Mendoza & Wine Country
ASCENT OF MOUNT ACONCAGUA
WITH ACCLIMATIZATION ON THE MAIPO VOLCANO
21 days/ 20 nights
Standard route
• Intense trekking
• MOUNT ACONCAGUA ASCENT ( 6959 meters above sea level)
Day 1
Upon arrival you will be shuttled from the airport or bus station to Mendoza City (20 minutes). Assistance with the gear, permits, weather conditions on the mountain. Last minute purchases and/or rentals.
Day 2
Travel from Mendoza to Laguna del Diamante Natural Reserve (3,300m) where we make our Base Camp . It is a 245 km ride, in 4x4 vehicles. It takes between 4 and 5 hours. The roads get into a Natural Reserve, full of wildlife. Camp and dinner. Night in tents.
Day 3
Trekking for acclimatization in Laguna del Diamante. We take an easy walk along the springs of Diamante River , a virgin ravine where many birds nest. It is a 5-hour trek. We have lunch by the river. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and night at Laguna base camp.
Day 4
Trekking from Base Camp to Camp 1. We cross the volcanic fields of black stones and approach the slopes of Maipo . Length of the trek is 5 hours. Altitude: 3800 m . Camp in tents.
Day 5
Trekking from Camp 1 to Camp 2. The path gains altitude over the course of a 5 to 7 hour trek across moraines towards a terrace at 4200 m , where we make our second and last camp.
Day 6
Summit day. Early departure with high mountain boots and crampons. After some steep rocky slopes we reach an imposing crater of the volcano . We cross the snowfield in the crater and head toward the summit ridge. It takes some 7 to 8 hours to get to the summit itself . Return to Camp 2 takes about 3 hours.
Day 7
Trekking from Camp 2 to Base camp . Return to San Carlos . Night in a country lodge with celebration barbecue and local fine wines.
Day 8
Travel from San Carlos to Mendoza. Once in Mendoza we purchase the climbing permit and prepare our gear. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 9
Transfer to Horcones (entrance to Aconcagua Park , 2800m ), 180 km paved road. Permit check at Ranger post. Trekking to Confluencia Camp at 3300m, which takes about 4-5 hours. Tea and dinner in the dining tent, full service. Night in tents.
Day 10
Trekking Confluencia-Plaza de Mulas Base Camp at 4250m, 7-8 hours. It is an intense day to cross the long "Playa Ancha" and to climb the slope of “Cuesta Brava". In the big base camp we rest with a tea in the dining tent, where we have dinner later. Night in tents.
Day 11
Rest and acclimatization day in Plaza de Mulas.
Day 12
We carry food and fuel to Camp 1 ( Plaza Canada , 5050m ) and Camp 2 (Nido de Condores, 5450 m ) and return to Base Camp . It is an easy trail, but the difference in altitude is demanding.
Day 13
Rest and acclimatization day at Base Camp.
Day 14
Trek from Base Camp to Camp1 (Plaza Canada , 5050m) Trekking time 4 hours. We leave the comforts of the base camp and head towards the higher altitude.
Day 15
Camp 1 to Camp 2 (Nido de Condores, 5450m) trekking time 4 hours.
Day 16
Camp 2 to Camp 3 (Plaza Colera 5850m, or Berlin 5850m) Trekking time 3 hours. We climb to the last camp before the summit.
Day 17
Summit day. Early departure, with warm clothes and light pack. We head towards Independencia hut , then the Portezuelo del Viento ( Windy Col ), the traverse and the last couloirs (La Canaleta). It is a 10 hour climb to the summit at 6962m, the highest point in the American continent! MOUNT ACONCAGUA . Return to camp Colera or Berlin .
Day 18
Extra day allowed for summit bid in the case of bad weather.
Day 19
Return to Base Camp.
Day 20
Base Camp- Horcones and travel from Puente del Inca to Mendoza . (7 hours). Night in Mendoza .
Day 21
Shuttle to the airport or a bus station.
Included
• Transportation to and from the airport or a bus station.
• One-night lodging in San Carlos with half board.
