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Mercedario and La Ramada Expedition in The Andes
Join AAGM certified mountain guide Anibal on a 2-week expedition to the Mercedario and La Ramada Peaks in the Andes region!
Not specified
Andes
16 Days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec
Fit
Intermediate
Description
La Ramada is a beautiful range of mountains in the Central Andes region. Its tallest peak is the Mercedario that reaches an altitude of 6720 m. It is a region for explorers that love a challenge and being in wild natural environments with beautiful landscapes! On this 16-day expedition to this unique and remote area in the Andes, I take you to discover some of its glorious mysteries!
We begin our trip with a transfer from Mendoza to either El Molle or Laguna Blanca, depending on road conditions. From then on, we set off on an ascent that will take several days until we reach La Ollada at the top of the Mercedario. Because of the high altitude, we will allow some rest days along the way in order to adapt. This will also give us the chance to enjoy the stunning sceneries and mountain life. After we ascend La Ollada we will return to Laguna Blanca, and from there, we will take on another ascent to another peak of La Ramada. Our trip will end back in Mendoza with a sense of accomplishment and the unforgettable imprint of the Andes in our memories.
As this is a long expedition that will take us high up into the mountains, it is necessary to have a good fitness level. However, you will always have personalized attention, and I will be there to guide you every step of the way. Additionally, we will have fun rest days as we go ascending, and this should make the quest for the summit a demanding but certainly very rewarding experience!
Are you ready to discover some of the Andes most beautiful gems? Then book your place now and join me on this 2-week ascent to the Mercedario and La Ramada peaks! I will be happy to show you the way!
Looking for a shorter or more easygoing route? Then check out this 9-day Ansilta Peak hike in the Andes!
Itinerary
Day 1: Mendoza-El Molle/ Laguna Blanca
We will start our journey with a transfer from Mendoza to Barreal (240 km, 1600 m) and then drive in a 4WD vehicle to El Molle or Laguna Blanca depending on the road conditions. Overnight camping
Day 2: Laguna Blanca
If we don’t get to Laguna Blanca at 3000 m on the day before, we will hike for approximately 4 hours to get there.
Day 3: Los Colorados
We will continue on to Los Colorados base camp at 3800 m. which will take around 6 hours.
Day 4: Los Colorados
Day 5: Cuesta Blanca
We will continue on some 4 hours until we reach Cuesta Blanca Camp 1 at 4400 m.
Day 6: Acclimatization Cuesta Blanca
Acclimatization day at Cuesta Blanca. Short walks during the day.
Day 7: Pirca de Indios
After resting at Cuesta Blanca, we will continue on for 5 hours to Pirca de Indios Camp 2 at an altitude of 5100 m.
Day 8: Pirca de Indios
Acclimatization day at Pirca de Indios.
Day 9: La Ollada in the Mercedario mountain
We will continue ascending steadily for 4 hours to La Ollada at 5750 m.
Day 10: Ascent to La Ollada Summit
We will head up to La Ollada summit at 6700m on a long 10 hour trek day.
Day 11: La Ollada-Laguna Blanca
After a 6 hour trek we will return from La Ollada to Laguna Blanca.
Day 12: Valle del Arroyo de Las Hornillas
We will get a chance to rest after a 4 hour drive from Laguna Blanca to Valle del Arroyo de Las Hornillas.
Day 13: Camp 1: Papúa
We will stop at camp 1 (Papúa site) of La Ramada East route after a 4 hour walk. (3800 m)
Day 14: Camp 2: Kunfú
Continuing on our way up, we will ascend 6 hours to Camp 2 (Kunfú site) of La Ramada East route. (5100 m).
Day 15: La Ramada Summit
Another exhilarating 8-10 hour hike to La Ramada Summit (6380 m).
Day 16: Return to Mendoza
We will descend for 6 hours and then have a 4 hour drive back to Mendoza.
Details
Accommodation Camp sites |
Meeting point Mendoza |
Photos
About the guide
AAGM Guide from Argentina
I ve been guiding in the Central Andeans for the last 25 years, mostly in Mercedario, La Ramada and Ansilta peaks. I really enjoy guiding small groups of people interested in enjoying and feeling the mountains as they are. Do not hesitate to contact me, I will be happy to help.
