What happens if I abandon the expedition?

All services are quoted and arranged as part of a group expedition. Any service required outside the scheduled group itinerary is not included and may involve an additional cost.

Summary

1. Early return has no refund or compensation
2. Leaving the lead guide’s group may involve extra costs
3. Rescue insurance coverage doesn't depend on Acomara
4. Unused porter services may be eligible for credit or refund

1. Early return has no refund or compensation

If a climber or group returns earlier than scheduled for any reason, from Day 1 onwards, no refund, credit, compensation, service exchange, or other benefit will be provided for unused expedition days or services.

This condition is clearly stated in the expedition information and was accepted by the climber in the booking form before making the first payment. It is also confirmed in the signed expedition documents.

The only possible exception may apply to certain unused personal porter services, subject to the specific conditions detailed in the corresponding section.

Early descent does not generate savings for the company. The expedition price is quoted and organized as a group program, and most services are arranged, paid, or committed in advance. Therefore, if a climber leaves the group early for any reason, Acomara does not recover those costs.

For example:

• The expedition logistics and deployment have already been arranged.
• The climber’s spot was reserved and could not be sold to another participant.
• Group transportation costs remain the same.
• Group mule services remain the same.
• Guides are paid according to the full expedition program.
• Common equipment remains assigned to the expedition.
• Food has already been purchased, packed, and sent to the mountain.
• Park fees, permits, commissions, and administrative costs may already have been paid or committed.

For these reasons, unused mountain days, services, meals, transportation, accommodation, logistics, or any other included services are not refundable or compensable in case of early return.

2. Leaving the lead guide’s group may involve extra costs

Leaving the lead guide’s group on summit day, when managed within the normal expedition logistics, does not involve extra costs. However, if a climber leaves the lead guide’s group before summit day, or needs to descend separately for any reason, additional private services may be required and extra charges may apply.

In many cases, climbers who decide not to continue to the summit may remain at Plaza de Mulas Base Camp free of extra charge until the rest of the group returns from the summit attempt, allowing everyone to descend together according to the scheduled itinerary.

Extra costs usually apply only when a climber needs to descend separately from the lead guide’s group, leave the Park before the scheduled group departure, or require services outside the standard expedition logistics. This may happen due to physical discomfort, personal reasons, medical issues, evacuation, rescue, or any other situation requiring services outside the scheduled itinerary.

Possible extra costs may include:

• Private guide service
^{USD 700 / 950 minimum charge for a 1-day private guide service to descend separately from the lead guide’s group, depending on the route: Normal Route / 360° Route.}

• Mule service*
^{USD 590 / 770 for a mule service arranged separately from the group, depending on the route: Normal Route / 360° Route.}

• Porters
^{If required, porters may be hired to carry personal gear from the high camps to the base camps.}

• Private transfer to Mendoza
^{USD 475 for a private transfer to Mendoza city, separately from the group.}

• Extra nights outside the Park
^{Hotel nights outside the Park are included only according to the scheduled group itinerary and for the dates when the group stays together in Mendoza. If a climber returns to Mendoza earlier than scheduled, any extra hotel nights, meals, transfers, or other services required outside the group dates are not included and will be at the climber’s expense.}

As a reference, descending separately from the lead guide’s group before the scheduled return may involve an estimated minimum extra cost of USD 1,765 or more, depending on the route and the services required.

Please note that, according to Park regulations, climbers are not allowed to leave Aconcagua Provincial Park on their own. Therefore, a guided descent is mandatory.

Also, if a climber leaves the Park due to physical discomfort but the situation is not considered a rescue or medical evacuation by the insurance company, these extra costs may not be covered by insurance.

^{*Mule service must be confirmed and paid by 6:00 p.m. on the previous day.}

3. Rescue insurance coverage doesn't depend on Acomara

The climber or rescue insurance must cover/refund all extra expenses to the climber if a rescue (helicopter, ambulance, etc.). Most policies cover evacuation expenses only in case of life risk. If the Insurance Company doesn't authorize the services in writing in advance, the climber has to pay for them and later ask for a refund from the Insurance Company. DISCLAIMER: Acomara will take action to help if an incident occurs and doesn't take responsibility for the rescue insurance coverage, procedures, and rescue costs.

4. Unused porter services may be eligible for credit or refund

Please refer to the “Optional Services” section to review the details, conditions, and refund/credit policy for each porter option.

Any request for credit or refund for unused porter services must be submitted by email within 60 days after the end of the expedition. Approved credits or refunds will be processed exclusively through PayPal, within 60 days after the request has been received and confirmed by Acomara.

No refunds, credits, compensations, or service exchanges will be provided in cash or directly at the end of the expedition.