Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Mendoza (760 m / 2,493 ft). Our driver will pick you up at the airport, and take you to Diplomatic Hotel.. After checking into your room, you can relax or explore the many sidewalk cafes of the city. Your guide will contact you to see about the next day’s schedule.
Day 2
Transfer in private vehicles from Mendoza to Los Penitentes, where the group will spend the night at a lodge (2,580 m/8,465 ft). In this small mountain village is where we have our warehouse and where the loads for the mules are prepared. / 3 hs drive
Day 3
Penitentes – Punta de Vacas (trailhead) – Pampa de Leñas camp (2.950 m/ 9,678 ft). After breakfast, we drive ten minutes to Punta de Vacas. We get our climbing permits stamped at the ranger station and begin the approach to base camp. After a 4-5 hour hike along Río de las Vacas we arrive at our first camp, Pampa de Leñas, where we enjoy a genuine asado criollo (Gaucho BBQ). For the entire hike to BC you will be carrying a day pack with only the necessary essentials. The mules take care of the heavy loads. / 4-5 hs drive
Day 4
Pampa de Leñas – Casa de Piedra (3,240 m/10,630 ft). Hike to Casa de Piedra, our second approach camp. Great view of the Polish Glacier, and the Eastern Face of Aconcagua as we arrive to the camp. / 6 hs
Day 5
Casa de Piedra – Plaza Argentina base camp (4,190 m/13,746 ft.). We follow the trail up the Relinchos Valley to Plaza Argentina. Our base camp chef greets us with a hearty dinner in a comfy dining tent: the perfect reward after the hardest day of the approach. / 6-7 hs