Climbing Aconcagua and Vallecitos, 21-day expedition

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: Extra days

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