Climb Mount Aconcagua

Climb the highest mountain in the Americas and stand atop one of the legendary Seven Summits on an unforgettable high-altitude expedition.

At 6,961 metres (22,838 ft), Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, the highest peak outside Asia, and one of the renowned Seven Summits. Rising dramatically above the Andes Mountains in Argentina, Aconcagua is a world-class mountaineering objective that attracts climbers from across the globe.

Unlike many peaks of comparable altitude, Aconcagua's Normal Route does not require technical climbing, making it an achievable objective for strong trekkers and aspiring mountaineers. However, its extreme altitude, unpredictable weather, and demanding summit day make it a serious challenge that requires preparation, determination, and respect for the mountain.

This 21-day expedition has been carefully designed to maximise acclimatisation and summit success while allowing climbers to experience the spectacular landscapes of the Argentine Andes.

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TRIP FACTS

Activity Type:

Mountain Climb

Location:

Argentina (see location map here)

Difficulty:

Extreme

Max Altitude:

6,926m

Food Choices:

Kosher, Veggie, Vegan, Nut Free, Lactose Free, Halal

Duration:

21 Days

Accommodation:

Hotel & Tents

Fitness Level:

High

Grading:

E3 (see grading guide here)

Best Time to Climb:

Nov - Feb

WHY CHOOSE TO CLIMB MT ACONCAGUA

Highest mountain in the Americas
One of the prestigious Seven Summits
Highest peak outside Asia
Non-technical route to nearly 7,000m
Exceptional acclimatisation profile
Spectacular Andes mountain scenery
A true high-altitude expedition experience
One of the world's great mountaineering achievements

WHAT YOU WILL SEE & EXPERIENCE

Aconcagua offers a true expedition experience in one of the world's great mountain ranges. The journey begins in Mendoza before heading into the Andes, where vast valleys, colourful mountain landscapes, glacial terrain, and towering peaks create an unforgettable setting for the climb.

As you progress through the expedition, you'll trek through the Horcones Valley and into Aconcagua Provincial Park, gradually gaining altitude as you move between camps. The scenery becomes increasingly dramatic, with panoramic views across the Andes and the imposing south face of Aconcagua dominating the landscape.

Life on the mountain is a unique experience in itself. You'll spend time at remote high-altitude camps, witness spectacular sunrises and sunsets over the Andes, and experience the camaraderie that develops amongst expedition teams tackling a shared challenge.

The summit day is long and demanding, but standing atop the highest point in the Americas and looking out across the vast Andes mountain range is an achievement few people will ever experience.

THE ACONCAGUA CHALLENGE

Although Aconcagua's Normal Route is considered non-technical, it should never be underestimated. At nearly 7,000 metres, the mountain presents many of the same challenges associated with Himalayan expeditions, including extreme altitude, rapidly changing weather, strong winds, and physically demanding summit days.

Success on Aconcagua depends largely on acclimatisation, pacing, and physical preparation. Our 21-day itinerary includes carefully planned acclimatisation days, load carries, and progressive altitude gain to maximise safety and provide the best possible chance of reaching the summit.

We provide leaders/guides on a ratio of 1:3 throughout the expedition and the team is limited to 9 or 10 climbers. Our aim is to reduce the physical hardship and create maximum flexibility to give you the best chance of summit success as we can more easily deal with clients varying walking speeds/fitness and weather. Mountain Porters are available to carry group gear (tents, stoves, shovels, fuel) at an extra cost. Your guide will assist you with tent placement, cooking and water preparation at the high camps. The expedition will still be physically challenging and you will still have to work hard to reach the summit.

For many climbers, Aconcagua serves as the perfect stepping stone towards higher Himalayan objectives and is widely regarded as one of the most important high-altitude mountaineering experiences in the world.

