Aconcagua Trekking
Plaza Argentina With Heli-Charter

6 days / maximum altitude: 4.190 m – 13,746 ft

PLAZA ARGENTINA TREK

His groundbreaking program lets you experience Aconcagua from the condors’ point of view, by flying out of base camp in a private helicopter.

Towering above the surrounding Andean peaks, the summit of Mt. Aconcagua stands at 6.960,8 m / 22,837 ft. It is the highest mountain in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres, the tallest peak on Earth outside of Asia, and the second of the Seven Summits, after Mt. Everest.
· Trek the pristine Vacas Valley and visit Plaza Argentina, the base camp for the east face routes of Aconcagua.
· Be a part of a full, summit-bound expedition for 6 days and then come back in style by flying out instead of walking two long days.
· For the entire trek, all you will need to carry is a day pack with some essentials; the mules will carry the rest.

SEASON 2023 / 2024

Duration of the trip > 6 days
Maximum altitude > 4.190 m – 13,746 ft
Departures > November 27th / December 11th · 18th · 25th / January 1st · 8th · 15th · 22nd · 29th
Price per person > 1 pax: U$D 3.690 / 2 pax: U$D 2.415

We are there when you need us.

If you don’t find what you need, please contact us.

ITINERARY

Day 1 > Mendoza
Pick up at the airport if needed (optional). Your guide will check your gear and assist you with the park’s trekking permit procedures. The program does not include hotel and meals in Mendoza.

Day 2 > Mendoza – Punta de Vacas (trailhead) – Pampa de Leñas camp (Transfer 3 hs / Trek 4 hs / 2.950m)
Private transfer vehicles from Mendoza to our warehouse in Penitentes. You can have coffee and snacks while the guides prepare the mule loads. Lockers and safe storage place are available. After a 15 minutes drive to Punta de Vacas and a brief check with the rangers, the team begins the 4-5 hour hike to Pampa de Leñas, the first camp in the Vacas Valley. You will be carrying only a day pack. The asado criollo (Gaucho BBQ) is the highlight of the day. (4-5 hs).

Day 3 > Pampa de Leñas – Casa de Piedra (3.240 m)
Hike to Casa de Piedra, our second approach camp, featuring a great view of the Polish Glacier and the East Face of Aconcagua as we arrive. (6 hs).

Day 4 > Casa de Piedra – Plaza Argentina base camp (4.190 m)
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 dome: the perfect reward after the hardest day of the approach. (6-7 hs).

Day 5 > Rest & Explore
Plaza Argentina is the perfect spot to take a closer look at the cosmopolitan world of mountaineering; the lofty dining tents, the seasoned guides and porters, the climbers from all over the world; the chatter of the mules and the rush of the helicopter, living together under the same Andean sky. But a short walk away, you can experience the raw power of the pristine, high altitude environment.

Day 6 > Plaza Argentina – Horcones – Mendoza
Early in the morning, our BC manager will coordinate the helicopter flight (weather permitting). Your guide will assist you in boarding the helicopter. Seeing Aconcagua from the condor’s perspective is a whole different experience! After enjoying one of the world’s most scenic transfers, the helicopter will land in Horcones, the trailhead of the normal route. A more humble land vehicle will drive you to Mendoza, where our program ends.

NOTE (*): Please note that the program begins in Mendoza the day before the hike, in order to have time to check your gear and obtain the trekking permit. Please schedule your arrival accordingly.

Included Services

Included in the cost:

Private transfers (Mendoza / Trailhead / Mendoza).
Pack mules from the trailhead to BC and back.
Full board during the hike.
Plaza Agentina: full board, dining tents, sleeping tents, bathroom.
Free showers and drinkable water at Plaza Agentina.
Free WiFi at Plaza Agentina & permanent communication (VHF).
World class, English speaking mountain guides, certified by Mt. Aconcagua State Park.
Gear check and assistance with climbing permit procedures.
Helicopter charter from base camp to the trailhead. If the helicopter is not able to fly because of weather conditions, we’ll reimburse U$S 500 per person and provide guides, mules and all necessary services for the hike out.

Not included in the cost:

Cost of the trekking permit to enter Mt Aconcagua State Park.
Lodging in Mendoza.
Meals and beverages in Mendoza and Penitentes.
Any cost incurred by the climber if she or he leaves the trip early (such as mules, transfers, guide, etc). We strongly recommend all participants to buy a trip cancelation insurance.
Personal gear, room service, laundry, beverages, phone communication, ground or air evacuations, hospitalization or medication of any kind, liability insurance, any other service not mentioned in this above.

Optional services: