(2,600 ft/792 m)

Our exciting Aconcagua climb begins in Mendoza, Argentina. After arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you will meet your mountain guide. He will do a gear check with you, to make sure you have the right equipment. This is very important, as Mendoza is the last place where you can buy or rent equipment that you may not have. After this we go to a typical restaurant to enjoy dinner. You get the chance to taste the delicious argentine "asado" (barbecued meat) and wonderful wines from Mendoza. There are numerous alternatives for those who do not drink wine or eat red meats. Dinner in Argentina is usually around 9:00 P.M.
(Dinner)

(8,500 ft/2,590 m)

From the city Hotel it’s about a 4-hour drive to Penitentes. On the way we stop at the government offices to obtain our climbing permits. After this, we drive a beautifu route toward the mountain, stopping in Uspallata, a beautiful Andean Valley where we have lunch at a local restaurant. After another hour of driving through high mountain roads, we arrive at Villa de Penitentes, where we get our equipment ready for transportation to the base camp by mule. We repack our bags for loading onto the mules, which carry our gear to base camp.

Climb orientation will be held at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Pentitentes.
(Breakfast & Dinner)

(9,678 ft/2,950 m)

After a night in Penitentes, we drive to the entrance of Aconcagua Park, Punta de Vacas, and start our 3-day trek to base camp. Today we trek for 7 hours up to the camp, Pampa de Leñas. Here the park rangers check our permits, and we meet up with our equipment that has been brought by mule. After refreshment, we enjoy dinner.
(All Meals)

(10, 629 ft/3,240 m)

In the early morning we pack our gear and enjoy a large breakfast.

Today we hike towards Casa de Piedras – an 8-hour day. It’s a great day, because we will be able to see our first view of the Western Face of the Aconcagua.
(All Meals)

(13,780 ft/4,200 m)

This is the last day of trekking to Plaza Argentina (base camp). We trek for 8-9 hours up the Relincho Canyon and climb the steep slope, which takes us to Inferior Plaza Argentina. This is where we will be able to see the last native vegetation before climbing towards the glaciers, where Plaza Argentina is located. Here at base camp, we meet up with our personal gear and start to acclimatize and prepare for our ascent. We spend 4 nights here acclimatizing. (All Meals)

(13,780 ft/4,200 m)

At Plaza de Argentina we rest and use the day for acclimatization. This is a good opportunity to get to know the camp, take a shower and store up your energy. We do a medical check up with the Base Camp doctor, reorganize and review the equipment, prepare the loads for the next day’s hike to Camp 1. Here you will also get to meet climbers from other parts of the world.
(All Meals)

(13,780-ft/4,200 m. to 16,404-ft/5,000-m)

The purpose of today’s hike is twofold:

1. To put some gear in place.

2. To acclimatize at 16,404-ft/5,000 m .

You will carry personal gear that weights more than the 22-lb/10-kg carried by the porters (normally your gear should not weigh more than this amount.) This is a hard day, where we will be hiking for 6 hours, ascending on rocky terrain. This is also where we start enjoying the real beauty of high altitude, as we get a spectacular view of the Relinchos Glacier.

We return to base camp for the night. This technique of “hike-high, sleep-low” is a proven technique to acquaint our bodies with higher elevation, allowing us to acclimatize better.
(All Meals)

(13,780 ft/4,200 m)

Today we dedicate to rest and acclimatization.

We recover our energy; eating a lot, and preparing physically and mentally for the continuing ascent.

The next days are all about advancing towards the summit through high camps. During dinner we discuss the next few days’ trekking strategies with our guides.
(All Meals)

(16,404 ft/5,000 m)

After breakfast we start climbing from Base Camp (Plaza Argentina) to Camp 1.

It’s a 5-6 hour hike on rocky terrain, which we had already covered on our acclimatization hike two days prior. As we are more acclimated today, the climb should be a little easier. At camp we have lots of rest and dinner.
(All Meals)

(16,404 ft/5,000 m)

We carry food and fuel to Camp 2. This helps us to continue with our gradual acclimatization. At Camp 2 we reach a level of 18,372-ft/5,600-m. This is a hard day, with about 7 hours of hiking.

We return to Camp 1 for dinner and rest. (All Meals)

(16,404 ft/5,000 m)

This is a day we mainly use to recover our energy, rest, hydrate and eat lots of good food. We must prepare ourselves mentally for the final stage.

We talk with our fellow expedition members, and discuss final plans and strategies with our guides.
(All Meals)

(17,988-ft/5,483-m)

After breakfast we climb from Camp 1 to Camp 2, which is located at the base of the Polish Glacier. The going gets a lot tougher, and it’ll take us about 5 hours of hard climbing today.

We eat dinner and rest.
(All Meals)

(19,623-ft/ 5,981-m)

Early in the morning, after breakfast we start a 5-hour climb. The climb is diagonal and towards the right. We must cross the lower flat part of the glacier, to be able to arrive at the northern edge of Aconcagua.

From here you will see unforgettable sights of the highest peaks of the Central Andes. We plan the final strategies for the ascent to the summit. We have dinner and hit the sack.
(All Meals)

This is a contingency day we reserve in case of bad weather, or in case the group is tired and needs time to gather energy.

This is a little bit of insurance to guarantee us the best chance of reaching the summit. If we don’t utilize this extra day, then we will head back to Mendoza a day early, after summit day.
(All Meals)

(22,841-ft/6,962-m)

The day begins at 5:00 am. This is the most demanding day of our expedition. We continue north and join the Normal Route at 20,340-ft/6,200-m. up to the Independencia Refuge (21,325-ft/6,500-m). This is where we see the first sunrays of the day. We ascend the Portezuelo Del Viento where even on calm days, we can encounter strong winds. From here we pass by the higher part of the Western face and climb "La Canaleta", a 1,000-ft/300-m channel that takes us to edge of the summit. For about an hour we go through the Filo Del Guanaco where we view the Southern Wall of Aconcagua directly beneath us. It is considered one of the largest walls of the world.

We then reach the summit. The sensation is indescribable as we do a 360° over the rest of the planet from the highest point of the southern hemisphere at 22,842-ft/6,962-m. We slowly descend to Camp 3.

NOTE: Due to the extreme altitude and its affect on climbers over time, we will make only one attempt from Camp 3 to reach the summit. The guides will determine the actual summit day, and will base their decision on based on the weather and the fitness of the group.
(All Meals)

(13,780 ft/4,200 m)

We return from Camp 3 to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp, on the opposite side of the mountain from Plaza Argentina.

Here we enjoy a well-deserved delicious hot dinner and celebration of our successful climb. We spend the night here.
(All Meals)

(2,600-ft/792-m)

A 9-hour, 42-km hike takes us down the “normal route” in the Horcones valley from Plaza de Mulas, past Confluencia to Puente del Inca, where private transport is waiting for us. We drive back to the city of Mendoza for a late arrival at the Hotel.
(All Meals)

(2,600 ft/792 m)

The day is free to explore Mendoza. Tonight we head out for our group celebration and and farewell dinner with our guides.
(Dinner out; Bed and breakfast at the hotel is included.)

Group transfer from the hotel in Mendoza to the airport.
(Breakfast)

Itinerary Note: If we do not use the contingency day, or if you descend early to Mendoza, you will be responsible for the extra accommodation and meal cost at either Penitentes or Mendoza. However, if you descend early and decide to remain at base camp for the duration of the group’s climb, there will be no extra costs.

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