“The Itinerary may have changes according to the needs of the group or to optimize the experience.“.
Day 1 – Mendoza: Meeting in Mendoza city in the morning. Check In at the hotel. Presentation of guides, equipment check, advice for renting, printing of permits, packing of mule bags, others. Last shopping.
Day 2 – Mendoza – Puente del Inca (2800 masl). Transfer to the Aconcagua Provincial Park office to request and pay for climbing permits. Last minute shopping. Transfer to Puente del Inca (2800 masl). Check In at mountain hostel. Rest, short walks, hydration. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3 – Confluencia (3300 masl). Breakfast. We will start our great adventure in Aconcagua. Transfer to Horcones (2900 masl). Presentation of permits and entrance to the Aconcagua Provincial Park. First part of the trekking. We pass by the Horcones lagoon where we get the first great view of the Colossus of America, with its impressive and majestic south wall. We cross the bridge over the Horcones River and continue to Confluencia camp (3300 masl). Rest. Use of tents-domes for meals and meetings. We will use mountain tents for sleeping from now on. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4 – Confluencia (3300 masl). Breakfast. This day will be dedicated to an important hike in the area with options between the viewpoint of Plaza Francia (south wall base) or the slopes of Cerro Tolosa. Return in the afternoon, rest and hydration. We will prepare for the next day, very long, trying to go to rest early. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. We will start early with the hike that will leave us at the base camp of the normal route, Plaza de Mulas. We will cross the Horcones River and then cross a long sector that has the appearance of being very flat, called Playa Ancha. Finally comes a continuous ascent through the Cuesta Brava. In the afternoon we reach Plaza de Mulas. Rest and plenty of hydration. Medical check-up. We will be accommodated in new tents with dining tents and other tents to rest. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6 – Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. Rest day, medical check-up and general controls. Hydration and good nutrition. Short hikes through the area to get to know the camp, one of the largest in the world. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7 – Canada-Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. As acclimatization and light, we will ascend to Plaza Canada camp carrying equipment. We will return to Plaza de Mulas and continue with rest and hydration. Option rest or short hikes. New medical and personal equipment check. Talk. Dinner and overnight stay. Groups Trek Largo and ascent Bonete: Descent to Confluencia-Horcones and transfer to Mendoza city. End of the program.
Day 8 – Plaza de Mulas (4350 m.a.s.l.). Breakfast and rest day. Hydration and good nutrition. Short hikes in the area to visit the camp, one of the largest in the world. Dinner and overnight.
Day 9 – Plaza Canadá (4950 masl). Breakfast. First day we will spend the night above the base camp. We will ascend by the same route as on the day of the portage. Depending on the availability of water or snow, we will decide whether to stop at Plaza Canadá or Cambio de Pendiente, a little further up. High mountain tents. Hydration and food. Rest. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10- Nido de Cóndores (5550 masl). Breakfast. Ascent to the high altitude camp of Nido de Cóndores, one of the classics of the mountain. Here, in case of emergency and with good weather, helicopters can arrive. Rest, hydration and food. Dinner and overnight.
Day 11 – Nido de Cóndores (5570 masl). Breakfast. This day we will rest in this camp, before attacking the summit definitively. Correct hydration and medical controls. Lunch, dinner and overnight.
Day 12 – Cólera high altitude camp (6000 masl). Breakfast. Ascent to Cólera high altitude camp. We prepare for the big day with good hydration and food. Overnight early in the morning.
Day 13- Summit-Colera (6962 masl – 6000 masl). Very early in the morning, we get ready to start the day we have been waiting for for a long time. We ascend to Independencia (6300 masl), then we cross the great traverse to the cave and start the final attack through the famous Canaleta to the north and main summit of the highest mountain in America. Photos and we start the long descent to the camp of Cólera or Nido. Rest and overnight.
Day 14 – Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. Descent to Plaza de Mulas. Rest and recovery. Overnight.
Day 15 – Horcones (2900 masl) and Mendoza city. Trekking down to Horcones with mules. Transfer to the city of Mendoza to the hotel. End of the expedition and of our services.
Day 16 – Extra day in case of bad weather or end day in Mendoza.
Day 17 – Extra day in case of bad weather or ending day in Mendoza.
Feet:
– 2 Synthetic undershirts.
– 1 Synthetic sweatshirt or polo shirt.
– 1 fleece jacket or similar.
– 1 warm jacket (duvet or synthetic).
– 1 waterproof jacket.
Legs:
– 1 pair of thin, synthetic underpants.
– 1 pair of thick warm pants.
– 1 Waterproof pants.
– 1 pair of long, comfortable walking pants.
Trunk:
– 2 Synthetic undershirts.
– 1 Synthetic sweatshirt or polo shirt.
– 1 fleece jacket or similar.
– 1 warm jacket (duvet or synthetic).
– 1 waterproof jacket.
Headgear:
– Sun hat.
– Warm hat.
– Thin balaclava.
– Good sunglasses with UV filter and side and nose protectors if possible.
– A pair of ski goggles.
– A neckerchief.
Hands:
– 2 Pairs of thin inner gloves.
– 2 pairs of warm and waterproof gloves (preferably mitten type).
– Wet wipes.
Expedition material:
– Book or anything that helps to distract us in the tent.
– 1 sunscreen cream.
– Water bottle x 2Lts.
– 6 pairs of hand warmers.
– Mattress for high mountain (mattres).
– Personal hygiene items.
– Headlamp with spare batteries.
– A stainless steel thermos of half or 1 liter per person.
– Personal crockery (deep plate, pitcher, fork and spoon).
– 1 Duvet or synthetic sleeping bag for – 30º C.
Technical equipment:
– 1 Large and comfortable backpack of 80lts.
– 1 Pair of double or triple high mountain boots (for 7000 mts of altitude and temperature of – 40º).
– Semiautomatic crampons.
– 1 Pair of telescopic walking sticks.
– 1 helmet.
- – Professional mountain guides.
- – Specific advice on materials and personal equipment.
- – Transfers from Mendoza city to Vallecitos and Horcones (uphill).
- – Transfers from Horcones to Mendoza city (downhill).
- – Important discount in equipment in specialized store.
- – 2 nights in a 3 * hotel in the city of Mendoza (the night of day 1 and the night of the descent).
- – 1 night in hostel in Puente del Inca.
- – Technical safety equipment, VHF radios, first aid kit.
- – Heaters and cooking utensils.
- – Base camp service (dining tent, chairs, tables, kitchen) in Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas.
- – Sleeping tents during the whole expedition.
- – Satellite telephone.
- – Full board (all meals) during the whole expedition: breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner.
- – Carrying of general and personal equipment (with mules) to Confluencia camp.
- – General and personal equipment porter (with mules) to Plaza de Mulas camp.
- – General equipment porter from Plaza Canadá to Nido de Cóndores (camp 2).
- – General equipment porter from Nido de Condores to Berlin or Plaza Colera (camp 3).
- – Base camp services and meals at Plaza de Mulas in case we have to descend earlier than planned while waiting for the group.
- – 1 duffel bag per person to carry personal equipment.
- – Permanent assistance.
- – Entrance permit to Aconcagua Provincial Park and summit ascension.
- – Meals in the city of Mendoza.
- – Extra meals and lodging than those specified in the program.
- – Extra personal equipment porters.
- – Tips.
- – Expenses for evacuation and eventual transfer in different places of the provincial park (helicopter and mules).
- – Expenses for eventual abandonment of the program, before the official end date (mules, transportation to Mendoza, hotel).
- – Personal equipment (see list on request).
- – Transfers from the city of origin of each passenger to Mendoza city (ask for ticket issuance).