What people are saying about Explore-Share
Teodora Jugrin
5.00
Nov 19, 2021
I had a very good experience booking the hike through Explore-Share. Communication with the team was prompt and clear and the booking process was seamless. The trip itself was also just perfect. Uroš was a fantastic guide, highly skilled and talented. The hike felt safe at all times, even on more exposed routes, thanks to him. He was always up to date on the weather forecast and planned the days around it, checked the conditions on the route ahead of me, if needed, discussed and adapted the routes to my level and always made sure I was safe and comfortable. I highly recommend him, as well as Explore-Share.
SG
5.00
Oct 25, 2021
Explore Share is a really usefull website that has a great overview of reviewed guides for a (in our case) hiking/climbing trip. During the booking I got assigned an assistent for Explore Share that helped solve questions that I might have. Great customer service, and I will come back again.
Dan Laufer
5.00
Oct 17, 2021
Explore-share was easy to use and the staff and guide w ere very responsive. The trip descriptions were accurate and the pricing reasonable. I would definitely recommend the site for people looking to do guided hiking.
Mac
5.00
Oct 13, 2021
Excellent!! Great guide and service. I had a very good experience. Id do it again.
Amanda Gardner
4.00
Sep 14, 2021
Guide was very experienced and very patient with us. We learned a lot and he tried to fit in all the knowledge he could in one day, super awesome. A little tough going back and forth to get the trip set up hard to tell if the site is sketchy until you see reviews but all worked out. Ended up with an awesome day with an awesome guide. Overall pretty satisfied and thankful!
Meret Schädler
5.00
Sep 14, 2021
The whole experience was great! The customer service of explore-share was really good. I always got an answer very quick. I would absolutely recommend to use explore-share if you are looking for a great guide in a foreign country. 5 stars!
john mcevoy
4.00
Sep 10, 2021
What a trip, fantastic guide who picked me up and dropped me off. Would use again.
Catherine Derroitte
5.00
Aug 25, 2021
It's the 2nd time we have been booking with Explore-Share. The booking was super easy and both Explore-Share and the guide were fast in their responses. We did rafting as a family with 3 kids for the first time in Slovenia. The guide (José) was super nice. He was doing everything he could to make everyone at ease with rafting (he gave clear explanations), have a great team spirit (we were joined by 2 other girls) and have a good time. We had lots of fun and the nature there is so beautiful. Thank you Explore-share and Soca splash for the great afternoon! I would recommend this activity to anyone without a doubt. My kids immediately told me they want to do rafting again soon !"
Aditya Kumar Jha
5.00
Aug 2, 2021
Best platform for mountain sports services. Easy to use, great personalised service and support.
Ibolya Kovacs
5.00
Jul 5, 2021
I am very pleased to have booked with this group. All of my mails have been answered in no-time, I felt really safe on the rock and the atmosfere of the whole group helped a lot not to mind about stressing. Will be back for more!
Prices per person
Group of 1 | USD 5980 Each |
Group of 2 | USD 5052 Each |
Group of 3 | USD 4227 Each |
Want a different number of travellers?
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Accommodation included
- Transport during the trip
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Price details
Prices are per person.
INCLUDED
Road transfers as per itinerary.
English speaking mountain guide (one every three climbers).
Tents, stove and kitchen items.
All meals and gas in the mountains.
NOT INCLUDED:
Hotel nights or meals of any kind in the city.
International and/or domestic airfares.
Porters, Personal gear, medications, ground or air evacuations, room services, laundry, beverages, phone communications and items of personal nature, insurance liability, hospitalization or medicals of any kind, any other service not mentioned in this condition sheet.
NOTE: Extra per porter is 1200 us. The porter/s is/are for the whole expedition, and to transport up to 20 kg (each) of expedition gear. In case of interest, the cost should be shared between the expedition members. Otherwise members will have to carry part of the shared expedition gear and supplies (such as tents, stoves, gas and food).
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