
Aconcagua (Plaza Da Mulas)
Summiting Aconcagua – the highest mountain in South America and the highest mountain in the world outside Asia – is “Bucket List” territory.
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Price$4,295
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Duration20 Days Door to Door
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Activity Level Challenging
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Elevation6962m | 22 841 ft.
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Travel Dates Dates will be provided on request
Overview:
At 6962m, Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America and the highest mountain in the world outside of Asia. Summiting Aconcagua is “Bucket List” territory, and one of the many reasons why we focus on careful acclimatization en route to give you every chance of success!
This is the simplest route to the summit. No technical equipment (other than ski poles and crampons) is needed. This is the most popular route as it requires no previous climbing experience on rocks or ice, and is not technically difficult. That being said, the conditions on the route do vary and fixed ropes might be required from time to time.
Skill Level
While this is not a technical climb, the combination of intense altitude, unpredictable weather and 12 – 14 hours of trekking on summit day moves this expedition into its “challenging” ranking. It is for this reason that we build additional days into our itinerary to allow for a slower ascent, careful acclimatization and more opportunities to summit in case the weather does not play fair.
- Professional local guides and a western leader/facilitator
- Transportation to and from the airport
- Assistance with obtaining Provincial Park entrance permits in Mendoza
- Transportation in a private vehicle to and from the base of the mountain
- Two nights’ hotel accommodation in Mendoza on a bed-and-breakfast basis (twin beds sharing)
- Accommodation in a hotel in Penitentes
- High quality tents and sleeping mats in Base Camp and on other parts of the mountain
- All meals in Penitentes and on the mountain
- Welcome dinner in Mendoza
- Mules to carry 30kg of your personal gear into and out of Base Camp
- Dome dining tent in Base Camp
- Toilet facilities in Base Camp (showers are available at a small fee)
- Supervision of gear left in Base Camp while you are higher on the mountain
- Internet access in Base Camp (at a small fee), a satellite phone for emergency calls and VHF radios for higher up on the mountain
- Celebration Dinner back in Mendoza
- International airfare and departure taxes
- Visa costs
- Items of a personal nature – personal gear, telephone calls, laundry etc.
- Staff/ guide gratuities
- Lunches in Mendoza and Uspallata
- Alcohol, soft drinks and mineral water
- Personal medical expenses, medical and evacuation insurance
- Any costs arising from flight cancellation/delays, political disturbance or natural disaster
- Personal porters. (Please contact the office for prices.)
- Provincial Park fee. This fee changes each year, but will be +/- US$ 1000
- Personal medical expenses, medical and evacuation insurance
- Any costs arising from flight cancellation/ delays, political disturbance or natural disasters.
- Introduction Overview
- Day 1 Mendoza (760 metres)
- Day 2 Penitentes (2700 metres)
- Day 3 Pampa de Lenas (2950 metres)
- Day 4 Casa de Piedra (3240 metres)
- Day 5 Plaza Argentina (4200 metres)
- Day 6 Plaza Argentina (4200 metres)
- Day 7 Carry to Camp 1 (5000 metres)
- Day 8 Camp 1 (5000 metres)
- Day 9 Carry to Camp 2 (5500 metres)
- Day 10 Camp 1 (5000 metres)
- Day 11 Camp 2 (5500 metres)
- Day 12 Carry to Colera/ Camp 3 (6000 metres)
- Day 13 Camp Colera/ Camp 3 (6000 metres)
- Day 14 Summit Day (6962 metres)
- Day 15 & 16 Spare days
- Day 17 Plaza de Mulas (4250 metres)
- Day 18 Penitents
- Day 19 Mendoza
- Day 20 International Departures


CLIMBING EQUIPMENT:
Ice axe with leash
Crampons
Anti-balling plates
Crampon rubber protectors
Walking sticks
FOOTWEAR:
Double plastic boots/ Double-layered mountaineering boots
Trekking boots
Running shoes
Gaiters
Spare boot laces for trekking boots (optional)
Expedition socks x3
Trekking socks x3
Liner socks x4
Toe warmers (optional)
Booties (optional)
TECHNICAL CLOTHING:
Down jacket
Gortex longs
Gortex shell
Salopets
Trekking pants x2
Thermal underwear – tops & bottoms x2
Normal underwear
Long-sleeved trekking shirts x2
Short-sleeved technical shirts x2
Soft shell jacket
Hard shell jacket
Polartec longs x2
Polartec long-sleeved tops x2
HANDWEAR:
Mitts x1
Polartec gloves x2
Silk glove liners x2
Hand warmers (optional)
HEADWEAR:
Balaclava
Neoprene facemask – optional
Woollen hat / beanie
Woollen scarf / Buff
Head torch – plus spare batteries
Sun hat
Cap
Goggles – 100% UV & IR
Sun glasses – with side covers
Nose guard (optional)
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT:
Expedition backpack – 80 litre
Trekking backpack – 50 litre
Sleeping bag – minus 25˚C
Sleeping bag liner x1
Compression bags
Self-inflatable mattress
Closed cell foam pad
Pillow / cushion
Toiletries
Towel
Thermos flask x2
Thermos mug
Knife, fork, spoon
Nalgene bowl
Leatherman multi-tool
Pocket knife
Water-bottles with insulation x2
Large karrimor plastic bags x2
Medium karrimor plastic bags x4
Pee bottle / funnel
Duct tape
Baby wipes
Zip-lock bags x10
Sunscreen – maximum SPF
Protective cream for lips – maximum SPF
Whistle
Ear plugs
Hand sanitizer
Visas
Please check with our office or your local tourism authority for the latest information.
