Aconcagua can be climbed without any technical experience, but should not be underestimated. General mountaineering experience is certainly needed to avoid injury or death, even on the "Normal route".

7summits.com offer fully serviced and guided trip up the 2 most used routes as well as an additional couple of days to acclimatize even better (EAP, or Extra Acclimatization Program, available for both routes).

On our normal route you will ascend slowly. Unlike other companies we will not let you move to basecamp in 2 days, but rest at Confluencia and let you do a nice trekking to the basecamp of the impressive South Face!

Below is an example itinerary, but of course the exact itinerary will be determined by weather and climber's health

Itinerary Normal 7summits.com route (now 18 days!)

Itinerary (Heights in meters)

Day 1: Mendoza (760)
We will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to the hotel. On this day our guide will check your mountain equipment and accompany you to hire the necessary things. You will enjoy the comforts of one of the best hotels in Mendoza city. (Food is not included)

Day 2: Mendoza / Puente del Inca (2.725)
Before going to Puente del Inca, the whole group will apply for the climbing permit with the guides’ assistance. You will have lunch and spend the night in Puente del Inca hostel. In the afternoon, the mules are loaded and prepared for the following day. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Puente del Inca / Confluencia (3.300)
The group will be taken to the entrance of the Park in a private van. There permits will be presented and you will start with the trekking to Confluencia Camp. The equipment will be carried by mules. At arrival, you will set up your tent with your partner and will be able to rest. (B, PL, D)

Day 4: Confluencia / Plaza Francia (4.000) / Confluencia
Trek to Plaza Francia, base of the south face of Mt. Aconcagua. Here you will enjoy a delicious lunch and a spectacular view. Then you will return to Confluencia. This trekking is considered part of the acclimatization process, fundamental in our expedition. (B, PL, D)

Day 5: Confluencia / Plaza de Mulas (4.260)
The trek to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp lasts around 8 hours. You will stay in our own base camp with the necessary commodities for you to be as comfortable as possible. (B, PL, D)

Day 6: Plaza de Mulas 
Resting day. You will make a short trek to the glacier so as to improve your use of crampons. These kinds of activities facilitate your success in the mountain. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Plaza de Mulas / Mt. Bonete (5.100) / 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 5.100 m of altitude. This activity will definitely turn on all the acclimatization mechanisms on your body. (B, PL, D)

Day 8: Plaza de Mulas / Camp 1 “Canadá” (4.910) / Plaza de Mulas
Acclimatization trekking to Camp 1 “Canadá”. You will take part of the altitude equipment and the food that will be needed in Plaza Canada (each member of the group will carry –without exception– a food load and fuel for the expedition that will be 10 kg or less). You will have lunch and then return to the Base Camp. (B, PL, D)

Day 9: Plaza de Mulas
Resting and acclimatization day. On this day you will make sure that your equipment is ready and you will rest to be strong for the next days that demand more effort. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Plaza de Mulas / Camp 1 “Canadá”
After a 3-hour trek, you will reach Camp 1 “Canada”. The group will enjoy lunch and set up tents. On this day, you will carry your personal equipment. Our porters will carry the sleeping tents and the rest of the ordinary equipment. (B, PL, D)

Day 11: Camp 1 “Canadá” / Camp 2 “Nido de Cóndores” (5.250)
Climb to Camp 2 “Nido de Cóndores”. This trek lasts 4 hours and when you reach Nido de Cóndores you will set up the tents with the guides’ help. You will be able to rest after this. On this day, each member of the group will carry the personal equipment and will carry –without exception– a food load and fuel for the expedition that will be 5 kg or less. Our porters will carry the sleeping tents and the rest of the ordinary equipment. (B, PL, D)

Day 12: Camp 2 “Nido de Cóndores” / Camp 3 “Berlín” (5.900)
Climb to Camp 3 “Berlin” which will be the last altitude camp before de summit. This will be a short hike, around 3 hours, but all your strength is needed due to the characteristics of this part of the route. During this day, you will carry your personal equipment and will carry –without exception– a food load and fuel for the expedition that will be 5 kg or less. As in the previous days, our porters will carry the sleeping tents and the rest of the ordinary equipment. (B, PL, D)

Day 13: Camp 3 “Berlin” / Summit (6.962) / Camp 3 “Berlin”
Climb from Camp 3 to the summit and return to Camp 3. The great day! The group will get up very early in the morning, have breakfast and start climbing. You will get to the summit, where you will live an unforgettable experience, and return to Berlin. You will sleep that night with the satisfaction of having reached your aim. (B, PL, D)

Day 14: Camp 3 “Berlín”/ Plaza de Mulas
You will descend to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp after a 3 hour trek. The group will have the day free to share those emotions experienced throughout the expedition. During this day you will only carry your personal equipment, because our porters will be in charge of carrying all the ordinary equipment including the garbage up to Plaza de Mulas. (B, PL, D)

Day 15: Plaza de Mulas / Puente del Inca / Mendoza
Descent to Puente del Inca and last trek in the expedition. Your belongings will be carried by mules so you will only take a light bag pack with a jacket and your packed lunch.
Transfer to Mendoza city. Lodge in the hotel. (B, PL)

Day 16: Mendoza
Breakfast. End of services. (B)

Day 17: Extra day for contingencies that may prevent the normal development of the program.

