2019 Aconcagua Adventure, Argentina

Cerro Aconcagua, at 22,834 feet is the highest mountain in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres, making it also the highest mountain in the world outside of the Himalayas. Its name comes from the Inca word Ackon Cahuak which means Stone Sentinel. This spectacular mountain is in the heart of the Chilean-Argentine Central Andes. As the highest mountain in South America it is one of the famed ‘7 Summits’. It is also an excellent way to gain high altitude experience if the Himalayan giants are in your future.

Please know that this is not a guided hand-holding expedition. You are expected to help with all aspects of the trip including cooking, collecting and melting snow, putting up and taking down tents and carrying team gear. You will be an integral part of the team with input as to when to move up, when to descend and when to push for the summit.

The team will be limited to 6 people and two leaders. We will have porter support from basecamp to high camp and back down to minimize the loads we will be carrying and in turn maximize the chances of a summit. We will also have a communal meal tent at Nido de Condores.

Itinerary

• Thu 5-Dec — Arrive Santiago. Fly on to Mendoza. Met at airport by Inka Expeditions representative. Transfer to Condor Suites
• Fri 6-Dec — We will have a busy day in Mendoza. We need to get our permits, visit the mountaineering store for gas and any rental equipment, go to the grocery store, check our gear and organize duffels.
• Sat 7-Dec — Bus transport from Condor Suites in Mendoza to Hotel Ayelen in Penitentes. We can leave a bag at Condor Suites in Mendoza. We drop off our duffels at Hotel Ayelen in Penitentes for the mules to take up to basecamp and drive on to the park entrance and hike about 3-4 hours to our first camp, Confluencia.
• Sun 8-Dec — An important acclimatization day and trek to view the breathtaking South Face of Aconcagua. Return to Confluencia
• Mon 9-Dec — Confluencia to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp. This is a long day! It is 12 miles and will take about 8 hours.
• We slowly gain altitude up the Horcones Valley. At the end of the hike we walk up "Cuesta Brava" (meaning rugged slope) which is the last push to Plaza-de-Mulas.
• Tue 10-Dec — Well-deserved rest day. We can take a shower, visit the internet café and prepare for our first load carry to Camp Canada
• From this point on we may adjust the schedule depending on weather forecast, team strength and other factors
• Wed 11-Dec — Load carry to Camp Canada and return to Plaza de Mulas
• Thu 12-Dec — Move to Camp Canada
• Fri 13-Dec — Today we will take a load to Camp Nido de Condores and return to Camp Canada
• Sat 14-Dec — Move to Nido de Condores
• Sun 15-Dec — Rest Day Nido de Condores
• Mon 16-Dec — Carry to Cólera
• Tue 17-Dec — Move to Cólera
• Wed 18-Dec — Summit
• Thu 19-Dec — Summit
• Fri 20-Dec — Summit - Plaza de Mulas
• Sat 21-Dec — Return hike from Plaza de Mulas to the trail head. This is 16 miles but fortunately it is downhill and we get a beer and a shower at the end! A van will be waiting for us to drive us to Mendoza, and we’ll have a celebration dinner and a long shower!
• Sun 22-Dec — Depart Mendoza
• Mon 23-Dec — Arrive US

Elevations

Mendoza	2,449 ft
Trailhead	9,678 ft
Confluencia	11,050 ft
Plaza Francia	13,780 ft
Plaza de Mulas base camp	13,976 ft
Plaza Canada	16,175 ft
Nido de Cóndores	17,553 ft
Cólera	19,521 ft
Summit	22,837 ft

Rescue Insurance

Rescue Insurance is mandatory for all climbers. I recommend globalrescue.com

Porters

Depending on the size of the group we will hire one or two two porters to carry group gear such as tents, food and fuel. Team members are welcome to hire heir own personal porter at almost any stage of the climb.
Porters will carry a half load of 22lbs or a full load of 44lbs. You can get full service or just between specific camps. Last season’s prices were:

Horcones Valley - Normal Route (2018-2019)
Sections	20kgs	10kgs
From Base Camp to C1 (Canada)	USD145	USD105
From C1 to C2 (Nido de Cóndores)	USD255	USD150
From C2 to C3 (Cólera)	USD300	USD185
From C3 (Cólera) to Base Camp	USD300	USD185
Complete Service (BC-C1-C2-C3-BC)	USD1000	USD625

Aconcagua Climbing Permit Fee

Everyone entering the park is required to have purchased a climbing permit. The fee is per person, and the cost is non-transferable. The climbing permit is not included in the cost of the expedition.

The government releases the cost of the permit on Nov 1st each year. Last year it was $800.

Service Included in Summit Xperience Cost

• Airport transfers in Mendoza
• Transport from Mendoza to Penitentes and return. Transport from Penitentes to Park Entrance (trailhead) and return
• Three (03) nights’ accommodation in Hotel Condor Suites (Sharing room, Double/Triple occupancy), Breakfast included.
• Assistance obtaining climbing permit in Mendoza
• Mules to carry up to 22lbs from trailhead to Confluencia per climber.
• Mules to carry up to 44lbs from Penitentes to Plaza de Mulas per climber.
• Freight mules to carry up to 22lbs from Confluencia to Plaza de Mulas per climber.
• Freight mules to carry up to 66lbs from Plaza de Mulas to Penitentes per climber.
• Fully equipped dining-room and WC tents in Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas.
• Luggage storeroom at Plaza de Mulas
• Up to 02 days of accommodation and full board in Confluencia
• Up to 04 days of accommodation and full board in Plaza de Mulas.
• All meals at Canada, Nido de Cóndores and Cólera. These will be mostly Mountain House type dried meals. We can get some supplies in Mendoza but please know that when we are above Plaza de Mulas fine dining it is not!

Services not included

• Climbing Permit fee
• Rescue costs or other costs due to leaving the expedition early. (Riding mule, pack mule, individual transfers, helicopter flight for evacuation or rescue, extra nights, meals, extra costs for changes in your flight ticket, personal porter service).
• Personal expenses (tips, laundry, phone, drinks, satellite phone, internet access, showers, and personal porters to carry your personal equipment and your share of the common equipment).
• Extra nights in a hotel in case of early return to Mendoza. For example, if we don’t use the additional summit days and get back to Mendoza earlier than expected. Changing flights can be expensive so we will have some time in Mendoza to kill.
• Teams often visit local wineries.
• Transfer out Penitentes to Mendoza due to leaving the expedition early and separate to the team.
• Travel, Medical insurance and Extreme Sports insurance that covers Helicopter evacuation & rescue inside the park.
• Meals and Drinks not specified in the itinerary. E.g.: Lunches and Dinners in Mendoza.
• Any other service not exclusively specified as "SERVICES INCLUDED"

Cost Summary

We try to be transparent in the costs for this trip. Some are fixed, some are unconfirmed, and some are optional to you.

• Summit Xperience: $3,950
• Climbing Permit: $800 - $900
• Flights Approx: $1,200 depending on where you fly from
• Personal Porter: Sliding scale depending on where you want the porter and how much you want them to carry. Full service is $1,000
• Tips/Spending money: $300 - $500
• Extra night at the hotel in Mendoza SINGLE basis: $85
• Extra night at the hotel in Mendoza DOUBLE basis: $90 per room
• Extra day of full board & accommodation in Confluencia: $110 per person.
• Extra day of full board & accommodation in Plaza de Mulas: $140 per person.
• Shower at Plaza-de-Mulas: $20

Want more information? Contact us.