Vaccinations
There are currently no vaccinations required for entry into Argentina, however an International Certificate of Vaccination is required for Yellow Fever if arriving from an infected area.
This training information is intended as a guideline and should be used as such. If you are unsure about anything, please chat to us!
Most importantly, before you embark on any exercise program, please consult your doctor or exercise physiologist to make sure that you are ready for the increased workload.
A focused training program should begin 3 – 4 months before the expedition, but working on your base fitness before that is important as it lays a good foundation for the harder work that will follow.
Physical Conditioning
Climbing big mountains requires cardiovascular endurance (via aerobic training), strength endurance (through strength conditioning) and climbing-specific training (i.e. hiking with a pack).
Being in strong physical shape is one of the most important aspects for a successful climb of Aconcagua. You should be planning to progressively increase your aerobic training and speed of weekly training hikes to give you climbing-specific conditioning that cannot be matched by any other sort of training.
Cardiovascular Conditioning
Suggested activities include running, cycling, mountain biking, swimming, walking on an inclined treadmill, doing stair stepping or stepmill training, trail running, walking up and down hills, or participating in step aerobic classes.
When first beginning a cardiovascular training program, begin with three workouts (i.e. Monday, Wednesday and Friday) of 30 minutes of sustained activity at a moderate intensity, and build up to 4-5 aerobic sessions of sustained effort for at least 45 – 60 minutes (taking Wednesday and Sunday as rest days, for example).
Be sure to include a 5-10 minute gentle warm-up before working at your target heart rate for the day. For most workouts, choose a level of exertion that allows you to connect a few words together in a phrase, but leaves you feeling comfortably tired at the end of the workout.
Remember to cool down with 5-10 minutes of appropriate stretching of the muscles you used most in your activity, including lower back, calves, hamstrings, hips and quadriceps.
Strength Conditioning
Training with weights, backpacks and gym machines will help you build overall strength, particularly in the lower back, abdominals, upper back, shoulders and legs. Developing strength in your upper back and shoulders will help with carrying a pack and using trekking poles.
The calves, hips, quads, hamstrings and glutes are all involved in ascending and descending steep sections and scree slopes, which will be encountered on Aconcagua.
Before embarking on any weight training, please consult with a qualified gym instructor so that you are well briefed in terms of using the equipment. Most important in strength training is to be sure that you maintain proper form at all times in order to prevent injury or strain.
Climbing Conditioning
This involves hiking steep outdoor trails, going up and down stairs or training on an inclined treadmill. In the months leading up to the expedition, it is important to do some long walks in the mountains.
Remember that our summit day is likely to be 15 – 18 hours long, involving steep inclines and descents. On our summit push, we will ascend about 1000 vertical metres and descend about 1000 vertical metres the same day.
Remember: All of your training is geared towards giving you the strength and endurance to stand on the roof of the South American Continent and successfully get down again.
Aconcagua is in the southern hemisphere, which means that the climbing season is from December through March. Keep in mind that the weather is extremely cold and windy all year round – even during the climbing season!
Aconcagua is undoubtedly the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life. If it wasn’t for Adventures Global and Ronnie’s experience, guidance and encouragement, I am not sure I would have made it. I have done many trips with Adventures Global and I am not done yet.
Climbing Aconcagua was a profound and life changing experience for me. It was extremely tough, but it has revealed to me that I can go on and do bigger things. Thank you Adventures Global for a truly remarkable experience.
It took me three attempts to finally summit Aconcagua. I had been to the summit of Everest, but the Stone Sentinel tripped me up on two previous occasions before I finally stood on her summit. The climb required grit and determination, but that is what big mountains are all about and Aconcagua is a big mountain. I have been on many other expeditions with Adventures Global. Ronnie is truly passionate about what he does and his logistics and leadership comes straight out of the top drawer.