Aconcagua Expedition – Argentina

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Aconcagua Expedition – Argentina

Dates: 23 January 2024 to 8 February 2024 OR 7 December 2024 to 12 January 2025 OR 16 January 2025 to 1 February 2025

Full Service Cost; $5,450, £4,350, €5,050. (fixed in USD)


  • Walk to the top of the highest peak in all of the Americas. One of the famous "7 Summits" (non-technical).
  • Best price on the market and guides with the most experience in the business.
  • Our leadership and support team are very experienced, with more than 100 Aconcagua expeditions!
  • We have reached the summit in our last 7 expeditions.

Recent News:  Please click here to view news of our expedition.

Aconcagua Climbing Expedition Overview

Aconcagua (6962 meters/22,841 feet) is the highest mountain in all of the Americas and one of the "7 Summits." This magnificent Andean peak offers a high altitude adventure, and a chance to be part of a big mountain expedition for a relatively low cost. Climbing Aconcagua could qualify you for Everest from Tibet or Everest from Nepal.

The highest mountain of America, Aconcagua is in Western hemisphere, west-central Argentina near Chile border. Its name “Sentinel of Stone” originated from the Quechua Ackon Cahuak

The Normal Route is the easiest route on Aconcagua. Walk along good trails and scree slopes (sometimes with snow) to reach a very high but attainable summit. We have chosen this route because it allows us to approach through the beautiful Horcones Valley on the lower part of the mountain, making for an easy and enjoyable ascent.


 

Aconcagua Expedition Cost

Our full-service expedition includes:

  • Leader: experienced and qualified British, European, or American leader
  • Hotels and meals in Pentitentes on a twin sharing basis in tourist class hotel
  • Private transfer to and from Pentitentes and park gate
  • Expert guides and cooks
  • 5 days of hot delicious meals and tents at BC and 2 days at Confluencia
  • Mules for group and personal gear (25 kg/45 pounds, personal) to and from BC
  • All meals on the mountain
  • Camping equipment including tents, stoves, etcetera
  • Group climbing equipment
  • Transfer from Mendoza airport to Mendoza hotel
Basic Option: Includes everything up to BC (transport, hotel, BC logistics, approach camp logistics, tents, food, airport pick up, etc). From there, you will need your own tents, stoves, food, etc. The basic option does not include any altitude services or guides above basecamp.

Not Included: * Note: These prices are per porter to ascent. Prices are the same on descent. Porters carry up to 20kg (44lbs) each. They all go back to Base Camp. Payment is for every tract.

Equipment Transport: Our expedition includes transport of all of your equipment from Mendoza to our destination, and returned to Mendoza. While trekking to basecamp, we DO NOT ask our full-service members to carry heavy group equipment (although it is an option if you really want to), such as tents, rope, fuel, food, etcetera. We have mules to carry personal and group equipment to basecamp. Above basecamp, we may ask you to carry a portion of the group equipment, depending on your strength and body weight.
Aconcagua Expedition Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival to Mendoza, 900m (2,953’):Transfer from airport to hotel and have dinner with the team
Day 2 – Drive to Penitentes, 2300m (7,546’): Orientation meeting and gear check, rent/buy and necessary equipment, and acquire permits
Day 3 – Penitentes to Confluencia, 3300m (10,827’): Breakfast at hotel, private transport to the National Park, trek 3-4 hours to camp

Day 4 – Acclimatization hike to Plaza Francia, 4150m (13,615’): Day hike to Plaza Francia, camp at Confluencia
Day 5 – Confluencia to Plaza de Mulas, 4300m (14,108’): Hike 18km (11miles) to the next camp. Walking time: 5-8
Day 6 – Rest day
Day 7 – Acclimatization hike to Plaza Canada, 4900 meter (16,076’)
Day 8 – Rest day
Day 9 - Plaza de Mulas to Plaza Canada, 4900meter (16,076’): Hiking time: Approximately 4 hours
Day 10 – Plaza Canada to Nido de Condores, 5600m (18,373’): Hiking time: Approximately 5 hours
Day 11 – Rest day
Day 12 – Nido de Condores to Colera, 5950m (19, 520’): Hiking time: Approximately 3-4 hours
Day 13 – Colera – Summit – Colera – 6962meter / 22,841’: Start around 2am. Average round trip time is 12 hours
Day 14 – Colera to Plaza de Mulas
Day 15 – Plaza de Mulas to Mendoza: Hiking time: 8 hours
Day 16 – Extra day for acclimatization/weather
Day 17 – Flight home
The above itinerary is subject to change due weather conditions, performance of the group, political / administrative problems, and any other events not described.
Aconcagua Expedition Leadership and Staff

