Andes Expeditions

Details
Itinerary

Aconcagua Normal Route

The ACONCAGUA is one of the most visited mountains in the world, it is the roof of America and the entire Western Hemisphere. The desire to crown its 6962 meters, attracts people from the most disparate corners of the planet. The climate and conditions of the high mountain make this expedition a unique adventure of its kind. Consider, when preparing your program, that you will need to develop the patience to carry 25 to 30 kg. of weight, using mountaineering boots, for 6-8 hours per day. Although it is impossible to train for altitude, you can do a conditioning program that will best prepare you for this type of physical tension. How to do this? It is impossible to be specific and say if you do this and that you will be physically ready for a demanding expedition. Each person is different and we all have different terrain and time at our disposal. However, there are some training schemes that can help.

Summary

Altitude

6952
Price

3900
Type

Expedition
Days

18
Place

Mendoza - Argentina
Season

December - January - February

Day 1

Mendoza Meeting in the city of Mendoza, bus terminal, airport or we look for your accommodation. 9 a.m. Presentation of guides and equipment check. Transfer to the office of the Aconcagua Provincial Park for the application and payment of promotion permits. Last minute purchases Previous talk Night in Hotel 3 stars to be confirmed.
Day 2

Mendoza - Penitentes (2700 masl). We will begin with our great adventure in Aconcagua. Departure 10.00am Lunch not included in Uspallata. Transfer to Penitentes (2700 masl). We settled in the refuge mountain accommodation, free afternoon, walk or rest. Armature of Bottles for mules and final equipment revision. Dinner and Night in Penitentes.
Day 3

Penitentes - Horcones - Confluence (3300 masl). We will begin with our great adventure in Aconcagua. Departure 7.00am Transfer to Horcones (2900 masl). Presentation of permits and admission to the Aconcagua Provincial Park. First section of the trekking. We go through 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). Break. We will use domes, to sleep in bunks. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4

Confluence - Plaza Francia (4200 masl). Breakfast. This day we will dedicate it to make an important walk to the viewpoint of Plaza Francia (base south wall). 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

Confluence - Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. We will start early with the walk that will leave us at the base camp of the normal route, Plaza de Mulas. We will cross the Horcones river and then we will cross a long sector that has the appearance of being very flat, called Playa Ancha. Finally there is a continuous ascent of the Cuesta Brava. In the afternoon we reach Plaza de Mulas. Rest and a lot of hydration. Medical check. We will settle in 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 walks in the area to get to know the camp, one of the largest in the world. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7

Plaza de Mulas - Cerro Bonete (5100 masl) -Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. This day we propose an ascent to one of the mountains that make up the amphitheater of the Horcones Superior Glacier, the Bonete, of more than 5100 meters above sea level. It also works, this day, as a rest to continue with the final acclimatization, medical check-up and general controls. Hydration and good nutrition. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6

Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. Rest day, medical check-up and general controls. Hydration and good nutrition. Short walks in the area to get to know the camp, one of the largest in the world. Dinner and overnight.
Day 9

Plaza de Mulas - Canada (5050 masl) - Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. In acclimatization mode and light, we will ascend to the Plaza Canada camp carrying equipment. We will return to Plaza de Mulas and continue with rest and hydration. Rest option or short walks. New medical check and personal equipment. Chat. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6

Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. Rest day, medical check-up and general controls. Hydration and good nutrition. Short walks in the area to get to know the camp, one of the largest in the world. Dinner and overnight.
Day 11

Plaza de Mulas - Canada (5050 masl). Breakfast. First day in which we slept above the base camp. We will ascend by the same road as the portage day. High mountain tents. Hydration and feeding. Break. Dinner and overnight.
Day 12

Canada - Nido de Cóndores (5570 masl). Breakfast. Ascent to the altitude camp of Nido de Cóndores, one of the hill's classics. Up to here, in case of emergency and with good weather, helicopters can arrive. Rest, hydration and feeding. Dinner and overnight.
Day 13

Nest of Condors - Cholera (6000 masl). Breakfast. In acclimation mode and light, we will ascend to the Cholera camp carrying equipment to more than 6000 meters. We return to Nido to sleep and rest. We prepare for the big day with good hydration and nutrition. Overnight very early.
Day 14

Cholera - Summit - Cholera (6962 msnm - 6000 msnm). Very early, we are ready to start the day we have been waiting for a long time. We ascend to Independencia (6300 masl), then cross the great journey to the cave and begin the final climb up the famous Canaleta to the northern and main peak of the highest mountain in America. Photos and after the joy we started the long descent. Rest and overnight.
Day 15

Extra day
Day 15

Extra day
Day 17

Cholera - Plaza de Mulas (4350 masl). Breakfast. Descent to Plaza de Mulas. Rest and recovery. Overnight
Day 18

Plaza de Mulas - Horcones (2900 masl) and city of Mendoza. Trekking descent to Horcones with

Included

Guides: the guide (s) is included in the services, who will be the ones in charge of carrying out the activities.
Meals: the service package includes all meals or lunch, from the start of the expedition, as appropriate.
Insurance: the company has insurance policies for civil liability and personal accidents.
Accommodation: two nights accommodation in mendoza and one night accommodation in penitentes. lodging in mountain tent, in the approach and base camps, as well as in height.
Transfers: within the amount of the expedition are included transfers from mendoza at the entrance to the aconcagua provincial park and from there to mendoza, at the end of the expedition. it also includes the transfer of personal equipment in mules between the approach and base camps, up to a total of 20kg per passenger.

Not included

Permit of entry: to enter aconcagua provincial park, it is necessary to obtain an entry permit. the cost of this is not included in the value of the expedition. the company can help you in the management of this.
Expenses arising from abandonment: the itinerary is quoted with group services. when the passenger leaves the itinerary for any reason (personal, illness, etc.), he begins to take services privately and individually. these services will have an extra cost that must be paid by the passenger for not being included in the price of the program or activity.
Carriers: the transfer of personal equipment between high camps is not included in the service package. the company can help you in the management of the hiring of porters so that they can move the personal equipment from the "plaza de mulas" camp to the high altitude camps and vice versa.
Personal equipment: it is your responsibility to have the appropriate clothing, footwear and equipment (backpack, sleeping bag, etc.) to carry out the activity. these are not considered as included services. as a guide, a list of the necessary equipment for the activity is given.

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