Born in Mendoza, Manu prefers to define ‘planet earth’ as his native land. He has made a living out of climbing, mountain biking and scuba-diving around the world. With an academic business background, he combines his life passions: adventure tourism & sustainable business developing. He first climbed Aconcagua with Fernando Grajales Jr at age 18. Since then, Grajales Expeditions is one of his beloved ‘homes’.
manu@grajales.net
Manuel Bustelo
Manuel, happy in Aconcagua.
Markcom Manager
Born in Mendoza, Manu prefers to define ‘planet earth’ as his native land. He has made a living out of climbing, mountain biking and scuba-diving around the world. With an academic business background, he combines his life passions: adventure tourism & sustainable business developing. He first climbed Aconcagua with Fernando Grajales Jr at age 18. Since then, Grajales Expeditions is one of his beloved ‘homes’.
manu@grajales.net
MANUEL BUSTELO
Content Creator
PABLO BETANCOURT
Pablo working while climbing the Polish Glacier of Aconcagua.
Pablo has been behind the lens for the last 30 years as a photographer and more recently as a cameraman. After his first jobs as photojournalist in newspapers and magazines, he became a freelancer, working in advertising and then gradually moving towards documentaries or projects related to nature.
It was one of those projects that took him to the summit of Mt. Everest in 2012. Before that (unsurprisingly), he had stood at the top of Mt. Aconcagua a couple of times, and in 2014 he summarized his views in an amazing photo book of our mountain. By now, Pablo's been at the top 10 times -and keeps counting.
In Mendoza, where he lives with his wife and their children, Pablo works as Director of Photography in media projects related to nature and tourism.
Content Creator
Pablo betancourt
Pablo has been behind the lens for the last 30 years, as a photographer and more recently as a cameraman. After his first jobs as photojournalist in newspapers and magazines, he became a freelancer, working in advertising and then gradually moving towards documentaries or projects related to nature.
It was one of those projects that took him to the summit of Mt. Everest in 2012. Before that (unsurprisingly), he had stood at the top of Mt. Aconcagua a couple of times, and in 2014 he summarized his views in an amazing photo book of our mountain. By now, Pablo's been at the top 10 times -and keeps counting.
In Mendoza, where he lives with his wife and their children, Pablo works as Director of Photography in media projects related to nature and tourism.
CEO
fer@grajales.net
Fernando grajales
Fernando climbing in Chamonix
Fer has been working organizing logistics in Aconcagua for over 20 years. He is an avid all around climber, trail runner, snowboarder and biker. His climbing career has taken him to the summits of Mt. Everest, Ama Dablan, El Cap and Aconcagua (several times, including a 27:30 hs car to car ascent of the Normal route).
Fer lives in Mendoza (most of the year) with his wife. He loves to take long runs in the nearby hills.
fer@grajales.net
Fernando Grajales
CEO
Fer has been working organizing logistics in Aconcagua for over 20 years. He is an avid all around climber, trail runner, snowboarder and biker. His climbing career has taken him to the summits of Mt. Everest, Ama Dablan, El Cap and Aconcagua (several times, including a 27:30 hs car to car ascent of the Normal route).
Fer lives in Mendoza (most of the year) with his wife. He loves to take long runs in the nearby hills.
It is unlikely that you will meet Florencia during your expedition, as she works behind the curtains. But make no mistake:, she is there, 24/7, making things happen for you. Flor handles all the complex schedule of hotel reservations and transfers to and from the mountain. She also makes sure that the Mendoza office, the logistics center at Penitentes and the base camps are properly coordinated and running smoothly. She knows the business, as she's been working with us since 2005.
A former first division field hockey keeper, Flor splits her winters between her keepers school and her patients as physiotherapist -and the occasional mountaineering trip-. She´s climbed in Perú, Nepal, Europe and, of course, has summited Aconcagua. She is married and lives in Mendoza.
It is unlikely that you will meet Florencia during your expedition, as she works behind the curtains. But make no mistake:, she is there, 24/7, making things happen for you. Flor handles all the complex schedule of hotel reservations and transfers to and from the mountain. She also makes sure that the Mendoza office, the logistics center at Penitentes and the base camps are properly coordinated and running smoothly. She knows the business, as she's been working with us since 2005.