This expedition to Aconcagua maximizes many years of accumulated wisdom of the higher ranges of the world, a strong record of reaching the top of 8,000ers: Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Shishapangma, and many other summits. We have conducted countless 7000 meter peak expeditions, and consider ourselves specialists in leading, organizing, and getting teams to the summit and back down safely. We have been running trips to Aconcagua since 1990

Expedition organiser: Max is a fluent English, Spanish, and Portuguese speaker. He is a Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and AmaDablam leader, and technical expert. He is a relaxed, considerate and thoughtful person; an expert leader and a highly-skilled professional.

Aconcagua Expedition Personal and Team Equipment

Climbing:

  • Ice axe with leash
  • Steel crampons with anti-balling plates
  • Trekking poles

Upper Body:

  • 2 cotton t-shirts
  • 2 synthetic t-shirts
  • 2 long sleeve synthetic shirts
  • Light-weight soft shell jacket
  • Medium weight insulating jacket (fleece, down, or synthetic)
  • Hard shell jacket with hood, waterproof and breathable (Gore-Tex or similar)
  • Heavy down coat – must be large thick down jacket with hood

Hands:

  • Lightweight poly-liner gloves
  • Mid-weight soft shell gloves – water/wind resistant
  • Heavy- weight waterproof gloves – Gore-tex shell with removable liner
  • Expedition weight mittens -Gore-tex over mitt matched polar fleece mitt liner

Head:

  • Helmet
  • Warm hat that covers your ears
  • Balaclava
  • Face mask
  • Baseball hat or brimmed sun hat
  • Glacier sunglasses with side shields
  • Ski goggles with light and dark lenses
  • Glasses with clear lenses to protect your eyes while climbing to the summit on windy nights. (cost less than 10 dollars in Kathmandu)
  • Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs
  • Buff/neck gaiter
  • Bandana or head scarf (optional)

Lower Body:

  • Synthetic underwear
  • Hiking pants
  • 2 pair lightweight thermal bottoms
  • Polar fleece or soft shell pants
  • Waterproof/breathable pants with full side zips (Gore-Tex or similar)

Feet:

  • Boots – a paid of double or double plastic boots such as Koflach Exped, Koflach vertical, Asolo Ottomilia, Asolo AFS, Trezetta, Scarpa Vega, Scarpa Inferno, La Sportiva Baruntse, Olympus Mons, La Sportiva Spantik, Scarpa Phantom, La Sportiva G2. Single layer boots such as La Sportiva Nepal XT, EVO, Batura or Boreal Latok are NOT suitable.
  • Sturdy leather walking boots
  • Sandals or crocs
  • Down booties (optional)
  • 3 pair med-heavy poly or wool socks
  • 2 pair poly or wool liner socks (optional)
  • Vapor barrier liner socks (optional)
  • 4 pair lightweight trekking socks
  • Cotton socks for in town

Sleeping:

  • Down sleeping bag; -20C or -4F down sleeping bag (Comfort temperature)
  • 2 closed cell foam kari-mats (sleeping pads) for use in basecamp and high altitude (these can be purchased inexpensively in Mendoza)

Rucksack and Travel Bags:

  • Medium rucksack/backpack (50-70 litres / 3000-4500 cubic inches, can be used as carry-on bag)
  • Waterproof rucksack cover (optional)
  • 1 large (120+ L / 7500+ cubic inch) duffle kit bags for clothing and equipment
  • Small luggage locks for duffel kit bags

