Trek to Plaza Francia, Aconcagua South Wall

Join Joaquín, a certified mountain guide, on a stunning hiking adventure in the Andes. Explore the famous route to Plaza Francia and enjoy breathtaking views of the Aconcagua South Wall!

Private

Andes

3 Days

Jan - Mar, Nov, Dec

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Spend an unforgettable alpine trek in the Andes.
Explore one of the most famous routes of Aconcagua.
Enjoy stunning views of the Aconcagua South Wall.

Description

Aconcagua (6,960m) is the highest mountain in South America and one of the most famous adventure destinations in the world. On this amazing 3-day hiking trip we will get to Plaza Francia, at the base of the huge South Face, come join me!

Located in Mendoza, Argentina, near the border with Chile, Aconcagua is part of the Andes mountain range. Plaza Francia (4200 m) is the best viewpoint of the Aconcagua South Face, an impressive 3,000m vertical wall! A friendly hike will take us to Plaza Francia, and we will cross stunning waterfalls and glaciers as we move forward.

This 3-day trek is the best way to appreciate Aconcagua and its surroundings, and doesn’t require too much mountaineering experience. However, you do need a good fitness level: we will walk 40 km in 3 days (from 2,500m to 4,200m)!

In addition, we will spend two nights at the Confluencia base camp. Not only will we enjoy the fabulous landscapes that surround us, but we will also share experiences with mountaineers from all over the world!

So, if you want to live an unforgettable hiking experience in the Andes, please contact me! Let me take you to Plaza Francia, at the base of the amazing Aconcagua South Face!

For more fun adventures in the area, you can also check out this Vallecitos 1-day trek in Mendoza!

Price includes

Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Personal insurance
Transportation start and back
Porters
Mountain guide expenses
Snacks
Clean drinkable water

Price details

Entrance fees are NOT included in the price.
Mules for personal equipment for groups less than 4 participants
Personal equipment is not included.

Itinerary

Day 1: Confluencia

Transfer from Mendoza to Aconcagua Park. Hike to Confluencia.

Day 2: Plaza Francia

Hike from Confluencia to Plaza Francia.

Day 3: End of the trip

Back to Mendoza.

FAQs

How will accommodation and meals be handled during the trek?

Accommodation:

We will sleep in Domes, according to the availability, or a two-person tent.

Meals:

Day 1: Snack, lunch, dinner, and packed snacks

Day 2: Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner, and packed snacks

Day 3: Breakfast and packed snacks

If you have any special nutrition conditions, we will adapt the menu without any problem. Please just let us know when you book.

What is the best time of the year for this hike?

The park is only open from December 1st to February 28th.

Are there any other special requirements such as permits/insurance/vaccines that I need to consider before the tour?

It is important to arrive the day before to get the permit for the park entrance.

Can I join a group?

Yes you can, in the open dates.

What experience do I need to have? How fit do I need to be? Is this program suitable for children or older people?

It is important that you do weekly physical training before this Aconcagua trekking expedition. However, the trekking is not demanding; we will reach 4,150 meters / 13,600 ft above sea level. It is not necessary for you to have previous experience in high altitude, though. This can be your first time!

How can I get to the trailhead/meeting point?

We will pick you up at Mendoza downtown.

How will we carry the loads during the Aconcagua trek?

All the general equipment and food are going to be carried by mules.

What do I do if I lack trekking equipment?

We can recommend equipment rental stores, and advise you in the process of choosing the right equipment for the activity.

How do I carry my personal equipment?

If the group is less than 4 persons, the mules for personal equipment is not included. You can ask this service if you want before hiring the trip.

What physical condition do I need to be in?

For this activity, it is important that you do weekly physical training. Although the trekking is not demanding, we will reach 4,150 meters / 13,600 ft above sea level. It is not necessary for you to have previous experience in high altitude, though. This can be your first time!

About the guide

Joaquin

5.0

(18)

Alpine Guide

I was born in Córdoba, Argentina, where I was able to venture into mountaineering more than ten years ago. I took my first steps in the Sierras de Córdoba, and from there, I set out to explore higher mountains.
Five years ago, I achieved my dreams when I came to Mendoza to become a professional mountain guide and earn a living doing what I love. Two years from now, we created our own adventure tourism company in Mendoza.
For the last 3 years, I have been working in a foundation, as an instructor in first aid and rescue in wild areas, training government agencies, guides, etc. I have made Advanced emergency medical technician in Buenos Aires, with real ambulance hours.

Join me in one of my programs and discover the Andes with me.

Languages

English

Request more information

What people are saying about Joaquin

Chibby

Joaquin experienced a health issue - my Excellent Guide was Vanina. She did a great job of adjusting to the snowing winter and recent snow fall to adapt our trip. Her attention to detail - and my thoughts - were very much appreciated. I saw a beautiful part of Argentina and I owe her for these experiences & memories. Many thanks.

Maria

Highly recommended!!! Joaquín and Venina were fantastic and fun guides! On the first day we went out to approx 3200m for acclimatization and enjoyed a delicious meal next to the tent with fantastic views. On the second day we went up to the summit. We felt save and in great company during the whole trip. Communication before and after was easy, fast and helpful e.g. for renting some equipment. Would definitely do it again!

Chelsea

Joaquin was an amazing tour guide! He was polite, on time, and gave us an amazing experience. He is not only a great guide but amazing person, we love talking to him and learning about Argentina and consider him a friend. We are so appreciative and this hike was the highlight of our trip.

Overall, this was a fantastic hike. You get some astonishing views and can take different routes according to your fitness level and interest. Personally, I enjoyed our quick stay at the high camp where we got to meet several people who were acclimatising for their ascends to the higher peaks. Also, we really enjoyed the time with Joaquin. Thanks to his fun personality and intersting conversations (also fluent in English which helped in my case) the time together went by way too quickly. Even before the beginning of the trip he gave us a lot of proactive advise when we wanted to choose a route that suited our demands and later he helped us with finding places to get some extra gear. During the trip and thanks to Joaquins deep knowledge of the region, he was able to adapt the route we were taking when my friend suffered from some altitude sickness. Also, a big plus was the great food that we had during the trip, including some (fantastic!) homemade carrot mayo and the asado we prepared on the first evening which was the best meal we had in Argentina.

I did a four days mountaineering tour with Joaquin and it was great. Joaquin understands to put the foucs on the needs of the customers and his knowledges about the region in the Andes is quite extensive. It was especially great beacuse the nice personality of Jaoquin allowed us to have good talks and insights about the Argentinian culture and life. Can only recommend him!