Mendoza Trekking

Luggage for the city or that I do not want to take with me to the mountain can be stored in Uspallata or Puente del Inca?

In Uspallata hotel we have a private Andes Vision storage room to deposit our expedition goods and luggage.

In Puente del Inca we have our Operations Centre where luggage can also be stored, with no extra fees in both cases.

How do I get the ascension permit? How much does it cost?

Aconcagua Vision manages the preform with the passengers’ data, previous to their arrival. Afterwards, you do the payment in Mendoza assisted by the local guide. It is important for you to have enough cash, because it is the only way to do it. With the payment invoice and the preform, guide and passengers go together to the administration offices and get the permit.

Park authorities do not define the current fees until 2 or 3 weeks prior to the beginning of the season on December 1.

When we start hiking, does our equipment come with us? Do we have access to it along the way?

Mules go generally faster than the group. Both in Pioneers route as in 360° route mules are going to leave our luggage in every intermediate camp so we can take our belongings before arriving to the base camp. Therefore we DON’T have access to them while hiking, but we DO HAVE access on destination.

This is the main reason why our guides always recommend not taking unnecessary elements during the hike.

May I take electric/electronic devices such as IPod, Ipad, Photo camera and/or shaving machines?

Of course you do, in fact is recommendable to bring your own favourite music to listen in relax moments, or to share it in base camps through the Bluetooth loudspeakers in our domes. They are also equipped with 220 Volts 24 hours a day, guaranteeing you full charged batteries when departing to high altitude camps.

Base camp tip: Our domes have wooden floors and gas heating, making them really comfy even on cold and/or snowy days. It is recommended to bring light and comfortable house shoes or sleepers such as Crocs, which we can use all around the basecamp and in high altitude camps to go to toilette or move between tents.

Can I take part of the expedition if I am celiac or vegetarian?

Of course you do. We always recommend mentioning in advance any special requirement with food or medical conditions, for our personnel to have it in mind and plan ahead the expedition.

Should I take any climbing or technical gear for the Pioneers route or 360° route?

Aconcagua Vision highly recommends the use of helmet, because on summit day there is a risk of rock droppings on the big couloir (See suggested equipment list).

Should I take cash to the expedition?

You only need to have cash with you for the permit and for the restaurants in Mendoza and Uspallata, not included in the services provided. We also recommend you to take some more in case you decide to use some personal porters, which you can pay directly at the BC. Tips are not included and it is something porters, arrieros and base camp personnel strongly appreciate.

How many kg of food each passenger have to carry?

On carrying days each passenger loads a maximum of 9 kg to C1, 6 kg to C2 Guanacos and 3 kg to Camp Colera for the 360° route. On the Pioneers route (Normal) you should count on 9 kg to Camp Canada, 8 Kg to Nido de Condores and 3 kg to Colera. On the way back you just carry your personal equipment since every bit of waste it’s brought down by our porters (no extra fees).

How much does it costs a personal porter for all altitude camps? May I share a porter with another member of the expedition?

Porters carry up to 20 kg; they depart from BC and go up to altitude camps. The following fees are per each stretch.

Hiring personal porters increases significantly our summit possibilities, since it allows us to save energies for the summit day, avoiding the burden of carrying all our equipment. We can also share porters with other passengers, paying proportionally to the kg we want to be transported.

What happens if I get sick or have some medical problem? Should I pay my evacuation? What happens if I decide to abandon the expedition?

On the rear side of the ascension entrance permit to the park there is medical check list. Every time the expedition moves towards the base camp, every passenger must realize a check, done by the park medical service. If somebody gets serious altitude sickness or suffer any illness considered important by the medical service, he/she will be evacuated by the helicopter to the park entrance, charges free. From this point, passengers are responsible for every other service such as transfer to Mendoza/Santiago de Chile, mules for transportation of personal equipment, accommodation, etc. Aconcagua Vision staff will assist you all the time and would manage all reservations needed for your return home, with no managing fees.

If you voluntarily choose to abandon the expedition, you are responsible for all costs regarding accompanying guides to the park entrance, mules, heli-charter, transfers, accommodation, etc.

If we don’t use extra days at the park or we go back straight to Mendoza, can I change non-used services for hotel nights in the city.

Services are non-interchangeable. Read carefully “included and not included services” section.