Aconcagua Guided Ascent

Plaza de Mulas - Canada 4600 msnm

Normal Route

The most chosen. This historic route was chosen by the first expedition to reach the summit of Aconcagua in 1897. Today it is the classic and most direct access. The Normal Route offers stunning views and a challenging ascent to the summit of Aconcagua at 6.963 meters (22,841 feet).

View Route

Physical Level Intermediate
Technical Level Low
Duration 20 days
Dates 2025 – 2026

Dec 1 to Dec 20 – 2025
Dec 20, 2025 to Jan 8, 2026
Dec 27, 2025 to Jan 16, 2026
Jan 3 to Jan 23 – 2026
Jan 12 to Feb 1 – 2026
Jan 31 to Feb 20 – 2026

TRANSFERS

Private vehicle transfers:

Airport transfers (IN/OUT)
Mendoza – Puente del Inca
Puente del Inca – Punta de Vacas
Horcones – Mendoza

One transport per group, by minibus or car, per route.

LODGING

One (1) night before and one (1) night after the climb at NH Cordillera 4 stars Hotel. Shared double room. Breakfast included.

One (1) night before the climb at Vision Ranch (Puente del Inca). Shared double dome, full board (drinks not included).

MULE

Equipment transport with mules (35 kg per person). Your gear will be waiting at each camp: from the Vacas Valley entrance to Plaza Argentina, then to Plaza de Mulas, and finally to Puente del Inca.

We apply a responsible mule rotation policy to ensure their well-being and guarantee that loads arrive on time and in optimal condition.

COMMUNICATION

All local guides carry VHF radios.
Base Camp: VHF Radio and Starlink.
Free Starlink Wi-Fi

BASE CAMP

Large dining domes with thermal insulation and wooden floors, electricity (220v 50Hz), charging station for electronics, tables, chairs, lounge area, and heating stoves.
Hot showers.
Accommodation: 1 tent per 2 people (Optional UPGRADE to double base domes).

HIGH CAMP

Equipped with dining tents and staffed bathrooms.
Dining tents include tables, benches, and VHF Radio.
Accommodation: 1 tent per 2 people.
We provide emergency oxygen with masks and regulators.

GUIDES AND PORTERS

Local Aconcagua Vision guides are certified mountain guides.
Guide Ratio: 1 local guide for every 4 climbers.
Porters deliver daily weather forecasts.
Includes transportation and setup of layers at high-altitude camps.

ALL SERVICES

Our package includes everything needed for your expedition, with no additional charges.

From logistics, meals, and technical support to gear transportation everything is covered in the published rate.

That way, you can focus on enjoying the experience, knowing every detail is already taken care of.

Aconcagua ascent permit.
Personal gear.
Any costs incurred from abandoning the expedition: helicopter, transfers, additional guides, hotels, mules, etc.
Lunch or dinner in Mendoza, Uspallata, or Puente del Inca.
No refunds or compensation for expedition cancellations due to force majeure (earthquakes, landslides, emergency orders from Aconcagua Park authorities, etc.).
Additional hotel nights in Mendoza or Puente del Inca beyond those included in the program.
Any service not listed under “Included Services”.

When arriving to Mendoza airport, someone picks me up? If my luggage does not arrive with my flight, how do I reclaim it? How do I get it?

Our guides always pick up their passengers. If your luggage has not arrived with you, the guide will arrange issues with the company and send the file number to our offices to do the follow-up via internet and telephone. Once recovered, is sent to wherever the passenger is located at that moment (Hotel in Mendoza/Puente del Inca/base camp).

Can I reserve a single room in hotels? Can I have a single tent just for me?

Every passenger, when confirming the expedition reservation, can choose a single room with a preferential fare. They can also choose single tents up to base camp, or during the whole expedition for an extra cost.

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.