Contact us   |  Why choose usWho we are?
Take our expeditions!ClimbingTrekkingLogistic & Services

Private Expedition to MOUNT ACONCAGUA - 22834 fasl / 6962 masl
NORMAL ROUTE (North – West Side)

In order to reach the highest peak in the Americas, our professional mountain team has developed a complete program to offer you security on the mountain with the best acclimatization.
You have the opportunity to participate in our expeditions and enjoy this wonderful experience.

Mount Aconcagua

Why a Private Expedition?

The main characteristics of this type of expedition is that you choose the date of departure and you share it only with your fellow climbers. Most of the services are included and you have your own guide, which is very important as he will provide you with vital information, security and ensure a harmonized rhythm in your climb.

Difficulties
Technical difficulty: The Northeast or Normal route climbing the Aconcagua mountain does not present any technical difficulty; this means that the participant does not require a previous climbing experience on rocks or ice. This route may be hiked, just by walking. You may have to use crampons and fixed ropes for your security, depending on the conditions of the route. The guides are going to be the ones that take decisions in situations like this one.
Physical difficulty: In order to avoid any kind of inconveniences in the process of acclimatization and to succeed in getting the summit, we suggest you follow a program of training that is adapted to the activity that you are going to make. As well as a balanced diet some months before joining the expedition.
Other types of difficulties: The biggest problem that you can face on your expedition are the effects of the altitude on your body. These can be overcome with a previous and correct acclimatization, which is a factor on any of our programs. Another difficulty are the low temperatures on the mountain, the effects of which are reduced with a high-quality clothing and equipment.

Aconcagua - Normal Route

Important
Go to Aconcagua is one of the most wonderful experiences a person can live. There, one can know oneself deeply, and also may know deeply those around you.
A general but essential advice for those who want to climb this mountain: to be aware that what matters is not the summit, but to walk towards it step by step, without being exposed to danger because to preserve our heart healthy is what makes sense to the adventure.
And if we get to the summit it is really amazing. Then, for it to be worthy, the important thing is to start again, step by step, from hill to hill, from year to year, because the mountains, like life, are infinite and generous and they deserve to be shared among friends.

The Best of the Expedition
- A program that gives you the opportunities to succeed.
- The Aconcagua Mountain is the highest mountain in America and is part of The 7 Summits Circuit. This consists of climbing the highest mountains of each continent.
- An excellent opportunity to test yourself at an altitude of up to 23,000 feet / 7000 meters, which is a great stepping stone for climbing the Himalaya mountains of 26,000 feet / 8200 meters.
- Share with people around the world,that like you, are looking for a challenge inside full communion with the mountain.

Itinerary

(Height in feets - meters as sea level)
B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / PL: Packed Lunch / D: Dinner included.