Day 18: Extra day for contingencies that may prevent the normal development of the program.

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.

Extra Acclimatisation Program (EAP):

Note that the standard programs might be too fast for some people. If you acclimatise slowly, then you can book the Extra Acclimatisation Program, in which you start 3 days before the main group (basically a private trip). This gives you extra time to acclimatise in Basecamp (3 extra nights including a training ascent), where the rest meets you.

Costs depend on EAP group size. Even if you book alone, if others book the same EAP, you will get the discount!

1 climber only: $580 per person (Normal route or Traverse).

2 Climbers per EAP group: $365 pp

3 or more Climbers per EAP group: $295pp

Note that if there are less than 4 passengers in the EAP group, the transportation from Mendoza to Puente del Inca will be in the regular bus.

Click here for the other programs and dates & prices:

Read all about Aconcagua, the history, the practical info and detailed description of the 2 most used routes in the recently published new 7summits.com guidebook: Aconcagua, summit of South America

Difficulties

1. Technical difficulty: The Northeast or Normal route climbing the Mt. Aconcagua does not present any technical difficulties; this means that the participant does not require any previous climbing experience on rocks or ice. This route may be just by walking. You may have to use crampons and fixed ropes for your security, depending on the conditions of the route. These decisions will be taken by guides during the expedition
2. Physical difficulty: In order to avoid any kind of inconveniences in the process of acclimatization and to succeed in reaching the summit, we suggest you to follow a training program adapted to the activity that you are going to do, as well as eating a balanced diet some months before the start date of the expedition
3. Other types of difficulties: The biggest problem that you can face on your expedition is the effects of the altitude on your body. This can be overcome with a previous training and correct acclimatization. (This aspect is covered in all of our programs). Another difficulty is the low temperatures on the mountain, the effects of which are reduced with a high-quality clothing and equipment.
4. The most important: Changing our modern lifestyle for an adventure requires imagination and energy. Being mentally prepared to accept the difficulties and inconveniences will be the key to our success.

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

Included Services

Transfer Airport / Hotel
We will be waiting for you at the airport to drive you to the hotel, allowing you to enjoy your trip fully.
 
Hotel in Mendoza
You will stay in a hotel in Mendoza city for two nights, both when arriving in Mendoza and when returning from the mountain. The rooms included in our program are double (each passenger will share his/her room with one of his/her expedition partners) and breakfast and taxes are included in the price. If you prefer a single room (only for you), please do not forget to let us know in your Booking Form. This service has an extra cost.

Assistance to buy the climbing permit
Mount Aconcagua is located in a provincial Park, managed by the Government of Mendoza.
To get into the Park you should get a permit, the price of which will depend on the activity 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 his or her own passport.
The guide will assist you with the payment of the permit and the working paper.

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 throughout this journey is boasted as one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Central Andes.

Meals
Throughout the expeditions you will enjoy all meals (B: breakfast / L: lunch / PL: packed-lunch if you are on the move / D: dinner), carefully planned by professionals to have a balanced diet during those days on the mountain.
During the expedition our cooks prepare every meal, with fixed menu from day nº 3, except at the high altitude camps where our guides will be in charge of cooking.
Those meals mentioned in the itinerary are included.
If you are vegetarian or celiac, or if you need a special diet, please let us know in your Booking Form. It will be a pleasure for us to prepare a special menu for you. This service has an extra cost.

Lodging in Puente del Inca
Puente del Inca hotel was built here and it is the only lodging in this strategic zone five kilometres far from the Aconcagua Park trailhead. You will spend one night in this place at the beginning of the expedition, in rooms for three to six people (according to the number of members in the group) and with private toilet.
Complete breakfast and dinner in the restaurant of the hostel are also included.

Assistance for the arrangement of loads to be transported by mules
Our mountain guides will advise you on what to include in your luggage and the way in which it should be arranged on the mules.

Mules
Our partner owns more than 100 mules which carry people or belongings.
The difference between the mules that carry people and the mules that carry gear is that the ones for people are tamer. These animals pasture during autumn, winter and spring, it means, from the middle of March to the middle of November. Before starting with the summer season, these animals are tested and given medicine by veterinarians. They are treated with caution.
At the beginning of the Aconcagua season, they are transported by lorries to Puente del Inca without shoeing to avoid any injury.
During the season, they are treated with a lot of care and attention. It is important to take into account that after two trips to Plaza de Mulas and one to Plaza Argentina, the mules rest 4 or 5 days so as to recover from this activity.  
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 country animals. Experience has taught them how to deal with these animals.
From Puente del Inca to Confluencia, from this camp to Plaza de Mulas, and on the return to Puente del Inca, your belongings will be carried by mules. Each mule can carry up to a limit of 180 kg, but our mules only carry 60 kg to move comfortably on the mountain. 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.

Transfer to the Aconcagua trailhead
You will be driven in our own vehicles for 5 kilometers, from Puente del Inca Hotel to the first Rangers Station. Here your permit is checked out and you are informed about the park rules.

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 at the Confluencia camp, which has enough comfort to spend a good deal of time, being fully equipped with wide dinner tents, electrical light, tables and chairs to have meals.

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 3.000 meters tall. During this trek, you will ascend 700 meters that will give your body a sign that the acclimatization process is starting.

Plaza de Mulas Base Camp
Once you have arrived at Plaza de Mulas, you will spend several nights 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.

Trekking to the Horcones Glacier and Mt. Bonete Climbing
Acclimatization is a dynamic process for which your body needs a minimal activity and it helps to increase the body’s responsiveness to the changes in altitude. Due to this, two important activities will be done: on day 6, you will do a short trek in the area of Plaza de Mulas - useful and interesting – and you will have an introduction class about the use of crampons and the guides will give you some advices that will help you on your way to the top of the mountain. On the day 7, you will climb Mt. Bonete; this is an important step in the acclimatization process

Porters for the high camps
7summits.com Expeditions counts on the porters’ help so as our participants can focus all their energy in the summit day. The porters appeared as people and expeditions need to move an important amount of equipment towards the height camps. 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 athletes themselves.

It is important to have in mind that day 8 of the expedition (when the group takes part of the altitude equipment and the food that will be needed in Plaza Canada) each member will carry –without exception– a food load and fuel for the expedition that will be 10 kg as the maximum. This day is very important to start perceiving your physiological response to the height, fundamental step to reach the summit.

Likewise, during day 11 and 12 of the program (the group treks to sleep in Nido de Cóndores and Berlín), you will carry your personal equipment and you will carry –without exception– a food load and fuel for the expedition that will be 5 kg as the maximum. Our porters will carry the sleeping tents and the rest of the ordinary equipment.
Day 14 (returning day to Plaza de Mulas) the porters will take all the ordinary equipment of the expedition as well as the garbage produced during all the days spent on the height.

EACH CLIENT HAS TO CARRY HIS/HER OWN PERSONAL EQUIPMENT (backpacks) during every stretch and the ORDINARY EQUIPMENT that you will be assigned during day 8, 11 and 12 of the program. In any case, if you want porter’s help for these tasks please let us know.

This service has an extra cost.

Our guides
Our mountain guides are qualified professionals of the AAGM (Argentinean Association of Mountain Guides) and the EPGAMT (School of High Mountain and Trekking Guides). The last qualification is the result of 3 years of studying. We believe that to succeed in our expeditions, professionals with experience and the ability to offer security should guide our teams.
The expeditions are led by a mountain guide to 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, and professional clothing and equipment. All this will provide security and comfort.

Extra days
Our expeditions include two extra days in case of contingencies that may prevent the normal development of the itinerary.
7summits.com Expeditions takes the responsibility to develop the program as it has been described. However, sometimes 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 payment.

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 immediately to whatever issue that may arise.

Tents
Normally, during the summer high season, Aconcagua is a mountain with good weather conditions. Yet, if you happen to have a few stormy days, 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 use only two brands: The North Face and Mountain Hardwear, 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.
Remember that you will have to set up your own tent with your partner. The guide will help you when necessary.

Gifts
Once your expedition is over you will receive a summit certificate and an Aconcagua t-shirt from our company as a gift.

Not Included Services

Climbing 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 refunded. The ticket will be invalid for future years.
The entrance fee’s payment supports the maintenance and care of Aconcagua Provincial Park and aids to preserve and protect it. It also supports the maintenance of the medical and park rangers’ services.

Drinks and other personal costs not mentioned in the itinerary
Extra expenses like food or drinks separate from those described in the itinerary should be paid by you, as they are not included.

Expenses 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 and individual services. The extra expenses that you will pay for, if necessary, are: mules from Plaza de Mulas to Puente del Inca (around U$D180.-), the private 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 the city.
There is a possibility that you be evacuated by helicopter, and in that case your belongings will not travel with you. If you do not wait for your belongings in Puente del Inca, in this case you have to pay not only the mule to carry your equipment down, but also a transportation to take your belongings to Mendoza. Each person is responsible for his belongings and personal equipment.