ITINERARY

Arrive in Mendoza at 760m/ 2,493 feet

We will be up for breakfast at 8/9am and probably load into the vehicle at 10am and take the short drive to the trail head at the start of the Vacas valley. From the start of the trail it is 7.9 miles to Pampa De Lenas at 2,868m/ 9,404 feet. The group will be taken to the entrance of the Park in a private vehicle where permits will be presented and you will start with the trek to the Pampa De Lenas Camp. The equipment will be carried by mules and we will have lunch on the way. On arrival in camp, you will set up your tent with your partner and will be able to rest and enjoy some BBQ for dinner.

We wake early as all tents will need to be taken down before breakfast so they can be loaded onto mules. Today is a 9.4 mile hike to Casa de Piedra. We cross the river and follow the valley all the way to our next campsite at Casa de Piedra at 3,245m/ 10,646 feet. This trek is about 6 hours. Like the previous day, the tents will need to be set up and you will be able to rest waiting for dinner to be ready. You can wash cloths and enjoy this unique campsite while the guides prepare your dinner.

Total Distance:

~53 km

Today is a beautiful trek up to the Plaza Argentina Base Camp at 4,200m/ 13,780 feet which takes approximately 6/7 hours. This will be our Base Camp on the mountain for four nights. Today is the cold river crossing. We will pack everything up and move across the river bed towards Aconcagua. After crossing the river we go uphill for a while and then gradually move slowly towards base camp. Our base camp has showers, WiFi and quality comfortable dining tents stocked with everything you need to be comfortable for your stay in Base Camp. It is important to take it easy and stay well hydrated each day drinking 5 liters of water. This is a very dry climate.

Today is a rest day in the Plaza Argentina Base Camp.  You will be able to rest during the whole day, shower, read and prepare your gear for moving higher on the mountain. After breakfast you can go sightseeing around the area, and contemplate the beauty of the mountain and surrounding area. There is a boulder rock close by and you can enjoy this amazing valley. It is worth getting out and keep moving around while at altitude. Lunch and dinner times will be set on the day.

Today is our first load carry. You will take part of the group equipment to Camp 1. You will be carrying food, fuel and camp equipment needed high on the mountain.  This is usually around 8kg/ 17lbs  to 10kg/ 22lbs and you can carry some of your own equipment like mountaineering boots, crampons, summit gear with you. You do not want to be carrying more than 16kg/ 25lbs on this first load carry. The journey up to Camp 1 4,950m/ 16,240 feet takes about 4 hours. On arrival you will enjoy your packed-lunch and then return to Plaza Argentina. This hike will greatly benefit you during the acclimatization process as well as help bring equipment needed higher up the mountain. You will need to visit the doctor in Base Camp today and they will check your oxygen saturation, heart rate, lungs and blood pressure.

Today is another rest day in Plaza de Argentina. You can take a walk near base camp, rest up, shower and start thinking about all the gear you need for higher on the mountain. This is the day, you will make sure that your equipment is ready to either higher and prepare your duffel bag to go lower. Once your duffel bag leaves it will meet you in Plaza du Mules, the base camp on the other side of the mountain. This is your last chance to use WiFi and rest up so as to be strong enough for the next days that demand much more effort.

After a nice breakfast we will prepare ourselves to move higher on Aconcagua. You will be carrying all your remaining personal expedition gear with you up the mountain.  After approximately a 4 hour trek, you will arrive back in Camp 1 4,950m/ 16,240 feet. On the way, the group will have lunch and once you arrive, you will set up the tents with the guides help. You will start to feel the altitude effects on your body, so really important to be drinking 5 liters of water and rest up before dinner which the guides will prepare.

Today, the group will climb up to the Upper Guanacos and make the long traverse to Camp 2 at 5,500m/ 18,045 feet. We will be carrying group equipment and some personal gear up to Camp 2. This load carry will be around 14kg/ 31lbs. You can leave some personal gear at camp 2. Some items could be crampons and summit clothing in a dry bag. You do not want this to be more than 15kg/ 33lbs. We will have lunch on the way, take some rest in Camp 2 and then return to camp 1 for the night. This will take 6/7 hours to make the return journey. The guides will prepare dinner in camp 1 and you will need to rest.