Day 1: Mendoza (2508 f – 760 m)
Drive airport or bus station / Hotel in Mendoza. Lodging. In the evening there will be an instructive talk about the Aconcagua Mountain and the guides will check your equipment. Time to rent or buy some equipment if you need.
Day 2: Mendoza / Puente del Inca (8992 f – 2725 m)
Obtaining of permits. Transfer to Puente Del Inca. Lodging in hostel. Preparation of the loads for the mules. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Puente del Inca / Confluencia (10890 f – 3300 m)
Drive to the entrance of the Park. Trek to Confluencia Camp. (B, PL, D)
Day 4: Confluencia / Plaza Francia (13200 f – 4000 m) / Confluencia
Trek to Plaza Francia, base of the south face of the Aconcagua, lunch and return to Confluencia. (B, PL, D)
Day 5: Confluencia / Plaza de Mulas (14058 f – 4260 m)
Trek to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp. Lodging in the base camp. (B, PL, D)
Day 6: Plaza de Mulas (14058 f – 4260 m)
Resting day. Short trek to the glacier Horcones. Practice with crampons. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Plaza de Mulas / Camp 1 Canadá (16203 f – 4910 m) / Plaza de Mulas
Trek to Camp 1 Canadα and return to Base Camp. (B, PL, D)
Day 8: Plaza de Mulas / Mt. Bonete Summit (16732 f – 5100 m) / Plaza de Mulas
Acclimatization trekking to Mt. Bonete Summit and return to Plaza de Mulas. This trekking will take about 6 hours and you will reach 16732 f – 5100 m of altitude. This activity will definitely turns on all acclimatization mechanisms in the body. (B, PL, D)
Day 9: Plaza de Mulas (14058 f – 4260 m)
Resting and acclimatization day. (B, L, D)
Day 10: Plaza de Mulas / Camp 1 Canadá (16203 f – 4910 m)
Climb to Camp 1 Canadá. (B, PL, D)
Day 11: Camp 1 Canadá / Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores (17325 f – 5250 m)
Climb to Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores. (B, PL, D)
Day 12: Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores (17325 f – 5250 m)
Resting day. (B, L, D)
Day 13: Extra day for bad weather conditions (B, L, D)
Day 14: Extra day for bad weather conditions (B, L, D)
Day 15: Camp 2 Nido de Cóndores / Camp 3 Berlín - Cólera (19470 f–5900 m)
Climb to Camp 3 Berlín - Cólera. (B, PL, D)
Day 16: Extra day for bad weather conditions (B, L, D)
Day 17: Camp 3 Berlín - Cólera / SUMMIT (22834 f – 6962 m) / Camp 3
Climb from Camp 3 Berlín - Cólera to the SUMMIT and return to Camp 3. (B, PL, D)
Day 18: Camp 3 Berlín - Cólera / Plaza de Mulas base camp
Descent to Plaza de Mulas base camp. (B, PL, D)
Day 19: Plaza de Mulas base camp / Puente del Inca / Mendoza
Descent to Puente del Inca. Drive to Mendoza. Lodging in the hotel. (B, PL)
Day 20: Transfer to the airport
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. (B)

Note
The above itinerary is intended as a guideline only. Although every effort will be made to adhere to it, changes may be caused due to weather conditions, transport failure or other unforeseen events. Please be flexible if necessary.



INCLUDED SERVICES

grafico Transfer airport or bus station / hotel / airport or bus station
One of us will be waiting for you at the airport or bus station to drive you to the hotel, allowing you the possibility to enjoy your trip fully. And after the expedition, we will take you back to the airport or bus station.

Mendoza Airport

grafico Hotel in Mendoza
We have chosen a four star hotel for you to stay in, during two nights, both when arriving to Mendoza and when returning from the mountain. The rooms are double and the breakfast and taxes are included in the price.
If you prefer a single room, please do not forget to let us know.

Hotel in Mendoza

grafico Assistance to buy the climbing permits
Mount Aconcagua is located in a provincial Park, managed by the Provincial Government of Mendoza.
To get into the Park you should get a permit, in accordance to the activity that you are going to participate in (climbing, long trek, short trek). This working paper must be done personally, as a government rule. That is why each passenger should go to the Park’s office with their own passport.

Buying permit entrance

grafico Luggage care
If you wish to leave certain personal belongings that you will not need during the days of the expedition, you can do so at our office in Mendoza City, our Hostel in Puente Del Inca, or our own camp in Plaza de Mulas. We guarantee maximum security.

Acomara luggage care

grafico Transfer Mendoza / Puente del Inca/ Mendoza
We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Puente Del Inca in our own vehicles. We will drive over 180 kilometers, which separate Mendoza City from Puente Del Inca. The scenery on the journey is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the central Andes.

Transfer Mendoza-Puente del Inca

grafico Meals
On the expedition you will enjoy all the meals (B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / PL: Packed Lunch if we are on the move / D: Dinner) that are carefully planned by professionals to have a balanced diet during those days on the mountain.
Our cooks always prepare every meal, with fixed menu from day nº 3, except at the high altitude camps where our guides will be in charge of the cooking.
If you are vegetarian, let us know.

