. We are already looking at booking another trip!

Mark Stone

5.00

April 14, 2022

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5.00

March 9, 2022

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Leonardo Rodriguez

5.00

March 4, 2022

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Daniel Martinez

5.00

Feb 2, 2022

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