Rooftop of the Americas: ACONCAGUA (AC)
(strenuous expedition)
17 days from Mendoza, Argentina.

Cerro Aconcagua (6959m), the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, lies just within Argentina, some 12 kilometres from the Chilean border.

The itinerary is physically strenuous and a great challenge, but is not technically demanding. It is suitable for most adventurous people with a good level of physical fitness, and experience of trekking and camping in remote mountain areas.

We have three trekking and climbing programmes on the mountain: this Normal Route, the scenic Vacas Valley, and the Polish Glacier Traverse which takes in the whole mountain.

The Normal Route

Our 17-day expedition begins in Mendoza. If you fly in and / or out of Santiago in Chile we are happy to help with hotels, transfers, and a bus or flight between there and Mendoza.

For Aconcagua, mules are used to transport food and climbing equipment to (and rubbish out from) the Plaza de Mulas base camp. Group members and guides carry just a day sack to Base Camp, with mules carrying everything else. However, above Base Camp you carry all of your own equipment in a large backpack up and down the mountain. Porters available at extra cost. We use a guide:client ratio of approximately 1:3 on Aconcagua, as the better the ratio the higher the chances of summit success for all. Groups ize is a maximum of 12 but is usually around 6 clients and 2 guides.

For this programme, experience in the use of crampons and snow-shoes is not a requirement, but previous experience of backpacking and camping in winter conditions would be beneficial.

For more information about high altitude, please visit the Medex website.

Here you can download, for free, Travel at High Altitude - a guide to staying healthy in the mountains, a booklet which draws on the research and experience of more than 20 internationally-recognised experts.

Check our Books and Maps section where you will find a range of literature to help you get the most out of your South American adventure.