ROOF OF THE AMERICA AND ONE OF THE SEVEN SUMMITS
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Andes and the highest in the American continent. Aconcagua is one of the «7 summits of the world» and is therefore a very desirable goal for mountaineers from all countries of the world.
The origin of the name Aconcagua derives from the Aymara, Kon-Kawa (Snowy Mountain).
The Araucanians, in Chile, gave it the same name as the river they called Aconca-Hue (in native language it means «coming from the other side»).
Other historical texts determine that Aconcagua means «Stone Sentinel» and comes from the Quechua language: Akon-Kahuak.
Mount Aconcagua is located between 69º 56′ west longitude and 32º 48′ south latitude. Aconcagua is located entirely in the territory of the province of Mendoza, Argentina, near the border with Chile. Aconcagua belongs to the Aconcagua Provincial Park, in the area called Andes Secos.
Aconcagua is a great massif that has two summits: the north and the south, the most visited is the north summit, the south summit is totally technical and dangerous.
Called the «Roof of America», this mountain is surrounded by canyons: in the north and southeast by the Quebrada Horcones Superior, to the south, the Quebrada Horcones Inferior, to the northeast the Quebrada de Vacas.
Mendoza, Argentina (Google Map)
6:00 am (pick up at your hotel)
Participants must be in excellent physical condition to join this climb. Andean Raju Expeditions recommends previous and constant preparation as a crucial factor to take on this challenge, then, the physical stress caused by the days of climbing will be minimized.
We strongly advise all participants to have an adequate training plan in gyms, outdoor sports, climbing peaks, bearing weight and long day hikes.
If you would like our advice, we can provide you a training plan after evaluation of your experience in hiking and sporting activity.
Participants should have experience in altitude the last week prior to the start the Aconcagua climbing, which ensures adequate acclimatization and conditioning of the body to the altitude.
Our expedition starts in Mendoza, Argentina. A representative of Andean Raju Expeditions will be waiting for you at the airport. We will stay at the hotel in the city. A group meeting will follow and you will be introduced to your guides and team members.
Lodging: Hotel 3.
Elevation: 760 masl / 2,493 ft
The team and the guides get to know each other. Activities such as gear check, rental equpment, permit procedures and equipment sorting and packing are carried out on this day. Reminder: you’ll need two large duffle bags and an expedition backpack.
Lodging: Hotel 3.
Elevation: 760 masl / 2,493 ft
Our expedition starts in Mendoza. Private transfer from Mendoza to our warehouse in Penitentes. You can have coffee and snacks while the guides get the mule loads ready. Another 15 minutes ride takes the team to Horcones. This is the trailhead and also where the Park rangers will check everybody’s permits. An easy hike (carrying only a daypack) leads to Confluencia, the first camp of the Horcones Valley routes.
Lodging: Dormitory Dome.
Meals: box lunch, reception, dinner
Transfer by car: 3 hours
Estimated hiking time: 3 to 4 hours.
Elevation: +2,640 m (760 masl to 3,400 masl)
We’ve included this day in order to acclimatize better, and give you more chances to summit. We’ll trek for about 5 hours until we arrive to Plaza Francia viewpoint, where we can see the impressive Aconcagua South Wall. This is one of the nicest points of the expedition.
Lodging: Dormitory Dome.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, reception and dinner
Estimated hiking time: 6 to 7 hours.
Elevation: +700 m (3,400 masl to 4,100masl)
This day we will leave the Confluencia camp at 7 am, we will hike to Plaza de Mulas for 6 to 8 hours, it will be a long and strenuous day. At the Plaza de Mulas camp we will present the permits to the Aconcagua Provincial Park control.
Lodging: Dormitory Dome.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 6 to 8 hours.
Elevation: +900 m (3,4000 masl to 4,300 masl)
This day we will rest, have lunch and we can walk around the camp. Also, you can take advantage of the rest and so you will go to the medical control that allows you to continue climbing the mountain, this medical test is mandatory for all mountaineers and authorizes you to continue on the mountain.
Lodging: Dormitory Dome.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We will continue our acclimatization process above 5,000 meters and our first objective will be Bonete Peak. It is an easy and short hike. This peak is an excellent viewpoint of the Aconcagua massif.
Lodging: Dormitory Dome.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, reception and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 5 hours up and 3 hours down.
Elevation: +750 m (4,300 masl to 5,050 masl)
The following morning we start the ascent to Aconcagua. We move to Camp 1, called “Plaza Canada”. We meet with the load that we brought the days before and we assemble the camp to stay overnight. Until now, we were working on get an optimal acclimatization. We want everyone to have the best possible chance to do summit.
Lodging: Mountain Tents.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
Elevation: +700 m (4,300 masl to 5,000 masl)
After breakfast, we will continue our ascent to Camp II, known as Nido de Condores (Condor’s Nest), this camp site provides a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains.
Lodging: Mountain Tents.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 4 – 5 hours.
Elevation: +550 m (5,00 masl to 5,550 masl)
This day is dedicated to improving the acclimatization to altitude. The guide may propose different activities according to the condition of the group. We take the opportunity to rest and give our body more opportunities to acclimatize.
Lodging: Mountain Tents.
Lodging: Mountain Tents.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner.
We will climb to our last altitude camp and from Berlin we will start the ascent to the summit. Sleeping at 5,960 meters will be important to adapt to the altitude.
Lodging: Mountain Tents.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 2 hours.
Elevation: +410 m (5,550 masl to 5,960 masl)
The most desired and demanding day of the expedition has come. We will climb the North Ridge up to the Independencia Refuge at 6,500 m. We will continue climbing through the Portezuelo del Viento, then we will take the path that climbs up La Canaleta and the Filo del Guanaco that leads us to the summit. The reward awaits us: a summit with a 360° view that dominates the entire horizon, the experience of overcoming is wonderful. We will take some time to rest, take pictures, hydrate or eat to get some energy. Finally we will descend to Colera High Camp.
Lodging: Mountain Tents.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Estimated climbing time: 8 hours up and 3 hours down.
Elevation: +962 m, -962m (5,550 masl to 6,000 masl and return)
After breakfast in the morning, we will disarm the camp, then we will begin the downhill to Plaza de Mulas.
Lodging: Dormitory Dome.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 3 hours down.
Elevation: +962 m, -962m (6,000 masl to 4,300 masl)
Last day in Aconcagua Provincial Park. A long hike will be waiting for us until we will arrive at the entrance and control point of the park, where the transport will be waiting for us to return to Penitentes. After picking up our luggage we will travel from Penitentes to Mendoza.
Meals: Breakfast and box lunch.
Estimated hiking time: 7 hours down.
Transfer by car: 3 hours
Elevation: -3,554 m (4,300 masl to 746 masl)
We have an extra day reserved in our itinerary to attempt to summit in case of bad conditions on the mountain.
