South America Adventure Travel

Aconcagua Vacas Valley & Cordon del Plata



Hiking a less crowded path we'll approach the mountain through the Vacas Valley and climb the north-east face to the summit.

Cordon Del Plata With this program you'll be able to attempt Aconcagua in the best shape, and also explore a different area in the Andes. Locally called "Cordon del Plata", these mountains offer a variety of climbing challenges and easy access. Here we'll spend the first days climbing two peaks including "Vallecitos" (18074 ft / 5509 mts) before moving to the Vacas valley to attempt Aconcagua. This gives us better acclimatization while visiting different mountains and avoiding the stress of many days at basecamp.


Aconcagua Vacas Valley & Cordon del Plata Trip Details

  • Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate
  • Location: Cordon del Plata & Aconcagua, Andes Range, Argentina
  • Length: 23 days
  • Climber/guide ratio: 3:1
  • Capacity: 10
  • Prerequisites: excellent physical condition
  • Cost: US$ 3,800
  • Departure dates
    • 1/9/09
    • 2/16/09

Included
  • Certified Mountain Guides
  • Hotel accommodations in Mendoza and Penitentes
  • Assistance obtaining the permits (permits not included)
  • All meals during the climb
  • Restaurant meals in Mendoza and Penitentes (as seen on the Itinerary)
  • Camping and cooking gear for the group
  • Base camp services: dining tent, WC, satellite phone, hyperbaric chamber, emergency oxygen
  • Mules
  • Private ground transportation throughout the trip.

Not included


Aconcagua Vacas valley & Cordon del Plata Trip Itinerary



Day 0 Flight to Mendoza. You should arrange your flight in order to arrive to Santiago (Chile) in the morning and connect to Mendoza the same day.
Day 1 Mendoza. (2,428 ft). We'll be waiting for you at the airport and then we'll drive to the Hotel. After having an introductory meeting and checking gear we'll go out for a welcome dinner in a typical Argentinean "parrilla".
Day 2 Mendoza – Refugio Vallecitos (10,000 ft). Early in the morning we'll obtain the mandatory permits and immediately drive to Cordon del Plata area where we'll spend the night in a mountain hut.
Day 3 Refugio Vallecitos. This day we'll start our acclimatization doing a light hike around the hut.
Day 4 Piedra Grande Camp. We‘ll move to our next camp at 10,900 ft, situated after a beautiful green valley. You'll also start to get familiar with specific camping techniques.
Day 5 El Salto camp. This spot, between Mt Plata and Vallecitos, will be our last camp. Great views.
Day 6 El Salto camp. Rest day. We'll do a short trek to the glacier and get some practice on using our crampons and ice axes.
Day 7 Mt Vallecitos (17,500 ft). During this day, we'll start climbing towards Mt. Plata until reaching Vallecito's ridge. Then we'll be climbing straight to our first summit, enjoying great views, Aconcagua included.
Day 8 Penitentes. We'll descend to the base where we'll load our van to drive to our Hotel in Penitentes.
Day 9 Penitentes. At Hotel Ayelen, we'll spend a rest day, while preparing the loads for the mules.
Day 10-11 Approach to Plaza Argentina Base Camp (13,700 ft). Mules will carry our gear. Our first day we'll follow the Vacas valley. On the second day we'll continue up the Relinchos Valley to our base Camp.
Day 12 Plaza Argentina. Today is a day for resting, preparing for our mail objective and enjoy the Andes.
Day 13 Plaza Argentina / Camp I (16,000 ft). We'll leave base camp and head northwest over the moraine of the Relinchos Glacier to arrive later at the site of Camp I. Here we'll set our tents and spend the night. (4-6 hours).
Day 14 Camp II carry. We'll climb to Camp II "Ameguino Col" (17,650 ft) and return to C1. 3 to 5 hour hike.
Day 15 Camp I / Camp II. From Camp I, we'll climb to the Ameghino Col, setting our camp there.
Day 16 Camp II / Camp III (19,300 ft). We move completely to Camp III. At the base of the Polish glacier, we'll set our tents. Here we'll rest and get ready for our big day!
Day 17 Summit day (22,841 ft). Summit day, weather permitting. Return to Camp III
Day 18 Camp III / Plaza Argentina (13,780 ft). We'll begin the descent back down. We'll go this time to our new base camp at Plaza de Mulas (13,780 feet) to relax.
Day 19 Plaza de Argentina / Pampa Lenas. Descent to Penitentes through Horcones Valley. Overnight in hotel.
Day 20 Pampa Lenas/Mendoza. Return to Mendoza where we'll enjoy a celebration dinner.
Day 21 Flight back home. Transfer to the airport. End of our services.
Day 22-23 Extra days. We include two extra days in case of bad weather or for further acclimatization.

Restaurant meals included: day 1, day 8, day 9 and day 20.
Hotel includes breakfast.

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