A former first division field hockey keeper, Flor splits her winters between her keepers school and her patients as physiotherapist -and the occasional mountaineering trip-. She´s climbed in Perú, Nepal, Europe and, of course, has summited Aconcagua. She is married and lives in Mendoza.
A former newspaper editor, Nico left the newsroom for the mountains -he wrote 3 books and countless articles about nature in the process-. He’s been with Grajales Expeditions for 8 years, and currently handles everything client-related, and also writes for our website and blog.
A job that he enjoys as much as a tough mountain bike race in the desert. As per achievements, he claims to hold a record obtaining Aconcagua permits in high season (non stop).
A former newspaper editor, Nico left the newsroom for the mountains -he wrote 3 books and countless articles about nature in the process-. He’s been with Grajales Expeditions for 8 years, and currently handles everything client-related, and also writes for our website and blog.
A job that he enjoys as much as a tough mountain bike race in the desert. As per achievements, he claims to hold a record obtaining Aconcagua permits in high season (non stop).
Elvira has a degree in psychology and has specialized in organizational psychology. She is currently pursuing a career as a trekking guide.
She handles our Human Resources, a task that allows her to visit the base camps from time to time -one of the things that Elvira loves about the job. In fact, Elvi is involved in a ground-breaking study about the effects of hypoxia in mental health.
Elvira lives in Mendoza all year round.
Elvira has a degree in psychology and has specialized in organizational psychology. She is currently pursuing a career as a trekking guide.
She handles our Human Resources, a task that allows her to visit the base camps from time to time -one of the things that Elvira loves about the job. In fact, Elvi is involved in a ground-breaking study about the effects of hypoxia in mental health.
Elvira lives in Mendoza all year round.
Warehouse Logistics
Eduarto morsucci
Eduardo supervising the mules in its off-season ranch
Whether on foot, on horseback, at the wheel or bossing around at Los Penitentes, Eduardo is a true mountain man. Born at the feet of the mountains 47 years ago, he has been doing all sorts of mountain-related endeavours since then (some of them, too odd to include in a resume). Being around horses and gauchos (and bossing around at Los Penitentes) are his preferred activities, second only to being at home with his lovely family (wife and two children).
Warehouse Logistics
EDUARTO MORSUCCI
Whether on foot, on horseback, at the wheel or bossing around at Los Penitentes, Eduardo is a true mountain man. Born at the feet of the mountains 47 years ago, he has been doing all sorts of mountain-related endeavours since then (some of them, too odd to include in a resume). Being around horses and gauchos (and bossing around at Los Penitentes) are his preferred activities, second only to being at home with his lovely family (wife and two children).
The Founder
Fernando grajales Sr.
Grajales, a mountain and a rope, a usual combination.
In 1976, Fernando Grajales sold his farm to start up a guiding company at the foot of Mt. Aconcagua. It turned out that it was a good idea. Eventually, venturing into the mountains became popular, and Grajales Expeditions obtained the first license ever granted to provide services in Aconcagua.
By then, the Mendocino entrepreneur was a seasoned andinista. After a solo Aconcagua summit in 1952 by the Normal route, he had taken part in the first climb of the southwest ridge, a technical route.
The Andean endeavour was perfect preparation for the 1954 Argentine expedition to the still unclimbed Dhaulagiri (8.167 m), in which Fernando handled logistics. The expedition reached 8.000 m and obtained international recognition.
Later on, Grajales applied the experience in his own company. He settled down and formed a family, too. Mabel, his wife, and Fernando jr, their son, shared the burden of the first seasons, living half the year in Mendoza and the other half in the mountain.
The family venture became synonymous with Aconcagua. Don Fernando kept running the business until his early death in 2004.
His legacy lives on.
FERNANDO GRAJALES SR.
The Founder
In 1976, Fernando Grajales sold his farm to start up a guiding company at the foot of Mt. Aconcagua. It turned out that it was a good idea. Eventually, venturing into the mountains became popular, and Grajales Expeditions obtained the first license ever granted to provide services in Aconcagua.
