Climb Aconcagua, Argentina
| country: | Argentina |
| trip type: | High altitude, very challenging trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 23 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec, 28 Dec 2010: 25 Jan, 1 Feb, 15 Feb |
| price: | From US $3135 (19 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. We are a UK based company and prices are also available in GB pounds |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Cerro Aconcagua (6959m), the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, lies just within Argentina, some 12 kilometres from the Chilean border. The itinerary is physically strenuous and a great challenge, but is not technically demanding. It is suitable for most adventurous people with a good level of physical fitness, and experience of trekking and camping in remote mountain areas.Our 17-day expedition begins in Mendoza.
For Aconcagua, mules are used to transport food and climbing equipment to (and rubbish out from) the Plaza de Mulas base camp.
Group members and guides carry a day pack only with their own up and down the mountain. We use a guide:client ratio of approximately 1:3 on Aconcagua, as the better the ratio the higher the chances of summit success for all. Groups ize is a maximum of 12 but is usually around 6 clients and 2 guides.
For this programme, experience in the use of crampons and snow-shoes is not a requirement, but previous experience of backpacking and camping in winter conditions would be beneficial.
For Aconcagua, mules are used to transport food and climbing equipment to (and rubbish out from) the Plaza de Mulas base camp.
Group members and guides carry a day pack only with their own up and down the mountain. We use a guide:client ratio of approximately 1:3 on Aconcagua, as the better the ratio the higher the chances of summit success for all. Groups ize is a maximum of 12 but is usually around 6 clients and 2 guides.
For this programme, experience in the use of crampons and snow-shoes is not a requirement, but previous experience of backpacking and camping in winter conditions would be beneficial.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Mendoza | |
| Day 2: | Travel to Penitentes (2,700m). | |
| Day 3: | Travel to Puente del Inca and trek to Confuencia (3,360m). | |
| Day 4: | Acclimatisation Day | |
| Day 5: | Acclimatisation Day (4,250m). | |
| Day 6: | Trek to Plaza de Mulas. | |
| Day 7: | Acclimatisation day. | |
| Day 8: | Food carry to camp 1 (5,000m) return to Plaza de Mulas. | |
| Day 9: | Acclimatisation day. | |
| Day 10: | Trek to camp 1 (5,000m). | |
| Day 11: | Trek camp 1 to camp 2, Nido de Condores (5,400m) | |
| Day 12: | Food carry camp 2 to camp 3, Colera (6,100m), return camp 2. | |
| Day 13: | Trek camp 2 to camp 3, Colera (6,100m) return camp 2 | |
| Day 14: | Summit day (6,962m), return to camp 3. | |
| Day 15: | Descend to base camp. | |
| Day 16: | Return to Mendoza. | |
| Day 17: | Tour ends. | |
| Day 18-19: | Buffer days. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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We use local Argentinian mountain guides at a ratio of approximately 1:3 providing local employment and training. We use local arrerios and mules for carrying equipment and stock the trek from local markets, buying foods without packaging where possible.
All our staff, from porters to guides, are paid fairly and we encourage our clients to interact with their hosts, promoting cross-cultural understanding of the area and the people that are being visited. Our group size for Aconcagua is usually a maximum of 12, keeping the environmental impact of our teams to a minimum. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |