20-day Aconcagua Summit through Ameghino Valley

Join Rodrigo, certified IFMGA guide, with 30 years of experience, in this 20-day Aconcagua Summit through Ameghino Valley. A unique way conquer it!

Andes

20 Days

Jan - Mar, Dec

High

Intermediate

Description

Aconcagua Summit is the highest place on Earth outside the Himalayas Mountain Range. Let me take you there safely and through the best routes!

This 20-day Aconcagua Summit through Ameghino Valley is nowadays the best way to Aconcagua. Because it's less popular than the Normal Route, it is less crowded and allows you to enjoy this great mountain at its best!

Also, this route has a higher success rate to Aconcagua Summit. Because of its long approach it allows more time for acclimatization. And at this height this is the key to success! Furthermore, this route is non-technical, and I offer a "porter available service" at the Plaza Argentina Base Camp if you need it for carries to the higher camps and back.

Probably the best feature that I offer in this expedition is the comfort of a well established deluxe Base Camp. A group of experienced Chef, doctor and equipped tents are going to be available to you. You'll acclimatize slowly and in a comfortable surrounding.

I will take you around the Aconcagua, through several beautiful features. So we'll cross the Vacas, Ameghino, Guanacos and Horcones valleys. While on the approach to the Base camp, we'll go through the east side of the Aconcagua. We'll descend through the north side, via the Normal Route, and hike back to Penitentes. This way you'll experience the four faces of this amazing mountain. Plus mules will carry the gear up and down, for you to travel light.

So if you want to reach the Aconcagua Summit in the right way, without leaving anything to chance, contact me and we'll make it happen! And if you want to experience some other adventures in South America, check out these other trips: 17-day North Paine Tower and 20-day Tupungato Climb.

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Luggage transfer
Mules and horses
Tents
Cooking utensils

Price details

Not included: Aconcagua climbing permit fee ($700 to $900 depending on season) which you will pay in Mendoza, accompanied by your guide. South Americans pay about half of this amount and Argentinean Citizens about 1/4 of that amount.
Porters are available, but not included. You need to let us know if you wish a Porter and We Will have it all arranged for you. Porters cost from $160 to $300 per load carry depending on Altitude they carry to. You will need a maximum of 5 to 6 load carries from Base Camp to High Camp and back down to Base Camp again (about $1,000 USD), if you choose to have a porter for each carry, and move, and for the descent of the mountain.
Also not included: flights, meals in Mendoza, personal equipment, passport, personal items, extra expenses, phone charges.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival at the Mendoza Park – Hyatt Hotel. Team meeting and individual equipment check. Exquisite Argentinean cuisine and wine for dinner.

Day 2: Transfer to Penitentes

Permits at the Aconcagua Park Service office. Drive to Penitentes. Lunch stop in Uspallata on the way. Optional afternoon hike (recommended).

Day 3 to 5: Approach to Base Camp

40 Km hike to Base Camp (4200 m). Up the Vacas and Ameghino Valleys. Gear carried by mules.

Day 6: Acclimatization Day

Rest and acclimatization day at Base Camp (4200 m).

Day 7: First ascent to Camp I

Ascent to Camp I (4968 m). We’ll carry some gear up. Return to Base Camp (4200 m).

Day 8: Move to Camp I

Ascent to Camp I (4968 m).

Day 9: First ascent to Camp II

Ascent to Camp II (5334 m) and establish the camp. Return to Camp I (4968 m).

Day 10: Move to Camp II

Ascent to Camp II (5334 m).

Day 11: Move to Camp III

Ascent to Camp III (5425 m).

Day 12: First ascent to High Camp

We’ll carry gear to Piedras Blancas High Camp (5852 m).

Day 13: Move to High Camp

Ascent to High Camp (5852 m).

Day 14 to 17: Summit Day!

Ascent to Summit (6962 m). We leave several days for our summit day in case of poor weather.