Sleeping bag and personal equipment
Neither the technical nor the mountain equipment is an included service, so you would have to buy it or rent it. Take into account our guides if you need assistance. 
If you rent equipment, you will be responsible for it. Apart from that, you must give the equipment back to the mountain shop on time.

Personal Insurance
Having a personal insurance is not a fundamental requirement to climb the Mt. Aconcagua. However, we suggest you to contact an insurance company if you wish to take insurance out, taking into account the risks involved in climbing a mountain.

Porters for the ordinary equipment (days 8, 11 and 12 of the program)
During days 8, 11 and 12 of the program, each member will carry until the corresponding place and without exception, a food load and fuel for the expedition that will be needed in Plaza Canadá, Nido de Cóndores and Berlín. If you wish to hire a porter to help you carry your load, please let us know. This service has an extra cost and the price will depend on the stretch your equipment will be carried.

Porters for personal equipment
The porters may help you to transport your belongings from one camp to another, 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 your equipment will be carried. This service has an extra cost.

Transfer Hotel / Airport
The transfer from the hotel to the airport at the end of the expedition is not included.

Problems with your luggage (Loss or delay during the flight)
If your luggage is lost during your flight, or it arrives later than you do in other flight, you will have to work the problem out with the corresponding airline. We, nor our partners are not responsible for such an event.
In the same way, if your luggage does not arrive in Mendoza on time for the departure date of the expedition group to Puente del Inca, the expedition will be carried out as initially planned, and you will be responsible for those extra expenses caused by this shortcoming.

Equipment and Clothing

Extra Acclimatisation Program (EAP):

Note that the standard programs might be too fast for some people. If you acclimatise slowly, then you can book the Extra Acclimatisation Program, in which you start 2 days before the main group (basically a private trip). This gives you extra time to acclimatise in Basecamp (2 extra nights including a training ascent), where the rest meets you.

Costs depend on EAP group size. Even if you book alone, if others book the same EAP, you will get the discount!

1 climber only: $580 per person (Normal route or Traverse).

2 Climbers per EAP group: $365 pp

3 or more Climbers per EAP group: $295pp

Note that if there are less than 4 passengers in the EAP group, the transportation from Mendoza to Puente del Inca will be in the regular bus.

Included Services

Apart from all the services mentioned in our Scheduled Expeditions, the EAP option includes:

Transfer from Mendoza to Puente del Inca
If the EAP group is made up of less than 3 people, the transfer from Mendoza to Puente del Inca will be in the regular bus. But if the EAP group is made up of more than 4 people, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Puente Del Inca in our own vehicles.

Lodging in Puente del Inca
You will spend three nights in this place, in rooms for three to six people (according to the number of members in the EAP group) and with private toilet. Complete breakfasts, lunches (or packed lunches) and dinners in the restaurant of the hostel are also included.

Our guides
Our mountain guides are qualified professionals of the AAGM (Argentinean Association of Mountain Guides) and the EPGAMT (School of High Mountain and Trekking Guides). The last qualification is the result of 3 years of study. One guide will accompany the EAP group during these days. The guide´s equipment includes: VHF radio, a first aid kit, complete with the appropriate drugs for altitude sickness, ropes, an altimeter, and professional clothing and equipment. All this will provide security and comfort.

Not Included Services

Drinks and other personal costs not mentioned in the itinerary
Extra expenses like food or drinks separate from those described in the itinerary should be paid by you, as they are not included.

Note

Anyone who wishes to participate in the climb with their own groups or cannot join in the scheduled expeditions can take a private expedition.
The itinerary to develop is the same as in the scheduled expedition, but with changes in the included services and in the date of departure, which can be chosen by the passenger. Prices depend on exact itinerary, trip length and number of people in you group; see the example prices on the trips page or email us.

Reservations

To make a reservation, 7summits.com Expeditions’ booking procedure consists in two parts: in the first one you have to fill in the bookingform you will find in our website, which has to be sent back by fax or as an email attachment (PDF, or scan/jpg, signature is important). You will then receive the 2nd part by email, which is a Word document with detailed questions about your health, experience, flight details etc. You can email teh document back (no need for fax, so we can make changes to your flight details etc on file if needed).

Only once we receive the advance or full payment your space is confirmed.

Porters:

If you wish to have your personal gear portered, you can reserve a porter, please let us know when booking.

Read all about Aconcagua, the history, the practical info and detailed description of the 2 most used routes in the recently published new 7summits.com guidebook: Aconcagua, summit of South America