By then, the Mendocino entrepreneur was a seasoned andinista. After a solo Aconcagua summit in 1952 by the Normal route, he had taken part in the first climb of the southwest ridge, a technical route.
The Andean endeavour was perfect preparation for the 1954 Argentine expedition to the still unclimbed Dhaulagiri (8.167 m), in which Fernando handled logistics. The expedition reached 8.000 m and obtained international recognition.
Later on, Grajales applied the experience in his own company. He settled down and formed a family, too. Mabel, his wife, and Fernando jr, their son, shared the burden of the first seasons, living half the year in Mendoza and the other half in the mountain.
The family venture became synonymous with Aconcagua. Don Fernando kept running the business until his early death in 2004.
His legacy lives on.
Plaza de Mulas Porters Manager
Maxi Garay
Maxi in his element, climbing in the Andes
A mountain guide himself, Maxi prefers to work as a porter, as he's been doing for the last eight seasons. Not that he doesn't climb: at 33, he’s summited Aconcagua 16 times by multiple routes. And in the very few breaks he gets as head of porters at Plaza de Mulas, he's climbed neighboring peaks as Catedral, Cuerno and Horcones.
Maxi has spent the last half of his life around mountains in the Andes, and the first half playing soccer in Mendoza, where he was born. He even made it to the junior team of the pro local club Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba!
Maxi Garay
Plaza de Mulas Porters Manager
A mountain guide himself, Maxi prefers to work as a porter, as he's been doing for the last eight seasons. Not that he doesn't climb: at 33, he’s summited Aconcagua 16 times by multiple routes. And in the very few breaks he gets as head of porters at Plaza de Mulas, he's climbed neighboring peaks as Catedral, Cuerno and Horcones.
Maxi has spent the last half of his life around mountains in the Andes, and the first half playing soccer in Mendoza, where he was born. He even made it to the junior team of the pro local club Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba!
Plaza Argentina Porters Manager
Fer Arnaudi
Fernando fixing rope in the Polish Glacier, Aconcagua
A combination of athlete, guide, and local expert, Fer is an example of Grajales Expeditions’ new breed of mountain leaders. He has so much experience in Aconcagua that he could run up and down the hill blindfolded, and he is completing his UIAGM career as mountain guide. But he chooses to work as porter to “get the right amount of red cells” to raise the bar in his climbing challenges.
He summited Fitz Roy (Chaltén, Patagonia) twice, and Denali a couple of times too. In Aconcagua, he climbed Aconcagua’s Polish Glacier 5 times (one guiding and fixing ropes), the South Wall and the technical East Glacier. He is 36 and lives where his climbing projects take him. His goal is to “guide technical mountains”.
Fer Arnaudi
Plaza Argentina Porters Manager
A combination of athlete, guide, and local expert, Fer is an example of Grajales Expeditions’ new breed of mountain leaders. He has so much experience in Aconcagua that he could run up and down the hill blindfolded, and he is completing his UIAGM career as mountain guide. But he chooses to work as porter to “get the right amount of red cells” to raise the bar in his climbing challenges.
He summited Fitz Roy (Chaltén, Patagonia) twice, and Denali a couple of times too. In Aconcagua, he climbed Aconcagua’s Polish Glacier 5 times (one guiding and fixing ropes), the South Wall and the technical East Glacier. He is 36 and lives where his climbing projects take him. His goal is to “guide technical mountains”.
Plaza Argentina BC Manager
griselda bustos
Griselda in Laguna Guacachina, Perú.
Although she is nomadic at heart, Griselda has a soft spot for Aconcagua: “Of all the places I’ve been, and I travel a lot, Plaza Argentina is my place in the world, my second home. If we had a year-round climbing season, I would live there for sure”, she affirms. “Gri” manages our base camp in the Vacas Valley since 2011. (she took a sabbatical year to spend time in…. Plaza Argentina!)-.
She has worked in Plaza de Mulas (at the old hotel) and Confluencia, as BC manager and as a chef. She has completed studies in trophology (a nutritional approach that combines foods in a healthy way).In the off season, she treats her “mountainsickness” with seasonal jobs at ski resorts. But most of all Gri is a true “Aconcaguan”: a respected voice within the mountain community and a person always ready to smile and to help others.
