ACONCAGUA EXPEDITION

Take your mountaineering to the next level with Summit Expeditions as we take you to Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak and one of the mighty Seven Summits. With Summit Expeditions you will experience individual guidance in your preparation for this challenge, as well as expert support throughout your expedition on Aconcagua.

Although not technically difficult, Aconcagua is giant at almost 7,000m and is the next step for those attempting the Seven Summits mountaineering challenge after Kilimanjaro and Mt Elbrus. Join Summit Expeditions on our next Aconcagua climb and discover why we are the top expedition company on the mountain.

UPCOMING EXPEDITIONS
28 Dec 2023 - 14 Jan 2024
Available
EXPEDITION PACKAGES
Expedition Package
Price for 1 climber (16+ years old).
$5,450
Deposit: $1,250
OFFERS & DISCOUNTS​

Discounts are available for groups of 4 or more – Contact Us for more details.

EXPEDITION Profile

Duration
18 Days
Grade
ADVANCED
EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED
Max Altitude
6,961 m
group size
4-12
Arrival
MENDOZA AIRPORT
Departure
MENDOZA AIRPORT
accomodation
TENTS
meals
all inclusive
season
Dec-feb

Overview

Aconcagua is a mountain in the Principal Cordillera of the Andes mountain range in Argentina.

It is the highest mountain in the Americas, the highest outside Asia, and the highest in the Southern Hemisphere, with a summit elevation of 6,961 metres. It is also one of the iconic mountains that form part of the esteemed mountaineering challenge “The Seven Summits”.

In this 18-day adventure to the heart of South America, we have planned the perfect balance of acclimatization and summit success. A sure recipe for adventure and success.

Itinerary

On arrival at the international airport in Mendoza, a Summit Expeditions representative will be waiting for you.

After checking into the hotel, we will have a group meeting where you will be introduced to your guides and fellow team members.

After breakfast, we have a 3-hour drive up the Villa Los Penitentes, where we stay overnight.

In the afternoon, we will prepare our equipment that will be transported to base camp by the mules. After this, we will have dinner and an early night.

Sleeping: Mountain Hotel

Max altitude: 2,700m

Today we drive to the Horcones, the entrance to the Aconcagua National Park, where we get our first view of this majestic mountain. 

After our permits are checked, we head off to Confluencia at 3,390m. Once we arrive we will organise our gear before having dinner.

Sleeping: Tents

Max altitude: 3,390m

We will trek for about 4 hours until we arrive at Plaza Francia viewpoint where we can enjoy the impressive Aconcagua South Wall.

This is one of the nicest points of the expedition and you will have a breathtaking first view of Aconcagua that you will never forget. 

We’ve included this day for you to acclimatize better and increase your chances to summit.

Accommodation: Tents

Trekking time: 5-6 hours

Max altitude: 4,000m

Today we trek to Plaza de Mulas, the base camp for our expedition. 

Early in the morning, we start our walk across “Playa Ancha” (meaning wide beach), a deserted and always windy valley. We slowly gain altitude walking up to the Horcones Superior Valley. 

After 8-9 hours hiking across Playa Ancha and climbing up through a very steep path, the “Cuesta Brava” (meaning Rugged Slope), we reach Plaza de Mulas, at 4,300 m.

Sleeping: Tents

Trekking time: 8-9 hours

Max altitude: 4,300m

The first day in Base Camp is always a rest day. This is a good opportunity to familiarize yourself with the Camp, take a shower and explore the area. 

We get together with the guides, do a medical checkup, reorganize and review the equipment, prepare the loads and organize food for transportation for the next day. 

Sleeping: Tents

Trekking time: Acclimatization day

Max altitude: 4,300m

Today we will carry some of our equipment and food to Camp 1, which is called “Plaza Canada”. 

We keep our backpacks light and carry as little as possible to be able to gradually adapt to the altitude. During the load transportation to camp 1, we reach a level of 5,050m. 

It is very important to maintain the adaptation of our body to altitude, to achieve good acclimatization. Then we return to Plaza de Mulas. 

Sleeping: Double Tents 

Trekking time: 5-6 hours

Max altitude: 5,050m

After the hard days of carrying and climbing, we rest and recover our energy at Base Camp. These rest days provide the best possible chance to acclimatize and achieve the summit. 

Sleeping: Tents

Trekking time: Acclimatization day at Base Camp

Max altitude: 4,300m.

After having breakfast, we start our ascent to Camp 1, which we reach after 5-6 hours.

We then rest and have dinner. 

Sleeping: Double Tents 

Trekking time: 5-6 hrs 

Max altitude: 5,050 m

On this day, we move from Plaza Canada to Camp 2 named “Nido de Cóndores” at 5,550m.

This is when we start enjoying the real beauty of high altitude, ascending more and more, surrounded by a spectacular view of the Andes.

Sleeping: Tents 

Trekking time: 5-6 hrs 

Max altitude: 5,550 m

This day is dedicated to improving acclimatization to altitude. 

We take the opportunity to rest and give our bodies more opportunities to acclimatize.

Accommodation: Double Tents 

Trekking time: Acclimatization day

Max altitude: 5,550m.

Early in the morning, we start ascending to Camp 3. 

Plaza Colera sits at the same altitude as the Berlin refuge, strategically situated for its altitude and cover from winds. From there, we have unforgettable views of the highest peaks of the Central Andes. 

