NORMAL ROUTE

Climbing Aconcagua via Normal Route

ACONCAGUA NORMAL ROUTE

Towering above the surrounding Andean peaks, Mount Aconcagua stands at 6.960 m / 22,837 ft. It is the highest mountain in the World outside Asia, and the second of the Seven Summits, after Mt. Everest.

SEASON 2024 / 2025

Low Season Departures: November: 24th | December: 8th | January: 19th · 26th | February: 2nd · 9th
High Season Departures: December: 15th · 22nd · 29th | January: 5th · 12th

All departures are 100% guaranteed. If we publish it, we run it.

10 FACTS THAT SET OUR EXPEDITIONS APART

MOUNTAIN GUIDES

We work with world-class guides. Our team has summited Aconcagua over 600 times. We’ve got the highest success rate in the industry.

WATER

We guarantee the availability of safe drinking water at all our camps.!

EXPERIENCE

We’ve been leading the Aconcagua guiding and logistics industry for +45 years.

MEALS

We serve top-notch cuisine prepared by our own chefs.

FREE WI-FI

Free internet service for our guests in all our campsites.

BOMB PROOF ITINERARY

The extra days we provide in Mendoza and Confluencia improve logistics and acclimatization.

ACOMODATION

We have the best base camps, with tons of amenities including free showers.

LOGISTICS

Our logistics management is the most efficient and reliable, both on and off the mountain.

CSR

We pay fair wages and are members of 1% For The Planet.

REVIEWS

We score the best service reviews on Aconcagua, written by real guests. Check out the complete list of reviews here.

Day 1 > Arrival in Mendoza (760 m / 2,493 ft). Our driver will pick you up at the airport and take you directly to the Diplomatic Hotel downtown. After checking into your room, you can relax or explore the many sidewalk cafes of the city. Your guide will contact you to confirm the next day’s schedule.

Day 2 > Packing and permits in Mendoza. The team and the guides get to know each other. Activities such as gear check, permit procedures and equipment sorting and packing are carried out on this day. Reminder: you’ll need two large duffle bags and an expedition backpack.

Day 3 > Mendoza – Penitentes – Horcones – Confluencia Camp. (3.390 m/ 11,300 ft). Private transfer from Mendoza to our warehouse in Penitentes. (there are lockers and storage place available for our guests). You can have coffee and snacks while the guides get the mule loads ready. Another 15 minutes ride takes the team to Horcones. This is the trailhead and also where the Park rangers will check everybody’s permits. An easy hike (carrying only a daypack) leads to Confluencia, the first camp of the Horcones Valley routes. / 3-4 hs

Day 4 > Confluencia – South Face viewpoint (4.050 m / 13,287 ft). We take a detour to admire the imposing South face of Mt. Aconcagua. The main objective of the day is acclimatization. After a 7-hour hike we spend the night back at Confluencia. / 6-7 hs

Day 5 > Confluencia rest and acclimatization day. A good opportunity to get ready for the challenge ahead.

Day 6 > Confluencia – Plaza de Mulas (4.350 m / 14,500 ft). After a demanding 8-hour hike, arriving at Base Camp feels like a reward. Our camp manager and crew will greet you like one of the family. A hot shower before a hearty dinner, or free internet access to stay in touch with your loved ones, are just some of the treats at our “home away from home”.

Day 7 > Rest day at Plaza de Mulas. Sleep in your tent, read in the dining tent or try the yoga mats in our heated lounge tent; but whatever you do, get hydrated.

Day 8 > Cerro Bonete trek (5.004 m / 16,417 ft). An acclimatization hike to the neighboring Cerro Bonete: an awesome view of the West Face of Aconcagua and a 5.000 mt peak bagged. / 6-7 hs.

Day 9 > Gear carry to Plaza Canadá (5.050 m / 16,568 ft). The team climbs to the first high camp to carry part of the gear and then returns to Plaza de Mulas. / 4-5 hs.

Day 10 > Rest day at Plaza de Mulas. Treat yourself to a hot shower (a reward after completing the first stage of the climb).

Day 11 > Plaza de Mulas – Plaza Canadá (5.050 m / 16,568 ft). The team leaves base camp and moves to the first altitude camp. First step of the altitude stage. / 2 1⁄2 to 3 1⁄2 hs.

Day 12 > Plaza Canadá – Nido de Cóndores (5.560 m / 18,241 ft). The team moves to the second camp (expect to carry an 18 to 22 kg backpack). / 4-5 hs.

Day 13 > Nido de Cóndores – Cólera (last camp · 5.970 m / 19,586 ft). The team moves to the highest camp of the trip. You’ll have dinner at almost 6.000 m. It’s higher than most places on Earth! / 2 1⁄2 to 3 1⁄2 hs.

Day 14 > Summit day! (6.960 m / 22,837 ft). We leave early to get the most of the (long) day. You will be carrying a very light backpack (water, snacks, some clothing, camera). / 8-12 hs.

Day 15 > Extra weather day. To secure the success of the expedition we have added two additional summit days in case of bad weather.

Day 16 > Extra weather day.

Day 17 > Cólera – Plaza de Mulas. Back to the comfort of base camp
and a well-deserved celebration dinner. / 2-4 hs.

Day 18 > Plaza de Mulas – Horcones – Penitentes – Mendoza. The hike out takes approximately 7 hours. Most of the gear goes in the mules, so you walk light. From the trailhead at Horcones, our van drives you to Mendoza, after picking up the gear at Penitentes. Hotel check-in, end of the program. / 7-8 hs + 3-4 hour drive.

Included Services

Included in the cost:

Hotel accommodation in Mendoza as indicated in the itinerary, based on double occupancy, in Diplomatic Hotel (*****). Climbers descending early will incur extra hotel fees.
Full board during the expedition (all meals while in the Aconcagua State Park; meals and drinks in Mendoza and Penitentes not included).
Fully certified, English speaking guides.
All group gear for the expedition (sleeping tents, stoves and cooking gear, radio, etc).
Complete base camp service (dining tents, bathrooms, showers, WiFi, meals, storage).
Water: end-to-end drinking water (including water carriers, if needed). This is an increasingly important issue, given the dramatic reduction of the glaciers and streams on Aconcagua.
Free internet service for our guests in all our campsites, (limitations apply).
Mule transport of gear and supplies, to and from Base Camp.
Permanent VHF radio communication.
All transfers in licensed, private shuttles.
All guides are equipped with professional first aid kits and pulse oximeters to monitor acclimatization progress.
Assistance with the required climbing permit procedure.
One porter for every four climbers, to carry 20 kg of group gear.

Not included in the cost:

Mt. Aconcagua State Park climbing permit. MORE INFO
Evacuation insurance (required by Mt. Aconcagua State Park).
Personal porters.
Meals and drinks in Mendoza and Penitentes.
Drinks in Mendoza and Penitentes.
Personal gear, medications, ground or air evacuations, room services, laundry, beverages, phone communications and items of personal nature, insurance liability, hospitalization or medication of any kind, any other service not mentioned in this list.
Any cost incurred by the climber for leaving the trip early (such as transfers, mules, guide, etc). We strongly recommend all participants buy trip cancelation insurance.

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ACONCAGUA EXPEDITION
Polish Glacier Route

More technical and demanding, but less crowded than the normal routes on Mt. Aconcagua, the Polish Glacier route is a postgraduate degree in high altitude mountaineering …