Transportation to and from the Mendoza airport. One night of lodging in Mendoza before and after the climb in double room basis (two nights). Hotel includes breakfast. Assistance in obtaining the Aconcagua Climbing Permit. In & Out ground transportation between Mendoza and Puente del Inca with mountain guides (by private vehicles).
One night of accommodation in Hosteria Puente del Inca in dormitory style rooms with private bathroom (4 to 6 people per room). Dinner and breakfast are included in Puente del Inca. Help with gear prep. and packing loads for mule transportation. In & Out transfers between Puente del Inca and Punta de Vacas trailhead. Mules will carry climbers personal equipment (30kg - 66 pounds per person) from Puente del Inca to Plaza Argentina Base Camp on the way in (with stops at the intermediate camps of Pampa de Lenas and Casa de Piedra) and from Plaza Argentina Base Camp to trailhead on the way out (30kg - 66 pounds per person). One night of camping at Pampa de Lenas and one night at Casa de Piedra both including sleeping tents. All expeditions meals (Pampa de Lenas, Casa de Piedra, Plaza Argentina Base Camp and altitude camps and camping facilities.
Five days of camping at Plaza Argentina Base Camp including sleeping tents. Permanent radio link to Mendoza and base camps. Personal equipment storage in Mendoza, Puente del Inca and Plaza de Argentina. First quality tents in Pampa de Lenas, Casa de Piedra, Plaza Argentina and altitude camps. One night of camping at Pampa de Lenas on the way out with all meals and sleeping tents included. Professional Mountain Guides (one for every 3-4 climbers) accompanying the group from Mendoza and throughout the entire expedition.
Two extra days with all meals either in altitude or in base camp for bad weather.
Day
Itinerary (altitude in feet and meters)
1
Mendoza 2,500ft (760m) Transfer from airport to hotel in Mendoza. Lodging.
2
Puente del Inca 8,900ft (2,725m) Aconcagua Park permit purchasing. Drive to Puente del Inca. Lodging.
3
Pampa de Lenas 9,100ft (2,800m) Transport to Quebrada de Vacas (trailhead). Hiking to Pampa de Lenas. Camp
4
Casa de Piedra 10,500ft (3,200m) Hiking to Casa de Piedra. Camp.
5
Plaza Argentina 13,700ft (4,200m) Hiking to Plaza Argentina Base Camp.
6
Plaza Argentina Rest day at Base Camp.
7
Plaza Argentina Carry to Camp 1 and back to Plaza Argentina.
8
Plaza Argentina Rest day at Base Camp.
9
Camp 1 16,240ft (4,950m) Move to Camp 1.
10
Camp 1 Carry to Camp 2 and back to Camp 1.
11
Camp 1 Rest day at Camp 1.
12
Camp 2 19,000ft (5,800m) Move to Camp 2.
13
Contingency day
14
Contingency day
15
Summit 22,841ft (6,962m) Camp 2 to Summit (traverse to Normal Route) and back to Camp 2
16
Plaza Argentina Descent to Plaza Argentina. Camp.
17
Pampa de Lenas Hiking to Pampa de Lenas. Camp.
18
Mendoza Hiking to Quebrada de Vacas (trailhead). Transport to Puente del Inca. Transfer to Mendoza City. Lodging.
19
Mendoza Transfer to airport.
The above itinerary is intended as a guideline only. Some changes are possible while on a climbing expedition. Please be prepared to be flexible if necessary.
Expeditions will be led by one mountain guide (Expedition Leader) and one assistant mountain guide for every 3-4 clients.
Contingency days
Expeditions include two extra days in case of bad weather. Reserve days come with all meals included and take place in either the altitude camps (Camp 1 or Camp 2) or even at Base Camp (only before starting the climb).
These days can be taken only on Aconcagua. If they are not necessary such days are not exchanged by nights in any other place (e.g. Mendoza, Puente del Inca).
Expeditions supplied equipment
First quality mountain tents (The North Face). Complete cooking supplies for the altitude camps. MSR quality pans. Camping Gaz stoves. Pots. Radio handy FM 2m band. Ropes. Complete medical kit with specific medicine for mountain sickness. MSR liquid fueled stove and a large pan to melt water.
Pampa de Lenas and Casa de Piedra camps
Mules will stop at both sites to bring the gear necessary to set up the camp (cooking supplies, dishes, food etc). Sleeping tents will be provided.
Plaza Argentina base camp
This camp has a dining tent furnished with electric power, tables and chairs, a cooking tent, its own bathroom facilities and a safe place to store your belongings while you are at the altitude camps. Permanent BLU radio link with Mendoza and Puente del Inca; and VHF radio link with high altitude camp bases, Park Rangers and Rescue Patrols.
