Aconcagua Argentina 6962m

Aconcagua is one of our most rewarding and challenging expeditions.

Generally recognised as the highest trekking peak in the world and the highest mountain outside the Himalayas, this mountain just shy of 7,000m, is technically straightforward but crosses over into the realms of a high altitude mountaineering expedition by virtue of its enormous size, length of climbing days and the extremes of ice and weather conditions found on it. Climbers must be both physically and mentally prepared for an experience that can test you to the limit.

Starting from the pleasant city of Mendoza situated in the heart of Argentina's wine country, climbing Aconcagua is a mountain expedition of many contrasts. The trek in is through a wide arid valley and features a visit to the mighty South Face of the mountain. Base Camp (Plaza de Mulas) has all the facilities of home and is a great place to prepare for the hard work on the mountain above. This itinerary gives you 18 days from arriving at the base camp to make the summit and includes an ascent of the nearby Bonette peak (5,100m) to aid acclimatisation and incorporates many rest days to maximise your strength and to enhance rehydration and acclimatisation. Even though climbing Aconcagua remains a tough adventure, with the help of our experienced Aconcagua guides your chances of reaching the summit is greatly enhanced.

From our many years of guiding on the mountain we have found that providing a flexible itinerary with plenty of acclimatisation days is the only way to sustain our excellent success rate. Our itinerary may be longer then other expedition providers but experience tells that this is what is required when considering an ascent of this fantastic objective. We ensure that you are given three potential summit days when you reach camp 3 and that you arrive at this camp in the fittest condition possible. After all when counting the time away and money spent wouldn't you want the very best chance of reaching the summit?

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly UK to Buenos Aires

Day 2: Arrive Buenos Aires and fly to Mendoza

Arrive in Argentina and pick up an internal flight from Buenos Aires to Mendoza. Brief by you 360 guide over a fantastic steak and wine dinner. Meet our extremely experienced Argentinian mountain guides.

Day 3: Mendoza (2,760m)

Full day in Mendoza to sort permits and an equipment check by 360 guide. Recover from the long haul flight and enjoy the Southern Hemisphere summer in this beautiful city.

Day 4: Transfer to Penitentes and trek to Confluencia (3,400m 3 hr transfer and 3hr trek)

Confluencia will be our camp for 3 nights. It is sensationally located below an vast rock face and the camp is staffed by experienced chefs and enjoys modern camp facilities.

Day 5: Trek to the huge south face of Aconcagua

Today we trek to 4,100m to Plaza Francia or the South face look-out just below the highest vertical wall in all of the America's. At around 3,000m high this wall is a very serious climbing objective which attracts the "creme de la creme" of today's mountaineers.

Day 6: Confluencia (3,300m)

We take a rest day at Confluencia and picnic in a picturesque valley with ample bouldering opportunities.

Day 7: Confluencia to Plaza Francia (4,200m)

Long trek to Plaza de Muulas, our Base Camp for the expedition. Today we trek for 8 - 9 hrs through the enormous Horocones Valley. We catch glimpses of the south summit and the beautifully pastel coloured peaks that loom above this broad valley.

Day 8: Rest day at Plaza de Mulas

We spend time exploring the area.

Day 9: Ascent of nearby Pico Bonette (5,000m)

Today we bag the 5,000m Bonette Peak. An ascent to this altitude aids acclimatisation and affords stunning views of the entire route we have come to climb. From the summit of Bonette we get a true sense of perspective of the adventure which awaits us.

Day 10: Rest day at Plaza de Mules

We visit the nearby hotel (and bar), contact home, meet the other teams and check out the amazing paintings at the art gallery.

Day 11: Climb to Camp Canada (c1)

Today we get to grips with the mountain and spend a day doing some light portering of group equipment. (5,000m, 3 - 4 hour ascent.) We spend the night at this sensationally located camp and no doubt will be treated to breathtaking sunsets over the nearby Cuerno peak (5,500m).

Day 12: Ascent to camp 2 (Nido de Condoros 5,500m) and back to Plaza de Mulas

Another light portering day of group equipment.

Day 13: Rest day at Plaza de Mulas

Day 14: Ascent to Camp 1 (5,000m)

Today we hoist the anchor from BC and begin our ascent to the summit. Carrying all our camping kit and personal luggage we retrace our steps to Camp Canada.

Day 15: Ascent to Camp 2 (5,500m)

We are rewarded for our hard work today with stunning views of the distant Mercedario (6,700m), Plumo (6,400m) and the black mountains of nearby Chile. (4-5 hrs ascent).

Day 16: Rest day at Camp 2

Today the guides will keep you busy with water and ice-fetching duties and perhaps you can demonstrate your culinary expertise in the kitchen tent.

Day 17: Ascent to Camp 3 (5,950m)

A short but steep ascent brings us to Camp 3. This can either be Camp Berlin (5,950m) or Camp Colera (6,000m). This is the high camp from which we will make our summit bid. (3-4 hours)

Day 18: First potential summit day

Day 19: Second potential summit day

Day 20: Third potential summit day

Day 21: Descent to Base Camp

Day 22: Descent to Penitenties. Transfer to Mendoza

Day 23: Rest day in Mendoza

Day 24: Depart Angentina, fly to UK

Day 25: Arrive UK

Please note that this itinerary is not fixed. Any ascent of a mountain the size of Aconcagua is determined by the prevailing weather and mountain conditions. All days from day 12 are interchangable to allow the guides to formulate a strategy which will maximise your summit success.