• Three hotel (***) nights in Mendoza with breakfast.
• Transportation Mendoza- Laguna del Diamante- Mendoza.
• Transportation Mendoza- Horcones- Mendoza.
• Mule service for equipment to and from Base Camp.
• Dining tent service at Confluencia Camp and Plaza de Mulas Base Camp.
• Tents and stoves for the high altitude camps.
• Professional guides fully certified to work in Aconcagua Provincial Park .
• Full board during the clima.
• Welcome/goodbye dinner.
• All Transfers between hotels and airport/bus station.
• Described tours
• Bilingual guide (English / Spanish)
Not included
• National Parks and Reserves entrance fees
• Life, travel and medical insurance**
• Optional excursions
• Services not detailed in the itinerary
• Domestic & international flights or buses
• Tips
• All personal climbing equipment.
• Any other service not mentioned in the list.
• If the passenger decides for personal reasons to leave the expedition it will be at his/her own responsibility.
• Expenses incurred in the case of a rescue and medical assistance, and hospital.
• Extra expenses cash.
• Climbing permit. Aconcagua (U$D 330)
*IMPORTANT
**We strongly recommend that you buy travel insurance. Please contact us for more information or click on our travel insurance link. **
SUGGESTED OPTIONALEXCURSIONS/TRIPS
• Available: From January, 1st to 15 th March.
• Duration: 21 days
• Departure: please contact us for departure dates.
List of suggested personal equipment |
Pants:
• 1 pair of thermal underwear bot tom s (polypropylene)
• 1 pair of fleece pants.
• 1 pair of waterproof-breathable pants (Gore-Tex, Ultrex or similar)
Tops:
• 4 t-shirts.
• 2 thermal polypropylene underwear tops
• 1 polar fleece jacket.
Jacket:
• 1 down jacket (or equivalent)
• 1 waterproof-breathable jacket (Gore-Tex, Ultrex or similar)
Gloves:
• 1 pair of liner gloves.
• 1 pair of fleece or synthetic gloves.
• 1 pair of mittens.
• 1 pair of waterproof mittens (Gore-Tex, Ultrex or similar)
Head garment:
• 1 balaclava (fleece or synthetic)
• 1 cap for the sun.
Sunglasses:
• 1 pair with UVA and UVB protection.
• 1 extra pair.
Head lamp
Sleeping bag (- 25ºC or -13 F )
Sleeping pad
Backpack (70- 90 litres or approx. 2.8 cu ft)
Boots:
• Mountaineering boots (-25º C/ -13 F ).
• Hiking boots.
• Extra pair of shoes.
Socks:
• 4 pairs for daily use.
• 2 wool or synthetic pairs
Crampons:
• 1 pair
Ice axe
Poles:
• 1 pair of ski or hiking poles.
Gaiters
Sunscreen
These tours have more demanding activities and the accommodations as we spend more nights camping in order to explore more distant areas of the country.
Some nights are spent in Hostels or Hosterias, simple lodgings, while others are spent in our full camps or in mountain refugees.
The trekking activities are led by mountain guides or local inhabitants of the area (according to the destination).
In some of the group departures there are incoming services and guides during the activities and in some other group departures there is a tour leader dedicated full time to the group.
The level of difficulty is intermediate. Passengers need to be in adequate physical condition. It is not required to possess prior technical experience.
We carry all the necessary equipment for the trek and your personal luggage up to a maximum of 8 kg per passenger. This is due to National Park regulations. In some very specific sections of the trek we ask passengers to carry their own sleeping bag and personal items that you will use during 2 days and 1 night.
We walk an average of 6 or 7 hours a day, 9 hours on specific days, at a moderate pace and with all the necessary stops for rest, snacks or photos. The trek includes some steady up hills and down hills that can be steeper by sections.
Previous experience walking outdoors and camping is advisable as we use a lot of our Full Camps.
We have plenty of itineraries for hiking & adventure in Mendoza, Patagonia and other destinations in Argentina / Chile. Contact us for more information if you think that this one is not fitting your interest or fitness level. Private expeditions are also available upon request and at extra charge.