Extended itinerary
This optional program (an extension of the standard climb) is highly recommended for people living at or close to sea level. Members of the Extended Itineary have 2 additional days in Plaza de Mulas with all meals plus the rest of the services included in the Standard Itinerary. Sleeping tents. Mountain guide. An acclimatization guided climbing to a higher than 16,500ft hill in the surrounds of Plaza Argentina. The total number of days at Base Camp is seven(6 before and 1 after the climb).
Services not included
Air tickets to and from Mendoza. Aconcagua Climbing Permit. Extras. Food and beverages out of regular supply in Mendoza, Puente del Inca, and Plaza Argentina. Abandon of itinerary expenses. Sleeping bag and personal gear. Trip cancellation and/or travel insurance. Porters. Additional hotel nights if for reasons beyond our control (e.g. weather) the group returns early. Eating utensils for the upper camps.
Abandon of itinerary expenses
Extra camping nights in Plaza Argentina BC, intermediate camps, and hotel nights in Puente del Inca or Mendoza out of the included in the expedition. Extra mules (expedition includes 30kg per person). Ground transportation to Mendoza (expedition includes transportation for the group, but not individual transfers). Expenses incurred in the case of a rescue.
At arrival (Day one of itinerary)
Our staff will greet you at the airport (we suggest that you arrive in Mendoza in the morning or noon) and escort you to the hotel in Mendoza. A mountain guide will check out your personal equipment at the hotel.
Due to the great demand for spaces the past season, we will offer our future customers more expeditions for 2008-2009.
Trip
Extended Itinerary From
Standard Itinerary From
Extended & Standard To
PGTR#1
December 6, 2008
December 8, 2008
December 26, 2008
PGTR#2
December 13, 2008
December 15, 2008
January 2, 2009
PGTR#3
December 19, 2008
December 21, 2008
January 8, 2009
PGTR#4
December 27, 2008
December 29, 2008
January 16, 2009
PGTR#5
January 8, 2009
January 10, 2009
January 28, 2009
PGTR#6
January 18, 2009
January 20, 2009
February 7, 2009
PGTR#7
January 30, 2009
February 1, 2009
February 19, 2009
PGTR#8
February 8, 2009
February 10, 2009
February 28, 2009
Private groups
If the specified departure dates are not suitable, or you want to vary the itinerary we would be happy to devise a program to suit your interests. Contact us at info@aconcaguaadventures.com
Approach
Mendoza City, in Argentina, is the starting point to climb Mount Aconcagua. A highway leads to Puente del Inca (about 180 kilometers from Mendoza). The trailhead is in Punta de Vacas, at some 12 kilometers from Puente del Inca. Plaza Argentina (Base Camp) is about 62 kilometers from trailhead. Because of the distance, to facilitate acclimatization and to avoid the problems caused by altitude sickness, it is advisable to do the approach in 3 days. The access to the Base Camp is through a well-traced route.
Recommended intermediate camps are: Pampa de Lenas (9,100ft /2,800m) There are water and good places to set up tents. Park Rangers station is located at this campsite. Punta de Vacas – Pampa de Lenas: 4-5 hours Casa de Piedra (10,500ft / 3,200m) This is a similar campsite to the previous one Pampa de Lenas – Casa de Piedra: 5-6 hours.
Climbing route
Its aesthetic nature makes it the preferred route for climbers with intermediate climbing skills and in excellent physical conditions. This route, also known as the False Polish Glacier, is another non-technical climb of moderate difficulty and includes a traverse to the north face of Mount Aconcagua, to join the Normal Route beyond Camp Berlin. It is a less crowded, more remote, longer and beautiful route than the Normal Route.
Plaza Argentina (13,700 ft / 4,200 m) This is a good place for camping as well as to obtain a proper acclimatization. It has well protected campsites and there is water around. There is medical service and a permanent Park Ranger Station. Casa de Piedra – Plaza Argentina: 6-7 hours. Please Note: hiking hours are used as a reference only.
Due to the altitude, it can be very tiring and very challenging. There are some brief treks on the glacier, but neither rock nor ice climbing is involved. After Camp 2 there is a traverse to the Normal Route from which we approach the summit of Aconcagua. Some factors (altitude, freezing temperatures, expedition length, etc) make this climb much more difficult than Mount Kilimanjaro and others in South America. Expedition members will carry packs (30lbs avg.) for multiple days. Those climbers interested in this expedition must be not only physically but also mentally strong.
Airlines
The best way to reach Mendoza is via a connecting flight from either Buenos Aires (Argentina) or Santiago (Chile). You can also take the bus. From Buenos Aires it is 2 hours by plane or 13 hours by bus. From Santiago it is 50min by plane or 6 hours by bus. If you come from Santiago, you will have the opportunity to survey the Andes as you cross over into Argentina.
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