Today is a full rest day in camp 2 at 5,500m/ 18,045 feet. It is important to keep drinking a lot of water, resting and if weather allows take a short, slow hike up above camp to acclimatize further. Resting and hydrating should be your number one concern today. You are now on the edge of extreme altitude and need to be monitoring yourself before moving higher. Some of the guides will carry water, maybe 40+ liters up to camp 3 at 5,980m/ 19,620 feet.

Depending on weather forecast and winds we may do a small load carry to Camp 3 at 5,980m/ 19,620 feet. We will have breakfast, and start ascending towards the Normal Route. Camp 3 is strategically located for its altitude and protected from strong winds. Depending on the weather we will drop gear, eat some lunch and return to Camp 2. We maybe staying at Camp 3 but this depends on weather and the plans for the summit attempt.

Climb from Camp 3 to the summit of Aconcagua at 6,962m/ 22,841 feet and return to Camp 3. We aim to leave at 5am and make the 7/8 hour hike to the summit of Aconcagua. This is an extremely difficult day and usually underestimated by a lot of people.  The group will get up very early in the morning, have breakfast and start climbing. Our goal is to reach the summit by 1pm where you will live an unforgettable experience of reaching the highest point in the world outside of the Himalaya’s. After a short time on the summit, we will return to Colera Camp. You will sleep that night with the satisfaction of having reached your goal of reaching South America’s highest point.

Today we will get up early, have breakfast and the team will descend back to the Plaza de Mulas Base Camp at 4,400m/ 14,435 feet after a long trek. This can take anywhere from 3 to 4 hours. You will be carrying all your own personal gear. You will arrive back in base camp by 2 or 3pm.  The group will have the day free to share those emotions experienced throughout the expedition. Take a shower use Wi-Fi and rest up before a good nights sleep.  During this day you will only carry your personal equipment, because our porters will be in charge of carrying all the group equipment including the garbage down to Plaza de Mulas base camp.

What's included?

Fully certified, English speaking guides
All accommodation (Mendoza & National Park) ased on two people sharing twin/double rooms
2 nights hotel accommodation at the Diplomatic Hotel, Mendoza (1 night at the beginning of the expedition and 1 night at the end of the expedition)
Full board during the expedition
Water: end-to-end drinking water (including water carriers, if needed). This is an increasingly important issue, given the dramatic reduction of the glaciers and streams on Aconcagua
All transfers in licensed, private shuttles
Mules transport of gear and supplies, to and from BC
Permanent VHF radio communication
All expedition food
All group gear for the expedition (sleeping tents, stoves and cooking gear, radio, etc)
Free internet at BC (limitations apply)
All guides are equipped with professional first aid kits and pulse oximeters to monitor acclimatization progress
Assistance with the required climbing permit procedure
One porter for every four climbers, to carry 20 kg of group gear
One personal porter per person, 15 kg for personal gear and 5 for common gear

What's excluded?

Round-trip flights to and from Mendoza, Argentina
Aconcagua climbing permit fee (Approx. $950 depending on season)
Evacuation insurance (required by Mt. Aconcagua State Park)
Meals in Mendoza
Personal equipment medications, ground or air evacuations, room services, laundry, beverages, phone communications and items of personal nature, insurance liability, hospitalization or medication of any kind, any other service not mentioned in this list
Any cost incurred by the climber for leaving the trip early (such as transfers, mules, guide, etc). We strongly recommend all participants to buy trip cancelation insurance
SAT phone charges
*Extra porter fee (If used)

Ready to stand on the highest mountain in the Americas?

Join us on an unforgettable expedition to Aconcagua and experience the challenge, adventure, and achievement of climbing one of the legendary Seven Summits.

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Climb Mount Aconcagua

Climb the highest mountain in the Americas and stand atop one of the legendary Seven Summits on an unforgettable high-altitude expedition.

TRIP FACTS

WHY CHOOSE TO CLIMB MT ACONCAGUA

WHAT YOU WILL SEE & EXPERIENCE

THE ACONCAGUA CHALLENGE

ITINERARY

Arrive in Mendoza at 760m/ 2,493 feet

What's included?

What's excluded?

Ready to stand on the highest mountain in the Americas?

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