Overview
- Duration: 17 Days / 16 Nights
- Difficulty: Desafiante [icono_lvl4]
- Season: November to February
Description
Join one of the Andes mountains’ top expeditions of Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in South America!
Embrace the thrill of Aconcagua in just 17 days! This concise program seamlessly integrates acclimatization with summit attempts, ideal for adventurers seeking a focused yet rewarding experience.
Itinerary
Sajama Normal Route
Day 01: Arrival in Mendoza
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be received and transferred to the Hotel.
Overnight Hotel.
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 02: Mendoza
After you obtain individual park entrance and ascent permits, assisted by your guide, we meet at your hotel to finalize all the arrangements of the expedition.
Welcome Dinner.
Overnight Hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 03: Mendoza - Penitentes (2700 m)
Driving time 5 hours aprox.
Overnight Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 04: Penitentes - Confluencia (3368 m)
We head off to Confluencia by walking 4 or 5 hours.
Overnight Camping
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 05: Confluencia: Acclimatization Hike to Plaza Francia (4200 m)
We’ve included this day in order to acclimatize better, and give you more chances to summit. We’ll trek for about 5 hours until we arrive to Plaza Francia viewpoint
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 06: Approach from Confluencia to Plaza de Mulas (4250 m)
After 8-9 hours hiking across “Playa Ancha” and climbing up through a very steep path, we reach Plaza de Mulas, the biggest base camp in Aconcagua Park.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 07: Rest day at Plaza de Mulas (4250 m)
The first day in Base Camp is always a rest day and a good occasion to take a bath and explore the local terrain.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 08: Plaza de Mulas - Ascent to Mountain Bonete (5000 m)
We’ve included this climbing in order to acclimatize better, and give you more chances to summit.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 09: Ascent from Plaza de Mulas - Camp 1 (5050 m.)
Ascent from Plaza de Mulas – Camp 1 (5050 m.).
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 10: Camp 1 - Camp 2 (5550 m.)
Camp 2, called “Nido de Condores” (meaning Condor Nest), is located in a high pass at 5550m and provides a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 11: Acclimatization day at Camp 2 (5550 m.)
This day is dedicated to improving the acclimatization to altitude. The guide may propose different activities according to the condition of the group. We take the opportunity to rest and give our body more opportunities to acclimatize.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 12: Ascent from Camp 2 to Camp 3 (5970 m.)
We start a 4 hours walk to Camp 3, located on the North Ridge. We will prepare our tents, eat and rest, to be ready to get the summit.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 13: Summit Day (5970 m.)
It is the most demanding day of the expedition. We climb the North Ridge to Independencia Refuge at approximately 6.500 m. We ascend through the “Portezuelo del Viento” , climb “La Canaleta”, and the “Filo del Guanaco”, that leads us to the summit. The prize is waiting for us, a 360° view and the experience of overcoming, that you only finally understand once you reach it. At the end of this experience, we descend to Camp 3.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 14: Reserve day in case of bad weather
We have two extra days set aside on our itinerary to attempt summit. These extra days are built in to provide the best possible conditions for each participant to summit.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 15: Return from Camp 3 to Base Camp
Return from Camp 3 to Base Camp. We’ll enjoy a great dinner to celebrate the experience.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tent
Day 16: Return from Base Camp to Penitentes and back to Mendoza
We have breakfast and then start the descent from Plaza de Mulas to Penitentes. There is a private transport waiting for us to take us to the hotel in Mendoza City.
Overnight Campsite
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Hotel
Day 17: Departure from Mendoza
After breakfast at your hotel, one of our representatives will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport for your journey home or on to your next destination.
- Meals: Breakfast
The proposed itinerary can be changed due to weather conditions or other forced situations that put in risk the group security. The guides have the authority to change the program according to their criteria. These are to maximize the security and the summit chances. And they are based on our guides knowledge and experience.
What's included
- Professional mountain guide. Experienced and qualified to operate in Aconcagua.
- Assistance with the procedures to obtain the permit to enter Park Aconcagua.
- Ground transportation in private vehicles. Transport IN Airport – Hotel in Mendoza /Transport IN-OUT Mendoza – Puente de Inca – Park Entrance
- Two (2) nights of accommodation in a hotel in Mendoza City (Sharing room, Double/Triple occupancy), Breakfast included.
- One (1) night of accommodation in Puente de Inca (Sharing room). Breakfast & dinner included.
- Transportation by freight mules of your personal equipment without limits in kg IN-OUT Puente de Inca-Base Camp
- Lodging at base camps in mountain tents or dormitory tents for 4 or 8 persons and high camps in mountain tents.
- All meals included on the mountain.
- Drinking water (hot and cold) in all our camps (base camps and high camps)
- Fully equipped dining dome at base camps. Exclusive restrooms for our clients.
- Hot shower for free at base camps.
- Facility for the storage and care of equipment.
- Full porter service to carry double tents, garbage and human waste and part of common equipment
- Communications between high camps, base camp, Puente de Inca and Mendoza.
- Medical equipment available at base camps and high camps.
- Dining domes at high camps equipped with benches and tables. Restroom tents exclusive for our clients.
Not included
- Aconcagua Park Entrance Permit. Ascent Fee. (Tax charged by Mendoza government, according to the selected route, dates and nationality. You will get a discount for hiring the assistance of authorized company).
- Mandatory MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR EXTREME SPORTS (Should cover evacuation and rescue by helicopter)
- Required personal equipment.
- Rescue costs or other costs due to the abandonment of the expedition. (Riding mule, pack mule, individual transfers, extra nights, meals, extra costs for changes in your flight ticket, personal porter service, etc.) – It is recommended to take a Travel Insurance to cover these expenses.
- Personal expenses (tips, laundry, phone, drinks, satellite phone, internet access, showers and porters)
- Extra nights in a hotel in case of early return to the city/ in case you don’t use the “spare days” and decide to descend to Mendoza.
- Transfer out Puente de Inca – Mendoza in case of early returning or abandon the expedition.
- Meals and Drinks not specified in the itinerary. E.g.: Lunches and Dinners in Mendoza. Lunch in day 2 of itinerary.
- Any other service not specifically mentioned as included in this document.
Map
Need help or have a question about this tour?
Our travel expert, who specializes in Ecuador and South America, will personally tailor a high-end itinerary for you.
This will include guided tours designed to provide a fulfilling and enriching experience.
Languages: Espanish | English | Italian | German | François
