Mount Aconcagua
- Normal Route
- NEW!!! Polish Glacier Traverse
- Vacas Valley Route
- Acclimatization Programs
- Trek to Plaza de Mulas
- Trek to Plaza Francia
- Two Days In Aconcagua
- Adventure in Aconcagua 1 day
- Logistic Support
Special Products
- Mt. Plata Expedition
- Horseback Riding Across Los Andes
- Horseback Riding up to Paso Piuquenes
- Ojos del Salado
Newsletter
Basic Trek to Plaza de Mulas
Included Services
- Transfer to the Aconcagua trailhead
- Assistance for the arrangements of loads to be transported by mules
- Mules
- Meals
- Confluencia Camp Site
- Plaza de Mulas Base Camp
- Trekking to Horcones Glacier
- Our Guides
- Tents
- Communication
- Trekking Permit
- Transfer Mendoza / Puente del Inca / Mendoza
- Drinks and other personal costs not mentioned in the itinerary
- Expenses for giving up the trekking
- Sleeping Bag and Personal Equipment
- Personal Insurance
Included Services
Transfer to Aconcagua trailhead
You will be driven in our own vehicles for 5 kilometers, from our hostel in Puente Del Inca to the first Rangers Station. Here your permit is checked out and you are informed about the park rules.
Assistance for the arrangements of loads to be transported by mules
Our mountain guides will advise you on what to include in your luggage and the way in which it should be arranged on the mules.
Mules
Aymara Adventures & Expeditions owns more than 100 mules which carry people or belongings.
These animals pasture during autumn, winter and spring, this means from the middle of March to the middle of November. Before starting with the summer season, these animals are tested and given medicine by veterinarians. They are treated with caution.
At the beginning of the Aconcagua season, they are transported by lorries to Puente del Inca without shoeing, to avoid any injury.
During the season, they are treated with a lot of care and attention. It is important to take into account that after two trips to Plaza de Mulas and one to Plaza Argentina, the mules rest 4 or 5 days, so as to recover from this activity.
The negative aspect of these animals is their untamed character. That is why we have selected a professional team of muleteers, called “arrieros”, who have dedicated their lives to country animals. Experience has taught them how to deal with these animals.
From Puente Del Inca to Confluencia, from this camp to Plaza de Mulas, and on the return, your belongings will be carried by mules. Each mule can carry up to a limit of 180 kg, but our mules only carry 60 kg to move comfortably on the mountain. Every client may transport on the mules a maximum of 30 kg on each stage of the approach. We strongly recommend you to bring a strong duffel bag.
Throughout the trekking all meals (B: breakfast / L: lunch / PL: packed-lunch / D: dinner), are carefully planned by professionals to have a balanced diet during those days on the mountain.
Our cooks always prepare every meal, with fixed menu from the first day.
If you are vegetarian or celiac, or you need a special diet, please let us know in your Booking Form. It will be a pleasure for us to prepare an especial menu for you. This service has an extra cost.
During the trekking, you will stay one night in our own base Camp in Confluencia, which has enough comfort to spend a good deal of time, being fully equipped, with wide dinner tents, electrical light, tables and chairs to have meals.
Once you have arrived at Plaza de Mulas, you will spend the night in our own campsite, fully prepared to make your trip around the magnificent South American Mountain as comfortable as possible, with tents for eating, another for the kitchen, a third tent for equipment storage, and toilets. Here you will be attended by excellent workers, who will prepare delicious meals and provide an excellent service.
We think that during the resting day in the base camp, a short trek in the area of Plaza de Mulas is useful and interesting.
Our mountain guides are qualified professionals of the AAGM (Argentinean Association of Mountain Guides) and the EPGAMT (Provincial School of High Mountain and Trekking Guides). The last qualification is the result of 3 years of study. We believe that to succeed in our expeditions, professionals with experience and the ability to offer security should guide our teams.
Our guides’ equipment includes: VHF radio, a first-aid kit, complete with the appropriate drugs for altitude sickness, ropes, an altimeter, and professional clothing and equipment. All these will provide security and comfort.
Normally, during the summer high season, Aconcagua is a mountain with good weather conditions. Yet, if you happen to have a few stormy days, you will be responsive to nature’s whims at high altitudes. Therefore, we will be sure to provide you with the highest quality tents. We use The North Face tents, which have proved to work well for our clients over the years.
Usually, two or three climbers will sleep in each tent. Remember that you will have to set up your own tent with your partner. The guide will help you when necessary.
You will see that we keep track of where we are at specific sites along the way. We take advantage of the VHF and BLU radio lines that help us to stay in contact between Plaza de Mulas, Confluencia, Puente del Inca and Mendoza. Therefore, we can respond almost inmediatly to whatever issue that may arise.
Not Included Services
Climbing Permit
The only way to enter the Aconcagua Park is by getting the permit personally in Mendoza city. If the ticket is not used within the dates established by the Park authorities, the money will not be returned. The ticket will be invalid in future years.
The entrance fee’s payment supports the maintenance and care of Aconcagua Provincial Park and aids to preserve and protect it. It also supports the maintenance of the medical services and the park rangers' services.
Transfer Mendoza / Puente del Inca / Mendoza
The transfer from Mendoza to Puente de Inca and return is not included. Yet, you will be able to hire a private transfer if you wish.
Drinks and other personal costs not mentioned in the itinerary
Extra expenses like food or drinks separate from those described in the itinerary should be paid for you, as they are not included.
Expenses for giving up the trekking
In order to have better but cheaper services, the trekking is quoted taking into account the whole group. In any case that you give up the scheduled itinerary because of personal problems, mountain sickness, etc, you start taking private and individual services. The extra expenses that you will pay for, if necessary, are: mules from Plaza de Mulas to Puente del Inca (around U$D 180.-), the transfer from Puente del Inca to Mendoza city, etc. Once you give up the itinerary, the company includes the transfer in a regular bus.
Sleeping Bag and Personal Equipment
Neither the technical nor the mountain equipment are included services, so you would have to buy or rent them. Take into account our guides if you need assistance.
If you rent equipment, you will be responsible for it. Apart from that, you must give the equipment back to the mountain shop in time.
Personal Insurance
Having a personal insurance is not a fundamental requirement to do the trekking to Plaza de Mulas. However, we suggest that you contact an insurance company if you wish to take insurance out, taking into account the risks involved during the trekking.