Day 1: Arrival in Mendoza (2.493ft / 760m)
Andescross will pick you up at the airport and bring you, via private transport, to your hotel. At the hotel, you will gather with the guides and the rest of the group to go over the expedition plan. In the evening, at a restaurant that offers typical Argentinean food, we will enjoy a Welcome Dinner.
Day 2: Mendoza / Vallecitos Refuge (9186ft / 2800m)
The guide will check the equipment. We will go to the rental if necessary and assist you in getting the permit to enter to Aconcagua Provincial Park. In the afternoon the transfer will take us to the refuge in Vallecitos area.
Day 3: Refuge Vallecitos/ Camp 1 (12467ft / 3800m)
We will climb up to Camp 1 which is called ¨Piedra Grande¨ (Big Stone). There, we will set up the camp getting familiar with the tents and mountain life.
Day 4: Camp 1 / Mt. Adolfo Calle – Mt. Stepanek.
We will climb two 14107ft / 4300 meters peaks this day. This will contribute to our acclimatization process.
Day 5: Camp1 / Mt. Franke.
We will climb Cerro Franke (16404ft / 5000m). We will return to sleep at 3800 m before moving camp to a higher elevation (camp El Salto). From this mountain, we’ll have a great view of the Plata Ridge.
Day 6: Camp 1 / Camp El Salto. (13779ft / 4200m)
We will ascend to camp El Salto where the base of the cirque of Vallecitos (5500m) is. This cirque is formed by several mountains such as Rincón (5200m), Adolfo Calle (4500m), Lomas Amarillas (5100m), etc. The place to camp is a flat terrace from where we can admire the wide Mendoza River valley and we see Mendoza lights in the night.
Day 7: Camp El Salto / Rest.
We will go for an easy walk for a couple of hours to continue acclimatizing but short enough to avoid getting tired. We will go to sleep early that night to rest well for the next day.
Day 8: Camp El Salto / Summit Mt. Vallecitos (18044ft / 5500m)/ Camp El Salto.
We will get up early in the morning; walk five hours to get to the ridge Plata -Vallecitos from where we will be able to see the immensity of Aconcagua in the distance and the spectacular mountain range at our feet. From there we have two more hours to the summit. We descend the same way we go up.
Day 9: Camp El Salto / Puente del Inca. (9186ft / 2800m)
An enjoyable 3 hour walk will bring us back to the refuge where we will have lunch. Later, the minibus will drive us to Puente del Inca. We spend the night at the hotel, time to relax and take a nice hot shower.
Day 10: Puente del Inca/Confluencia (10.826ft / 3300m)
On route to the Park entrance, we will have a brief view of Puente del Inca, a natural bridge formed by sulfur thermal waters. We will enter the Park via the Quebrada de Horcones, and from here, we will get a spectacular view of the South Face of Aconcagua. After approximately three hours of hiking, we will arrive at Confluencia and be rewarded with well-earned snacks and appetizers.
Day 11: Confluencia/Plaza de Mulas (14.337ft / 4370m)
A beautiful 12,5 mi /20 km valley separates Confluencia camp and our Base Camp: Plaza de Mulas. In a long and demanding day, we will traverse Aconcagua’s west side. Crossing rivers will be part of our path across Playa Ancha (Wide Beach), an extensive flat and sandy glacial valley which permits us to slowly gain altitude.
After crossing Playa Ancha, the terrain becomes markedly steeper, allowing us to quickly gain altitude until we arrive at “Colombia Refuge”, destroyed years ago by a winter storm.
A short break will allow us to recuperate enough energy for the final challenge of the day: the steep “Cuesta Brava”. Once this final section is complete, we will arrive at Base Camp Plaza de Mulas, where our Refuge is located.
This day takes approximately 8 hours.
Day 12: Plaza de Mulas, rest day
This is a resting day in Plaza de Mulas. This day is just to relax and get our things ready for the final climb.
Day 13: Plaza de Mulas/Camp 1 “Canada” (16.568ft / 5050m)
The ascent to Camp 1 Canada takes about 4 hours. The path zigzags over the northern part of the West Face and provides us with an incredible view of the entire valley and of the surrounding mountains.
With the help of porters, we will set up our camp and later we’ll rest, hydrate ourselves and enjoy a magnificent sunset while we eat our dinner.
Day 14: Camp 1 Canada/Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores (18.241ft / 5560m)
We will ascend to Camp 2 “Nido de Cóndores” (Condors Nest) in approximately 5 hours. The panorama is increasingly more intense as we progress and, at this altitude, you can see the Andean Cordillera from North to South.
We again will have the help of our porters to transport our equipment and to set up camp.
Day 15: Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores (18.241ft / 5560m)
It is important to continue with our acclimatization and gradual ascent. For this reason, we will concentrate on recuperating our energy for the last part of the expedition. This day will be spent taking a short walk to the summit of Mt. Manso 17.700 ft / 5400 m and to some other view points around Camp Nido de Cóndores.
Day 16: Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores/Camp 3 Berlin (19.356ft / 5900m)
We will break down camp and head out towards Camp 3 “Berlin”, a trek that will take approximately 4 hours. During this section of the journey, we will see how the smaller 5000 m adjoining mountains appear to have become smaller and smaller.
Day 17: Camp 3 / Summit (22.841ft / 6962m)/ Camp 3.
Before sunrise, we will begin our ascent of the Northwest Face.
The first rays of sun will hit us just as we are arriving at Independence Refuge (20.669ft / 6300m). We will continue towards Portezuelo del viento (Col of the Wind) where we can see the route we will travel to the summit.
“La Travesia” The traverse that crosses the “Grand Acarreo” will bring us to the base of the famous “Canaleta”, a steep and precise section. Reaching the Ridge of the Guanaco, the ridge that unites the South summit with the North summit, we will walk very close to the edge, with a view of the South Face.
The landscape and the summit so close will inspire us to dig deep for the last steps. At 22.841ft / 6962m, we will be on the highest point of the American Continent, with an awe inspiring view of the Andean Cordillera.
Generally on summit day, from Camp 3 Berlin to summit and back to Camp 3 Berlin takes between 10 and 14 hours.
Day 18 and 19: Extra Days.
In case of any circumstances or bad weather that alter the normal schedule of the program.
Day 20: Camp Berlin / Plaza de Mulas.
The descent from Camp Berlin to Plaza de Mulas takes about 3 hours. We will retrace the same route we used while ascending.
We will finish off the day with a celebratory dinner and toasts with our expedition group members
Day 21: Plaza de Mulas / Puente del Inca / Mendoza.
After breakfast, we will organize the loads that will be transported by mules. This will allow us to travel lightly, with only a small backpack with water, food and extra warm layer. We will descend via the Quebrada de Horcones.
Our transportation will be waiting for us at the Park entrance, ready to bring us back to the hotel in Mendoza.
At day’s end, we will have our final feast together and commemorate the experience with a certificate of achievement.
Day 22: Flight back home.
Your andescross guide will bring you by private transportation to the airport in Mendoza
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