Personal Hygiene:

  • Female or male hygiene supplies
  • 2 tubes lip sun cream
  • Large tube skin sun cream (min factor 30)
  • Anti-mosquito cream
  • Toothpaste/brush
  • Hand sanitizer gel (small-medium bottle)
  • Bar of soap small towel
  • Hand wipes
  • Face Mask
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Disposable gloves
  • Disinfectant wipes

Medical:

  • Small personal first-aid kit. (Simple and Light) Aspirin, first-aid tape, plasters (band-aids), personal medications, etc.
  • Blister repair kit
  • 10 anti-diarrhea pills
  • 20 Ibuprofen
  • 10 cough and/or cold medicine
  • Steri pen or bottle of water purification tablets
  • Cough sweets/lozenges (Halls/Stepils)
  • Earplugs
  • Extra prescription glasses/contact lenses and supplies

Personal Food:

  • Snack food/daily energy food: 1 kg / 2 pounds is a good amount (you may buy these in Mendoza)
  • 4 dehydrated meals (freeze-dried dinners) for the high camp.
Practical:
  • Small roll of repair tape
  • Sewing repair kit
  • Cigarette lighter
  • Battery powered alarm clock/watch
  • Camera with extra cards and extra batteries
  • Nylon stuff sacks for food and gear storage
  • 3 water bottles (1 litre) wide-mouth Nalgene
  • Pee bottle (1litre or larger)
  • Passport, flight ticket, flight itinerary
  • Separate photocopies of passport and relevant visa pages, proof of insurance
  • Dollars, pounds, or euros cash ($1800 in case you need a rescue and are not with Global Rescue)
  • Bank/ATM/Cash and credit cards
  • Paperback books, playing cards, ipod/mp3 player, musical instruments, extra batteries, etc.
  • Travel clothes for basecamp and in town
  • Small solar panels for personal electronics (optional) We already bring large solar chargers. Please avoid bringing AC chargers, please keep it DC(Car plug adapters or similar)
     

Renting costs per whole expedition


Group Equipment: We provide group gear, equipment, and supplies including: rope, ice, rock, and snow anchor protection, tents; stoves, fuel, walkie-talkie radios, bamboo marker wands, etcetera. A personal tent will be provided for each member at base camp. On the upper mountain, team members will share tents. In base camp, a shower, toilet, solar charger, and a dining tent will be provided.

Aconcagua Expedition Experience and Training

Team Member Experience:

For the Normal Route it is not necessary for you to have previous climbing experience. We will teach you all of the mountain skills you need to know during the trip. You should be a fit and active walker in good health able to carry (to the high camp, but not the summit) a rucksack containing your sleeping bag, clothing, food and water.

Aconcagua Application Forms

Please fill out an application and return it to us with your refundable ten-percent deposit to hold your place on the team.

In addition to your application, we will need the following at least two months before the trip begins:  

  • Completed Payment
  • Oxygen order (if any)
  • Sherpa order (if any)
  • Trip Registration form
  • 1 Passport sized photo
  • A scan of your passport identification pages
  • Complete flight itinerary
  • Proof of travel, accident, and repatriation insurance. We strongly recommend Global Rescue, with at least $50,000 worth of helicopter rescue insurance.
  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is recommended

Please contact us with any questions you may have.

Here is what Steve says: I have one regret in the last 6 years of mountaineering and that is trusting another company on my Aconcague trip. I should of gone with you guys. -Steve

Here is what Damon has to say: Dear SummitClimb, Thanks for your concern. I was up there at Nido waiting for the wind to calm down for 2 days before the Summit attempt. I have to say that your organization is really..really well organized. As it seems like everyone was connected to know each member's status. Such small details make the trip worth while. By the way... Don't ride mules for 4.5 hours. You can't imagine what that will do to your body. I'm still in bed now...recovering. Happy New Year Damon

Here is what Joe says: I really enjoyed meeting you and climbing with you. Thanks for everything you did for me and the group in getting 10/11 to the top.  It was an incredible experience. Take care and let's keep in touch. You will always be welcomed at our home . -Joe
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