Aconcagua polish traverse route 2023/2024

Team meeting in Mendoza. Gear check, gear rental, climbing permit procedures. 

Your guide will help you getting through the bureaucracy. 

The gear check is important!

Transfer in private vehicles from Mendoza to Penitentes, where the group will spend the night in a lodge.

This small mountain village is where we have our warehouse and where loads for our mules are prepared. 

Altitude: 2580 m = 8465 ft.

Driving time: 3 hours.

After breakfast, we will take a short ride in the van to Punta de Vacas. Here we get our climbing permits stamped at the rangers’ check point and begin the approach to base camp. 

After a 4-hour hike along Río de las Vacas we arrive at our first camp, Pampa de Leñas, where we enjoy a genuine asado criollo (Gaucho BBQ). 

For the entire hike to the Base Camp you will be carrying only a day pack with some essentials, as the mules take care of the heavy duties.

Altitude: 2950 m = 9678 ft.

Hiking time: 4 hours.

Hike to Casa de Piedra, our second trekking camp.

There is a great view of the Polish Glacier and the Eastern face of Aconcagua from the trail. 

Altitude: 3240 m = 10630 ft.

Hiking time: 6 hours.

We follow the trail up the Relinchos Valley to Plaza Argentina. 

Our BC chef greets us with a good dinner in a comfy dining tent. A proper reward after the hardest day of the approach. 

Altitude: 4190 m = 13746 ft.

Hiking time: 6-7 hours.

Rest day at Base Camp at Plaza Argentina. 

Sleeping, reading in the dining tent or trying the yoga mats in our heated domo. Whatever you do, get hydrated!

With the trek to Base Camp and the first stage of acclimatization completed, the climb itself begins with carrying gear to Camp 1. 

After caching equipment, food and gas we return to Base Camp.

Altitude: 4800m = 15748 ft.

Hiking time: 5 hours.

Rest day at Base Camp at Plaza Argentina. 

The team leaves Base Camp and moves to Camp 1 with the remaining gear. 

Our porters will carry the tents and other common gear, the climbers carry their own gear and their share of the common gear if needed. 

Expect to carry around 15-20 kg in total in your pack. 

Altitude: 4800 m = 15748 ft.

Hiking time: 4-5 hours.

Gear is carried to Camp 2, called the Chopper Camp, towards the Guanacos Valley side (North). 

Admire the astonishing views of the Mount Mercedario and other peaks of the Ramada massif. 

Return to Camp 1. 

Altitude: 5350 m = 18143 ft.

Hiking time: 4-5 hours.

Rest day at Camp 1.

Move from Camp 1 to Camp 2. 

Altitude: 5486m = 18000 ft.

Hiking time: 5 hours.

We move to our high camp Cólera, from where we will attempt the summit.

Altitude: 5970 m = 19586 ft.

Hiking time: 4-5 hours.

Early morning we leave to get the most of the long day. 

You will be carrying a very light backpack (water, snacks, some clothing, camera). 

Altitude: 6962 m – 22841 ft.

Hiking time: 8-12 hours.

In order to increase the probability of success of the expedition for all our clients, we have factored in two additional summit days in case of bad weather.

Extra weather day.

We complete the Aconcagua traverse by descending the Northwestern face of Aconcagua (Normal Route), towards the lively Base Camp of the Normal Route. 

Celebration dinner in dining tents with tables and chairs.

Altitude: 4350 m = 14271 ft.

The hike out takes approximately 6-7 hours. 

Most of the gear is loaded onto the mules, so you walk light. 

From the trailhead, at Horcones our van drives us to Mendoza, after picking up the gear at Penitentes. 

Hotel check-in (not included), end of the program. 

Hiking time: 6-7 hours.

Driving time: 3-4 hours.