Day 1: Arrive Mendoza (Altitude: 760m.)
Our expedition starts in Mendoza, Argentina. Our ground handler will be waiting for you at the airport and will transfer you to your hotel in the city.
A group meeting will follow, during which you will be introduced to your guides and team members.
Overnight in Mendoza.
Day 2: Mendoza to Penitentes (Altitude: 2700m.)
You start today with a visit to the Aconcagua Park Office in Mendoza, where you will be assisted in obtaining your individual entrance and ascent permits.
After acquiring your permits, you depart Mendoza for Los Penitentes, a ski resort located on the lower slopes of Aconcagua. While in Los Penitentes, the crew will get the equipment ready for transportation to the base camp by mule.
Dinner and overnight at a comfortable hotel in Los Penitentes (double/triple rooms).
Day 3: Penitentes to Confluencia (Altitude: 3390m.)
Depart Los Penitentes early this morning and drive to the Aconcagua Park Entrance at Horcones, where your permits will be checked.
From Horcones, you begin your trek to Confluencia. This is a short initial hike of 7.5km, with a height gain of 485m. It forms the start of what will be a 3-day approach trek to Aconcagua base camp.
On arrival at Confluencia campsite, there will be time to sort out your gear while there is still daylight, before enjoying a group dinner. You sleep in dormitory dome tents with bunk beds and electric lights (with option to upgrade to a private tent if preferred).
Day 4: Trek to Plaza Francia Viewpoint (Altitude: 4025m.)
Today is an acclimatisation day, as you trek to Plaza Francia Viewpoint, a roundtrip of approx. 5 hours from Confluencia with a height gain of just over 600m.
At the viewpoint, you will be rewarded with impressive views of Aconcagua’s South Face, before returning to Confluencia for overnight.
Day 5: To Plaza de Mulas (Altitude: 4350m.)
Today sees your trek proper begin, as you complete the 22km journey from Confluencia to Plaza de Mulas.
The route begins with a crossing of the "Playa Ancha" (wide beach), a harsh and arid valley – conditions here can be very windy! You then ascend the Horcones Superior Valley, gradually gaining altitude. The last section of today’s route will see you climb the "Cuesta Brava" (meaning Rugged Slope), a short but steep rock slope, to reach the famous Plaza de Mulas at 4,350m.
Plaza de Mulas is Aconcagua’s primary base camp, where you will spend the next four nights as you acclimatise and transport your gear to Camp 1.
Day 6: Rest day at Plaza de Mulas
Today is spent acclimatising at Plaza de Mulas. This is a good opportunity to rest, take a shower, and explore the surrounding area.
Late afternoon, you’ll get together with your guide for medical check-ups, to reorganize and review the equipment, and prepare the loads for transportation the next day.
Day 7: Transport equipment and food to Camp 1 (Altitude: 5050m.)
Today is spent transporting equipment to Camp 1, also known as Plaza Canada, before returning to Plaza de Mulas – with a much lighter pack! – to overnight.
This is a tough day, but the trail underfoot is easy. During the load carry to Camp 1, you reach a height of 5050m, providing good acclimatisation. Expect approx. 7-8 hours of trekking today.
Day 8: Rest day at Plaza de Mulas
Today will be a second rest day at Plaza de Mulas, allowing you to further acclimatise and to prepare to transport the rest of your gear to Plaza Canada tomorrow.
Day 9: Climb to Camp 1 (Altitude: 5050m.)
Today will see you return to Camp 1 (Plaza Canada) with the rest of your gear, and this time you shall overnight there.
Today’s trek will be 5-6 hours on what will now be familiar terrain. Overnight at Camp 1.
Day 10: To Camp 2, “Nido de Condores” (Altitude: 5570m.)
Today you climb from Plaza Canada to Camp 2, also known as “Nido de Cóndores” (5570m.)
The route will see you ascend a series of steep scree slopes – switchback trails make the route easier than it might otherwise be. As you ascend to higher altitude, you will be rewarded with increasingly spectacular views of the high Andes.
Overnight at Camp 2. On a clear evening, the sunsets from Camp 2 are marvellous.
Day 11: Acclimatisation Day at Camp 2
Today is a rest and acclimatisation day at Camp 2, with the option to take a trek within the vicinity of the camp, or to simply rest.
Day 12: To Camp 3, “Plaza Colera” (Altitude: 5970m.)
Early this morning you set off for Camp 3, Plaza Colera, located at the same altitude as the Berlin refuge, and well placed to give some protection from the infamous Aconcagua winds.
From this camp there are magnificent views of the highest peaks of the Central Andes. This the highest camp you will sleep at – for comparison, the elevation is 75m. higher than Kilimanjaro’s summit.
At camp this afternoon, your guide will individually check each member of the group to see how they are acclimatising to the altitude, before you get an early rest in anticipation of tomorrow’s summit attempt.
Day 13: Summit day (Altitude: 6962m.)
Today is summit day, the most demanding day of the expedition. You’ll follow the Normal Route, climbing the North Ridge to Independencia Refuge at 6,380m.
From the refuge, you ascend through the “Portezuelo del Viento”, where you can expect to encounter very strong winds, and up the 300m “La Canaleta”, taking you to the edge of the summit. Finally, you climb through the “Filo del Guanaco” to arrive at the summit. On a clear day, the 360° views from the summit are stunning.
After time for photos and rest at the summit, you descend to Camp 3 for dinner and overnight.
Day 14-15: Contingency days
These extra days are set aside in our itinerary in case of poor weather conditions, providing the best possible chance of each participant reaching the summit.
Day 16: Descend to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp
Return from Camp 3 to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp, where you’ll share a large group dinner to celebrate the experience.
Day 17: Return from base camp to Penitentes and back to Mendoza
Pack up camp after breakfast and start the descent from Plaza de Mulas to Penitentes, where private transport will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Mendoza City for a well-earned hot shower and rest!
Day 18: International departure from Mendoza
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Mendoza airport for your return flight home.
Aconcagua Summit Climb (Normal Route)
Private and Open Group climbs available
Aconcagua Summit Climb (Normal Route)
2022 Departures Available | Ascend Aconcagua, America’s highest mountain, via the popular Horcones Valley route, in this 18-day itinerary that offers sufficient time for altitude acclimatisation. This route provides a faster ascent than the Vacas Valley, or 360°, route. For information on alternative routes, please contact us.
Outline Itinerary
Price guide
The price shown is based on a private group size of 3-6. For other group sizes, please refer to our Aconcagua price chart. For open group departures that anyone can join, please see available departure dates below.
Pricing
18 days from £3210pp
Shut off from civilisation in the Okavango
We had a superb time. The local team did a fabulous job and everything was perfectly lined out and organized.