We set up our last high-altitude camp here. We also plan the final strategies for the last day of ascension to assure success in reaching the summit. 

We have dinner and rest. 

Sleeping: Tents 

Trekking time: 5-6hrs 

Max altitude: 5,970 m.

The day begins at 5:00am. 

We continue on the Normal Route up to Independence Refuge (6,380 m). This is normally where we see the first sun rays of the day. 

We ascend the “Portezuelo del Viento” where we can experience strong winds, even on calm days. We pass by the superior part of the Western face and climb “La Canaleta”, a 300m channel that takes us to the edge of the summit. From here we go through the Filo del Guanaco, which leads us to the summit. 

There we can directly observe under our feet the Southern Wall of the Aconcagua, considered one of the largest faces in the world. 

An indescribable feeling of satisfaction takes over as we reach the summit at 6962 m, where are waiting for us a 360° view and the experience of achievement that you only finally understand once you reach it. 

After sharing these moments of accomplishment and emotion with our expedition mates we then return to camp 3.

Sleeping: Tents 

Trekking time: 15hrs 

Max altitude: 6,962 m

We have these two days in case of bad weather. If we do not use them, we can stay at Base Camp to rest and enjoy the mountain. 

Sleeping: Tents 

Trekking time: TBC

Max altitude: N/A

Return from Camp 3 to Base Camp. 

We will have a special reception and have a celebration dinner. 

Sleeping: Double Tents 

Trekking time: 3hrs 

Max altitude: 4,300m

We have breakfast and then start the descent from Plaza de Mulas to Penitentes. 

There is private transport waiting to take us to the hotel in Mendoza City.

Sleeping: Hotel in Mendoza 

Trekking time: 3hrs 

After breakfast, we end our expedition and say our farewells at Mendoza airport. . . until the next adventure.

 

What's Included

Reviews

Farah Mehdi
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Summit Expeditions is great. I climbed Kilimanjaro with them in October 2022 and they were organized and efficient in both preparing for the trip and on the trip itself. Our team leader, Sean, was knowledgeable and did a great job with keeping everyone motivated. I would definitely go on one of their trips again. Also, I strongly recommend the luxury tent option they have for Kilimanjaro - totally worth it.
Chloe Evans
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Summit Expeditions and Sean made our trip to summiting Kilimanjaro easy and enjoyable! We had the best support team on the mountain, we were safe, well cared for, well fed and in the trusting hands of knowledgeable guides and leaders. I cannot recommend summit expeditions enough for any of your mountain adventures! Thank you for a life-changing trip, full of good memories, fun and very high success rates!
Tala Shtayyeh
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I recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with Summit Expeditions. I cannot recommend Summit Expeditions enough. Their professionalism and care ensured that the whole team was able to summit safely. A special thank you to Sean, as he was super patient and motivating with me the whole way up! Thank you!!
Jess Broad
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Would highly recommend booking a mountain trip with Summit Expeditions! I went with a group of teachers to Kilimanjaro last month with this company and everything from start to finish was fantastic. We had meetings beforehand to prepare us on what to pack and the outline of the trip. Sean, Caroline and Keith all shared their experiences and offered advice before the trip. Caroline was our guide from Summit Expeditions on our trip to Kili and was beyond friendly, helpful and supportive. The team they work with in Tanzania are the best. The food is unreal too. The week ended with us all reaching the summit! Thank you for everything!
Keven C.
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Sean and the support staff were amazing. They were extremely patient and supportive and it's thanks to them that my group had a 100% success rate to summit. I highly recommend Summit Expedition who are extremely professional and who prioritize the health and safety of the entire team. We already planning our next summit with them😀
Daniel Watson
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Summit Exped went the extra mile from start to finish to ensure a safe, well prepared and amazing experience while summiting mt. Kilimanjaro. The ground team they have assembled in Tanzania is second to none. They are dedicated to the team and to the teams success while ensuring everybody is safe, warm and well fed. Highly recommended! I'll be seeking my next adventure through them for sure.
Zoe Irvine
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I climbed Kilimanjaro with Summit Ex and had the most amazing experience. Sean is proffessional and a constant support. The team where all more than fantastic, and our food/tents/planning was all completely flawless. I would highly recommend- impeccable service from start to finish.
Scott G
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I recently went to Kilimanjaro with Summit Expeditions and I couldn't recommend them highly enough. A very organised trip and even though the hike was tough, the team were very supportive throughout (seeing as this is my first mountain)
Andrea Janjua
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I highly recommend Summit Expeditions to achieve your mountaineering dreams. Sean and his team were amazing, taking care of us every step of the way with great tips, clear guidance and catering to all our needs sometimes in very tough conditions. If you are looking for a company that will give you premium support on your mountain journey, look no further, you found them. Giving a 5+ star.
Keith O'Malley-Farrell
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We had an amazingly successful trip to the top of Kilimanjaro. Right from the beginning Caroline and Sean were amazingly helpful from pre trip advice, to packing tips and kit days. Once we arrived in Kilimanjaro they filled us with so much confidence and made everything really easy. Their professionalism and strategy to get a group of 26 of us to the summit was incredible and I don't think anybody else could have done so well with the variety of fitness levels that were in our group. I can't recommend Summit Expeditions enough.
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