Day 18: Descent to Base Camp

Descend through the Normal Route to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp (4206 m).

Day 19: Hike down to Penitentes

Hike through the Horcones Valley. Mules carry the gear. Afternoon arrival to Penitentes. Quick shower and transfer to Mendoza. Night at the Park Hyatt.

Day 20: Departure

Leisure day in Mendoza.

Details

More info

NON-STOP FLIGHT OPTIONS FROM LONDON TO MENDOZA (*)

From London to Buenos Aires:

Airline: Norwegian Air UK LGW-EZE (13 h 40 m) US$774 round trip
Airline: British Airways LHR-EZE (13 h 50 m) US$1,216 round trip

From Buenos Aires to Mendoza:

Airline: Aerolineas Argentinas AEP–MDZ (1 h 55 m) US$115 round trip
Airline: LATAM Operated by Latam Airlines Argentina AEP–MDZ (1 h 52 m) US$117 round trip

NON-STOP FLIGHT OPTIONS FROM NEW YORK TO MENDOZA (*)

From New York to Buenos Aires:

-Airline: United EWR–EZE (11 h 5 m) US$1,005 round trip

Airline: American - LATAM Operated by American Airlines for Latam Airlines Argentina JFK–EZE (10 h 44 m) US$1,083 round trip
Airline: Aerolineas Argentinas - Delta JFK–EZE (10 h 55 m) US$1,270 round trip

From Buenos Aires to Mendoza:

Airline: Aerolineas Argentinas AEP–MDZ (1 h 55 m) US$115 round trip
Airline: LATAM Operated by Latam Airlines Argentina AEP–MDZ (1 h 52 m) US$117 round trip

(*) Total price includes taxes + fees for 1 adult. Additional bag fees and other fees may apply.

Meeting point

Mendoza Park Hyatt Hotel.

About the guide

-Rodrigo

5.0

(8)

Mountain Guide

An Internationally Certified UIAGM / IFMGA Mountain Guide, Rodrigo has been a guide for 30 years. He has led 24 expeditions to Denali and 28 expeditions to Aconcagua — the highest peaks in North and South America, respectively. He has been a member of expeditions to Shisha Pangma and Cho Oyu in the Himalaya, and his climbs in Patagonia include the North and Central Towers of Paine, Agujas Guillaumet and Poincenot, as well as Cerro Torre attempts. He’s made Patagonian Ice Cap explorations including the first east-west traverse of the northern Ice Cap. He holds first ascents in Antarctica, the Andes and Alaska; speed ascents of Denali, Aconcagua, and Juncal. He’s guided the Ellsworth Mountains and Mt. Vinson in Antarctica and has extensive climbing and guiding experience in Yosemite and the Alps, including Frendo Spur and the Grand Jorasses. He’s a former Technical Committee member for the American Mountain Guides Association and a Senior Guide at Exum Mountain Guides in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Rodrigo speaks fluent English, French and Spanish.

Certificates

ANGM | UIAGM

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What people are saying about -Rodrigo

Tanguy

Wonderful memories!!!

Great guides, great equipment, amazed about how good food was. All round a very experienced and top end operator who know what they are doing and will maximise your chances of getting to the summit. Reaching top Aconcagua was one of greatest highlights of my life thank you Aventuras Patagonicas.

From the start Aventuras Patagonicas was welcoming, which set the trip up on the right foot. The guides, Wes, Lucia and Sebastian were all excellent and worked very hard to get the group of climbers safely up and down the mountain. The food was excellent and well organized. The gear provided on the mountain (tents) were also of good quality. I would climb again with Patagonicas.

I did a 20 day climb of Aconcagua with this company. The guides were excellent and made the trip as enjoyable as possible. We had hot meals every evening and morning. Aconcagua is a hard mountain and it takes a great deal of effort to reach the top. The guides at Patagonicas are committed to each client's safety on the mountain. I would recommend them over any other company on the mountain.