Food tent

grafico Farewell dinner
At the end of the expedition, the whole group will share a dinner in one of the best restaurants in Mendoza in order to celebrate the new friendships.

Farewell dinner

grafico Lodging in Puente del Inca
During the Inca Empire this spot was a strategic point for the crossing of the Andes mountain.
Over the last years it has become the point of departure of every expedition, whose aim is to get the summit of Aconcagua. The Hostel of Puente Del Inca was built here and it is the only lodging in this strategic zone, five kilometers far from the Aconcagua Park trailhead.
You will spend one night in this beautiful place at the beginning of your expedition in double rooms with a private toilet.
Complete breakfasts and dinners in the restaurant of the hostel are also included.

Puente del Inca hostel

grafico Assistance for the arrangements of loads to be transported by mules
Our mountain guides will advise you on when you have to decide what to include in your luggage and the way that we are going to arrange it on the mules.

Arragements mules aconcagua

grafico Load mules
These strong animals were the ones that helped the armies that fought for the freedom of South America, to transport their belongings over the mountains.
Mules move over mountain with great caution, having the possibility to carry big loads. The negative aspect of these animals is their untamed character. That is why we have selected a professional team of muleteers, called arrieros, who have dedicated their lives to the country animals. They know how to deal with these animals, because of their experience.
From Puente Del Inca to Confluencia, from this camp to Plaza de Mulas, and in the return your belongings will be carried by mules. Each mule can carry up to a limit of 60 kg, and every client may transport on the mules a maximum of 30 kg on each stage of the approach. We strongly recommend you to bring a strong duffel bag.

Mules

grafico Transfer to the Aconcagua trailhead
You will be driven by a pick-up over 5 kilometers, from our hostel in Puente Del Inca to the first Rangers Station. Here your permit is checked out and you are informed about the park rules.

Transfer Aconcagua trailhead

grafico Confluencia Base Camp
While you are gaining height, your body needs some time to start with the process of acclimatization. Therefore, it is extremely important to stop for two nights at an intermediate level, to help your body to start with this process. During that time, you will camp in the Confluencia camp, which has the enough comfort to spend a good deal of time, being fully equipped with wide dinner tents, electrical light, tables and chairs to have meals.

Confluencia Base camp

grafico Trekking to Plaza Francia
On the 4th day of the expedition, you will visit the base of the mythical South Face of the Aconcagua mountain. This is the most vertical face of the mountain, with glaciers and walls almost 10500 fasl / 3000 masl tall.
During that trekking, you will gain 700 meter that will give your body a sign that the acclimatization process is starting.

Plaza Francia

grafico Plaza de Mulas Base Camp
Once you have arrived at Plaza de Mulas, you will spend the night in our own campsite, fully prepared to make your trip around the magnificent South American mountain, as comfortable as possible. With tents for eating, another for the kitchen, a third tent for equipment storage, and toilets. Here excellent workers, who will prepare delicious meals and provide an excellent service, will attend you.
The advantages of our campsite are not only its commodities, but also the direct contact with nature. This will allow you to start preparing your body for the challenging ascent.

Plaza de Mulas Base-Camp

grafico Trekking to the Horcones Glacier
Acclimatization is a dynamic process in which your body needs a minimal activity to increase the response to the altitude.
We think that during the resting day in the base camp, a short trek in the area of Plaza de Mulas is useful and interesting. You will have an introduction class about the use of crampons and some advice to help you on your way to the top of the mountain.

grafico Trekking to Mt. Bonete΄s Summit (16732 fasl – 5100 masl)
To improve the acclimatization process in our body, we include in the itinerary a trekking to the summit of Cerro Bonete. To reach this altitude before starting the way to the Aconcagua summit, definitely increase the chances of success.