Griselda Bustos
Plaza Argentina BC Manager
Although she is nomadic at heart, Griselda has a soft spot for Aconcagua: “Of all the places I’ve been, and I travel a lot, Plaza Argentina is my place in the world, my second home. If we had a year-round climbing season, I would live there for sure”, she affirms. “Gri” manages our base camp in the Vacas Valley since 2011. (she took a sabbatical year to spend time in…. Plaza Argentina!)-.
She has worked in Plaza de Mulas (at the old hotel) and Confluencia, as BC manager and as a chef. She has completed studies in trophology (a nutritional approach that combines foods in a healthy way).In the off season, she treats her “mountainsickness” with seasonal jobs at ski resorts. But most of all Gri is a true “Aconcaguan”: a respected voice within the mountain community and a person always ready to smile and to help others.
Visual Designer
Nuria Añó
Nuria up to Huascarán
From our website and logo to the cool wooden signs in our camps, Nuria Añó Gargiulo has been the creative mind behind Grajales Expeditions’ visual identity since 2016. A graphic designer by education, Nuria lives and works in Barreal, a beautiful little town at the foot of the Ansilta mountains (a massive range to the North of Aconcagua). An appropriated location to give full rein to her two passions: winemaking and climbing, endeavours that Nuria shares with her husband Pancho.
NURIA AÑÓ
Visual Designer
From our website and logo to the cool wooden signs in our camps, Nuria Añó Gargiulo has been the creative mind behind Grajales Expeditions’ visual identity since 2016. A graphic designer by education, Nuria lives and works in Barreal, a beautiful little town at the foot of the Ansilta mountains (a massive range to the North of Aconcagua). An appropriated location to give full rein to her two passions: winemaking and climbing, endeavours that Nuria shares with her husband Pancho.
Plaza de Mulas BC Manager
Luz Rodriguez
Luz
Managing a busy base camp requires a vast array of competences. You have to keep an eye on the altitude (who’s going for the summit, who’s coming back -hungry- to BC); an eye on the lowlands (who’s coming to town and will need to be fed, who’s leaving town and will need to be flown); and above all two alert ayes on your camp, with muleteers, climbers, guides and porters all moving at once.
Luz knows this game of chess by experience.She has spent 11 summers in Aconcagua, working as porter, cook, logistics manager and BC manager.
In the meantime, she managed to get a mountain guide degree and to set foot on the summit.
LUZ RODRIGUEZ
Plaza de Mulas BC Manager
Managing a busy base camp requires a vast array of competences. You have to keep an eye on the altitude (who’s going for the summit, who’s coming back -hungry- to BC); an eye on the lowlands (who’s coming to town and will need to be fed, who’s leaving town and will need to be flown); and above all two alert ayes on your camp, with muleteers, climbers, guides and porters all moving at once.
Luz knows this game of chess by experience.She has spent 11 summers in Aconcagua, working as porter, cook, logistics manager and BC manager.
In the meantime, she managed to get a mountain guide degree and to set foot on the summit.
Confluencia Camp Manager
Julieta barros
Julieta enjoying the off-season but still in the mountains.
Julieta’s circle around the sun has three defined stages: the climbing season in Mt. Aconcagua, the skiing season in Las Leñas and nomadism in between. She is a graphic designer by profession, but being a host is her passion and Confluencia camp her place in the world. “I don´t feel the need to go up to the altitude or the summit”, she says. “I love being in the camp and making people feel at home”. Julieta is a seasoned “coach surfer” and loves exploring different cultures and distant countries. She dives and snowboards when she gets a chance.
Julieta barros
Confluencia Camp Manager
Julieta’s circle around the sun has three defined stages: the climbing season in Mt. Aconcagua, the skiing season in Las Leñas and nomadism in between. She is a graphic designer by profession, but being a host is her passion and Confluencia camp her place in the world. “I don´t feel the need to go up to the altitude or the summit”, she says. “I love being in the camp and making people feel at home”. Julieta is a seasoned “coach surfer” and loves exploring different cultures and distant countries. She dives and snowboards when she gets a chance.
Pampa de Leñas Camp Manager
Carolia aguilera
Carolia.
