Overview
We are the only company in the world who have an expedition leader and doctor on all Aconcagua (6,962m) expeditions while keeping group sizes sustainably small. Established in 2007, we offer high altitude trekking and mountaineering in some of the most breath-taking locations around the world.
Trekking Aconcagua
Aconcagua is one of the ‘Seven Summits’ and the highest mountain in both the Western and Southern hemispheres. It is the highest mountain outside of Asia. Towering at 6,962m this impressive peak lies in the heart of the Andes in Argentina.
There is no technical mountaineering required to reach the top, it is very much a trekking peak. However, this does not mean that reaching the summit is an easy undertaking. It is a formidable challenge requiring proper acclimatisation, adapting to high winds and extreme cold. Summit day is long and demanding, gaining 900m in order to reach the top.
Our 21-day itinerary includes 16 days of trekking and allows for proper acclimatisation. We also have spare summit days to give us the flexibility needed to accommodate for bad weather. There are a number of routes to be considered to reach the top. Our itinerary combines an approach through the Vacas Valley and descending the ‘normal route’ which allows us to enjoy the best of both sides of the mountain while offering the best acclimatisation profile. We combine the Polish route, the Ameghino traverse, Upper Guanaco and the ‘normal route’ giving you a comprehensive experience of Aconcagua.
The scenery all along the route is incredibly beautiful, particularly when we reach the higher elevations at Camp 2 and 3. There is also plenty of local wildlife to view during our time in Mt. Aconcagua Provincial Park so keep your eyes peeled and cameras ready. We also spend two (or more -depending on our summit day!) nights in Mendoza, home of Argentina’s famous Malbec grapes and phenomenal local cuisine.
Please note the Aconcagua climb plan is very much subject to change based on weather conditions and the health and fitness of all expedition members.
Aconcagua Expedition Costs & What’s Included
The total cost of trekking Aconcagua is highlighted above. You are required to pay a €399 deposit to secure your spot. A part payment of €1,000 is due six months prior to departure. You can pay the remaining balance by instalments or in full. All fees must be paid three months prior to departure.
Your fees include the following:
- Return flights from Dublin to Argentina (Economy Class) (UK flights not included)
- Experienced expedition leader
- Experienced expedition doctor
- Training Weekend
- Earth’s Edge team of guides, cooks and support team
- All accommodation based on twin sharing in hotels in Penitentes/Mendoza and camping elsewhere
- All meals and drinking water except in Mendoza where accommodation is based on B&B
- A celebratory dinner
- All transport throughout the expedition
- All group gear consisting of first aid kits, mountaineering equipment, cooking equipment etc.
Flying from the UK?
You are more than welcome to join us from the UK. If so, you can select the ‘exclude flights’ option on the checkout. You can then book your own international flights to Buenos Aires.
Read our Aconcagua blogs
Do you fancy having more information on this expedition? We have lots of extra insight into our Aconcagua trips here.
Watch our Info Talk on Aconcagua
We recently held a talk about our Aconcagua and Elbrus treks in the Great Outdoors in Dublin. You can watch it below. (The Aconcagua parts starts 9 minutes into the talk if you’re not interested in Elbrus!)
Itinerary
Day 3
Mendoza to Penitentes (2700m)
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After finalising permits we drive to Penitentes. We spend the afternoon repacking for the mountain.
Day 4
Penitentes to Pampa de Lenas (2950m), 5 hrs trekking.
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Drive to Punta de Vacas and then trek to Pampa de Lenas.
Day 6
Casa de Piedra to Plaza Argentina (4200m), 8 hrs trekking
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Trek to Plaza Argentina base camp.
Day 8
Carry to Camp 1 (5000m) and return Plaza Argentina, 9 hrs trekking
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We walk to Camp 1, drop equipment and then return to Plaza Argentina.
Day 9
Rest day at base camp
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Rest day for acclimatisation and coaching on high altitude trekking techniques.
Day 10
Plaza Argentina to Camp 1, 5 hrs trekking
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We ascend to Camp 1 with the rest of our equipment.
Day 11
Carry to Camp 2 (5500m) and return to Camp 1, 6 hrs trekking
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Trek to Camp 2, drop equipment and then return to Camp 1.
Day 15
Summit Day, 12 hrs trekking
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Trek to Mt Aconcagua (6962m), the roof of America! Return to Camp 3.
Day 19
Plaza de Mulas to Mendoza, 8 hrs trekking
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Trek to Penitentes and drive to Mendoza. Evening celebratory dinner.
Facts
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America; the highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres; and the highest mountain outside Asia. Aconcagua is one of the Seven Summits.
The first known ascent of Aconcagua was during an expedition led by Edward Fitzgerald in 1897. Swiss climber Mathias Zurbriggen reached the summit alone on January 14th via today's 'normal route'. A few days later Nicholas Lanti and Stuart Vines made the second ascent. These were the highest ascents in the world at that time.
In the 1985/86 season, Fernando Garrido arrived from Spain in order to break the record of altitude stay. He faced problems due to the lack of oxygen, strong winds of up to 200 km/h, and temperatures of up to 60 degrees below zero. The Spanish climber managed to stay 66 days at the summit, thus breaking a world survival record.
In 1994 a team of blind people from Spain reached the north summit and in 2013 Tyler Armstrong, a 9 yr old boy from Southern California became the youngest person to climb Mount Aconcagua.
Best time to climb Aconcagua?
The best time to attempt your Aconcagua trek is in November through to February. The final day to enter the Aconcagua Provincial Park is the last day in February.
Temperatures on the expedition may vary from 0 to 30 degrees during the day and -30 to 10 degrees at night. It’s best to be prepared for lower temperatures due to wind chill or the weather turning bad. Usually the days are hot and the nights are cold.
What do you need to climb Aconcagua?
We have an extensive packing list on what you should bring with you when trekking Aconcagua. You can view this packing list here.
How to prepare to climb Aconcagua
We have classified Aconcagua as a level 8 expedition, for more information about our levels system click here. You should be comfortable withstanding harsh mountain conditions for several days in a row. We strongly recommend that you read our information pack, which gives in detail on how you should prepare for trekking Aconcagua. You can read this document here.
Certified B-Corp
Earth's Edge is a certified B-Corp. In fact, we are the highest scoring B-Corp in Ireland. We are passionate about sustainable travel, bettering the lives of the people connected with the company and minimising our environmental impact.
Tree Planting
We plant 8 native trees in Nepal for each person that travels with us in partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects. If you would like to plant more, please contact info@earths-edge.com. Each extra tree costs €0.75 cents. Learn more about our tree planting here.