Trekking to Horcones glacier

grafico Porters for common gear to altitude camps
All groupal gear and common equipment (tents, kitchen sets, altitude food, fuel, stoves, ropes and the garbage produced for the group) will be carry to altitude camps (Plaza de Mulas / Plaza Canada / Nido de Cóndores / Berlín-Cólera and return to Plaza de Mulas) for por our porters team. On the Aconcagua mountain, the porters have gradually become an important part. Their main characteristic is that they are very strong people, they have been on the summit many times and this gives them a better athletic condition than the athletes themselves. In Aconcagua Expeditions, we believe that their job, which is carrying the ordinary equipment of expedition, helps our participants to move in a comfortable way and saving energy to achieve their goal, which is the getting to the summit. Therefore, these people are going with you, to help you.
You can hire porter services to altitude camp for your personal equipment (backpack, sleeping bug), please let us know.

Acomara porters

grafico The Guides (See more information about them)
Our mountain guides are qualified professionals of the AAGM (Argentinean Association of Mountain Guides) and the EPGAMT (Provincial School of High Mountain and Trekking Guides). The last qualification takes 2 years long. We believe that to succeed in our expeditions, professionals with experience and the ability to offer security should guide our teams.
The expeditions is leadered by a mountain guide and an assistant for every 3 or 4 clients. Their equipment includes: VHF radio, a first-aid kit, complete with the appropriate drugs for altitude sickness, ropes, an altimeter, a digital oxygen-meter, and professional clothing and equipment. All these will provide security and comfort.

Acomara mountain guide

grafico Extra days
Our expeditions include two extra days in case of contingencies that may prevent the normal development of the itinerary.
Aconcagua Expeditions takes the responsibility to develop the program as it has been described. However, sometimes the conditions are out of our control, and our guides reserve the right to modify the schedule in response to the circumstances and safety of the group. If this situation arises, the client will not receive any sort of severance pay.

Nido de Cóndores

grafico Tents
Normally, during the summer high-season, Aconcagua is a mountain with good weather conditions. Yet if you happen to have a few days of storms, you will be responsive to nature's whims at high altitudes. Therefore, we will be sure to provide you with the highest quality tents at these high altitude campsites. We have used The North Face and Mountain Hardware, which have proved to work well for our clients over the years. Usually two climbers will sleep in each tent, but if our guide considers it necessary, a maximum of three climbers may sleep in one tent.

North Face tents

grafico Communications
You will see that we keep track of where we are at specific sites along the way. We take advantage of the VHF and BLU radio lines that help us to stay in contact between the high-altitude campsites, Plaza de Mulas, Confluencia, Puente del Inca and Mendoza. Therefore, we can respond almost instantaneously to whatever issue that may arise.

grafico Participation or Summit Certificate
We will extend you a certificate signed by the Guide of the expedition and the Ceo of Acomara-AconcaguaExpeditions.com certifying that you have participated in the expedition to Mount Aconcagua (or reached the summit if that happened).


NOT INCLUDED SERVICES

graficoClimbing Permit
The only way to enter the Aconcagua Park is by getting the permit personally in Mendoza city. If the ticket is not used within the dates established by the Park authorities, the money will not be returned. The ticket will be invalid in the future years.
The entrance fee's payment support the maintenance and care of Aconcagua Provincial Park and aid to preserve and protect it. It also supports the maintenance of the medical, the park rangers and the rescue service (helicopter).

graficoDrinks and other personal costs in Mendoza and Puente del Inca
Those extra expenses as food or drinks separate from those described in the itinerary should be paid by you, not being included.
In the same way, neither the food and drinks in Mendoza nor the drinks in Puente del Inca are included, so they should be paid as extra services.