Coralia manages our Pampa de Leñas camp, the first camp in the Vacas Valley routes. After studying gastronomy, she focused in bakery, her true passion. “My goal is to reach people through something I've done with my hands”, she says. Coralia spends the off-season at her home in Mendoza, where she is a free lance baker. In her free time she practices Arabic dance.
CAROLIA AGUILERA
Papa de Leñas Camp Manager
Coralia manages our Pampa de Leñas camp, the first camp in the Vacas Valley routes. After studying gastronomy, she focused in bakery, her true passion. “My goal is to reach people through something I've done with my hands”, she says.
Coralia spends the off-season at her home in Mendoza, where she is a free lance baker. In her free time she practices Arabic dance.
Muleteers Chief
Jose villalobos
José preparing a mule to climb to base camp
José was born and raised in El Leoncito National Park, a high plateau where the sky is so clear that it houses a large astronomical observatory.
At 17 he moved to Puente del Inca, where he “climbed the muleteer ladder”; he began as a “marucho” (apprentice) for Grajales Expeditions in 1989, and then became a full Aconcagua muleteer. This involves waking up at 4 AM every day of the season and head up to base camp no matter the weather.
Since 2006 he became our head of arrieros (muleteers), in charge of 10 gauchos and 120 mules. He often plays with the idea of seeing the hill from the summit before he retires. In the off season, José lives in Mendoza with his wife and two children.
JOSE VILLALOBOS
Muleteers Chief
José was born and raised in El Leoncito National Park, a high plateau where the sky is so clear that it houses a large astronomical observatory.
At 17 he moved to Puente del Inca, where he “climbed the muleteer ladder”; he began as a “marucho” (apprentice) for Grajales Expeditions in 1989, and then became a full Aconcagua muleteer. This involves waking up at 4 AM every day of the season and head up to base camp no matter the weather.
Since 2006 he became our head of arrieros (muleteers), in charge of 10 gauchos and 120 mules. He often plays with the idea of seeing the hill from the summit before he retires. In the off season, José lives in Mendoza with his wife and two children.
Driver
carlos cabrera
Carlos
He speaks English with a Southern American accent, he wears big rings and if you happen to hop in his van, he might introduce you to a purists’ selection of heavy metal and rock music. (Should you -and he- be in the mood for it, of course).
He is the Dean of our drivers, the Force behind all your safe transfers to and from Mt. Aconcagua. He’s not that old, but he’s been driving since the Andes were the bottom of an ocean.
His name is Carlos but he goes by Charly. He was born in Mendoza, where he has a beautiful family of wife and three children, but he spent a few years in South Carolina. (That’s where the accent and the music inclination come from!).
CARLOS CABRERA
Driver
He speaks English with a Southern American accent, he wears big rings and if you happen to hop in his van, he might introduce you to a purists’ selection of heavy metal and rock music. (Should you -and he- be in the mood for it, of course).
He is the Dean of our drivers, the Force behind all your safe transfers to and from Mt. Aconcagua. He’s not that old, but he’s been driving since the Andes were the bottom of an ocean.
His name is Carlos but he goes by Charly. He was born in Mendoza, where he has a beautiful family of wife and three children, but he spent a few years in South Carolina. (That’s where the accent and the music inclination come from!).
Driver
Darío canizzo
Dario
After ten years working as a trekking guide in Aconcagua, Darío decided that he had enough of walking. He had already been at the top three times. But he wanted to stay close to the mountains, so he picked up a job driving climbers to and from Aconcagua.
He certainly likes driving: in one occasion he rode his motorbike for 5.000km, the whole Argentine section of the iconic Route 40, that runs along the Andes.
Darío lives in Mendoza with his wife and two children.
Darío canizzo
Driver
After ten years working as a trekking guide in Aconcagua, Darío decided that he had enough of walking. He had already been at the top three times. But he wanted to stay close to the mountains, so he picked up a job driving climbers to and from Aconcagua.
He certainly likes driving: in one occasion he rode his motorbike for 5.000km, the whole Argentine section of the iconic Route 40, that runs along the Andes.
Darío lives in Mendoza with his wife and two children.
