View of Los Polacos Glacier 4000 msnm

Polish Glacier

A Technical Challenge on Aconcagua. More technical than the Normal Route, the Polish Glacier involves slopes of up to 55° at over 6,000 meters. Starting from the Plaza Argentina base camp, the route diverges from the Polish Traverse to head toward the glacier. Opened in 1934 by a Polish expedition, it was the second route to Aconcagua after the Normal Route. Known for its breathtaking landscapes and challenges, it is ideal for those seeking to conquer significant challenges.

View Route

Physical Level High
Technical Level Intermediate
Duration 20 days
Dates 2026 – 2027

Ask for available dates!

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”.

DAY 1

Service Full

Airport – Mendoza City (760 m)

Pick-up at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Expedition briefing and personal equipment check. Dinner provided.

DAY 2

Service Full

Mendoza City – Puente del Inca (2,580 m)

Full assistance for payment and acquisition of permits. Transfer to Penitentes with a stop for lunch in Uspallata. Preparation of loads for mule transport.

DAY 3

Service Full

Puente del Inca – Punta de Vacas (2,450 m) – Pampa de Leñas (2,800 m)

Transfer to the Valle de Vacas park entrance, check-in with park rangers and a 5-hour trek to camp. Asado dinner with muleteers.

DAY 4

Service Full

Pampa de Leñas – Casa de Piedras (3,200 m)

Breakfast followed by a 5-hour trek. First views of Aconcagua upon arrival.

DAY 5

Service Full

Casa de Piedras – Plaza Argentina Base Camp (4,200 m)

4–5 hour hike to base camp. Afternoon free to rest, take a hot shower and use Wi-Fi.

DAY 6

Service Full

Active Rest – Cerro Colorado (4,800 m)

After breakfast, ascend Cerro Colorado for 3 hours. Return for lunch at the base camp. Free afternoon.

DAY 7

Service Full

Load Carry to Camp I – Plaza Argentina

Load carry to Camp I from Plaza Argentina (approximately 6 hours total) and return to base camp for acclimatization.

DAY 8

Service Full

Full Relaxation

Full rest day at base camp. Finalize packing and send equipment to Plaza de Mulas for the descent.

DAY 9

Service Full

Base Camp – Camp I (4,900 m / 5 hours)

Supported by porters who will carry and set up tents, the expedition advances to Camp I.

DAY 10

Service Full

Load Carry to Camp II – Base of the Polish Glacier (6,000 m / 5 hours total)

Transport supplies to Camp II and return to Camp I. Rest in the afternoon.

DAY 11

Service Full

Rest and Acclimatization at Camp I

Rest and acclimatization day at Camp I.

DAY 12

Service Full

Camp I – Camp II (6,000 m)

Ascend to Camp II. Porters will carry and set up tents at the new camp.

DAY 13

Service Full

Rest at Camp II

Rest day at Camp II. Focus on hydration and recovery at high altitude.

DAY 14

Service Full

Camp II – Summit (6,962 m) – Berlín Camp

The big day! Start the ascent at dawn to ensure enough time for both ascent and descent under safe conditions. Porters will move the camp to Berlín Camp for a shorter and safer return via the Normal Route.

DAY 15

Service Full

Weather Contingency Days

DAY 16

Service Full

Weather Contingency Days

DAY 17

Service Full

Weather Contingency Days

DAY 18

Service Full

Berlín Camp – Plaza de Mulas (4,300 m)

Descend to Plaza de Mulas base camp. Celebrate with a fantastic dinner after the immense effort. Prepare mule loads for the next day.

DAY 19

Dinner

Plaza de Mulas – Horcones (8-9 hours) – Uspallata

Breakfast, followed by a 6-hour trek to Horcones. Check-out and transfer to Penitentes. Accommodation at Hotel Ayelen with dinner.

DAY 20

Breakfast

Penitentes – Mendoza City

Transfer to Mendoza City hotel. Farewell dinner.

DAY 21

Service Full

Mendoza City – Airport

Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

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 degrees 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 do not 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 or electronic devices such as iPod, iPad, photo camera 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 snowy days. It is recommended to bring light and comfortable house shoes or slippers such as Crocs, which we can use all around the base camp and in high altitude camps to go to the toilet 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 degrees 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 the suggested equipment list for details.

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 base camp. 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 Camp 1, 6 kg to Camp 2 Guanacos and 3 kg to Camp Colera for the 360 degrees 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 is brought down by our porters with no extra fees.

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

Porters carry up to 20 kg and depart from base camp to altitude camps. Fees are calculated per section. Hiring personal porters increases significantly our summit possibilities, since it allows us to save energy for the summit day and avoid 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 a medical checklist. Every time the expedition moves towards the base camp, every passenger must complete a check done by the park medical service. If somebody gets serious altitude sickness or suffers any illness considered important by the medical service, he or she will be evacuated by helicopter to the park entrance free of charge. From this point, passengers are responsible for every other service such as transfer to Mendoza or Santiago de Chile, mules for transportation of personal equipment, accommodation and similar expenses. Aconcagua Vision staff will assist you all the time and 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 and related services.