graficoExpenses for giving up the expedition
In order to have better but cheaper services, the expedition is quoted taking into account the whole group. In any case that you give up the scheduled itinerary because of personal problems, mountain sickness, etc, you start taking private services. The extra expenses that you will pay if necessary are: mules from Plaza de Mulas to Puente del Inca, the transfer from Puente del Inca to Mendoza city, etc. Once you give up the itinerary, the transfer in a regular bus is included.
The night in Mendoza hotel when you return can be taken as soon as you get to Mendoza, but if you need to stay more nights, they should be paid by the pax.

graficoSleeping bag and personal equipment
Not only the technical but also the mountain equipment are not included services so you would have to buy it or rent any equipment. Take into account our guides if you need assistance.

graficoPersonal Insurance
Having a personal insurance is not a fundamental requirement to climb the Aconcagua mountain. However, we suggest that you to contact an insurance company if you wish to get one, taking into account the risk in the mountain.

graficoPorters for personal equipment
The porters may help you to transport your belongings from a camp to another one offering you a better result on the mountain. So do not hesitate in letting us know, if you decide to take one. The price will depend on the stretch that your equipment will be carried.

Berlin altitude camp


Recomended Equipment and Clothing
Feet:
- 2 pairs of synthetic inner socks
- 4 pairs of thick socks for cold (sky type)
- 1 pair of comfortable trekking boots
- 1 pair of gaiters

Legs:
- 1 pair of fine synthetic pants
- 1 pair of thick shelter pants
- 1 pair of rainproof pants
- 1 pair of comfortable long pants (trekking type)

Body:

- 2 synthetic underwear shirts
- 1 turtleneck of synthetic material
- 1 fleece jacket of alike
- 1 shelter jacket (down or synthetical)
- 1 rainproof jacket

Head:

- Sun cap or hat
- Shelter hat (wool or fleece)
- Light balaclava
- A good pair of sunglasses with UV filter and nose and side protection
- A pair of sky goggles
- A handkerchief for the neck
Hands:
- 2 pairs of light inner gloves
- 2 pairs of rainproof gloves for shelter (mitten type)

Expedition material:
- Book, walkman or anything that helps to be distracted in the tent
- 1 Sunscreen (never less than factor 20)
- Water bottle for two litter
- 6 pairs of hand warmers
- Sleeping mattress for high mountain
- Personal care elements
- Front lamp with extra batteries
- An stainless steel thermo of one litter or half a litter
- Personal crockery (Bowl, cup, fork and spoon)
- A synthetic or duvet sleeping bag for – 35 º C

Technical equipment:
- 1 comfortable backpack of 80 liters
- 1 Pair of double or triple boots for high mountain (suitable for 23000 feet - 7000 meters and – 40ºC temperature)
- Semi-automatic crampons
- 1 pair of telescopic poles
- 1 ice axe


RESERVES

To confirm the reservations Aconcagua Expeditions asks for the 30 percent of the total amount, that can be sent through banking transfer (ask for account information) or through internet by PayPal - www.paypal.com. To ensure the security of your information, all credit cards and electronic transfers are handled by PayPal.
The balance must be paid in Mendoza, before starting the expedition.

 

Mount Aconcagua Summit


Cancellations
The cancellation of any reservation must be made in writing and 20 days before the expedition starts, without exception. Under no circunstances will the deposit be refunded instead the CLIENT will assume a credit in his/her favor (if applicable) equivalent to the amount paid less 15% of administrative fee, to be used towards different services offered by Aconcagua Expeditions.com in season and for the lapse of two years.


 


Acomara - AconcaguaExpeditions.com

Top
grafico
Aconcagua Information
Aconcagua services
Aconcagua Expeditions - Acomara
ACOMARA
AconcaguaExpeditions.com

Mendoza - Argentina
E-mail: info@aconcaguaexpeditions.com
Phone: (++54-9-261) 4854084 / 4177231 (outside Argentina)
(0261) 154854084 (inside Argentina)
All rights reserved ® 2003 - 2009
grafico
crear.com.ar