Meals

Breakfast x 15 Lunch x 12 Dinner x 11

Transport

Private transport for location transfers

Guide

Professional high-mountain guide (bilingual - Spanish & English)

Accommodation

x 3 Nights in Cusco, 3* Hotel x 1 Night in Mendoza, 3* Hotel Camping on expedition

Flights

Domestic flights from Cusco to Mendoza

Not included:

Optional

Sleeping bags & climb equipment available for hire (Double Boots)

Insurance

High Altitude Rescue + Evacuation Insurance Required for Expedition (Aconcagua)

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Arrival Lima - Cusco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Arrival Lima - Cusco

Day 1. Landing in Lima you’ll transfer directly by domestic flight to Cusco.

Day 2. Today is a free day for acclimatization at a lower altitude, to explore Cusco, Sacsayhuaman, and/or the Sacred Valley.

Accommodation: Cusco, 3* Hotel

Meals: Breakfast
Day 2 Cusco - Tinqui - Upis
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Cusco - Tinqui - Upis

You’ll depart from your hotel in Cusco early this morning for a scenic 3-hour drive to the village of Tinqui (3,800 m), located at the base of the Vilcanota mountain range. Along the way, you’ll observe local farmers and herders with their alpaca flocks. In Tinqui, you’ll meet your crew of mules and their handlers, and start your trek by heading towards your campsite in Upis (4,400 m).

The first day of trekking is relatively smooth and passes through hilly grasslands where you may encounter vizcachas (chinchilla-like rodents), condors, and foxes. Once you arrive in Upis, you will be rewarded with views of the Ausangate glaciers rising above the site. End the day with a refreshing soak in the nearby hot springs.

Accommodation: Camping

Overnight: Upis

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Upis To Jatun Pucacocha
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Upis To Jatun Pucacocha

Get ready for a day of more intense trekking. From your campsite in Upis, you will climb through the Arapa pass (4,800 m) before reaching Uchuy Pucacocha (“little red lake”), one of the several dazzling mountain lakes in the region. Marvel at its waterfalls, and continue onwards to Jatun Pucacocha (“big red lake”), where you will camp along its shores.

Accommodation: Camping

Overnight: Jatun Paucacocha

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Jatun Pucacocha To Ausangate Base Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Jatun Pucacocha To Ausangate Base Camp

After a hearty breakfast in Jatun Pucacocha, you’ll start your journey to Ausangate Base Camp. You will cross two different passes today. The Apuchata pass (4,900 m) comes first, followed by a descent to the turquoise Laguna Ausangate Q’ocha. After taking some time to rest and enjoy the scenery, you will continue up Palomani Pass. At 5,200 m, this is the highest pass of the trek.

The ascent is challenging and steep, but well worth it. Upon reaching the summit, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the snowcapped peaks of Tres Picos and Puka Punta. Now, you’ll start the descent toward Ausangate Base Camp (4,510 m). Here, amidst the highlands meadows and icy moraines, you’ll set up camp for the night.

Accommodation: Camping

Overnight: Ausangate Base Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Ausangate Base Camp To Pacchanta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ausangate Base Camp To Pacchanta

The last day of pass crossing begins with a tranquil hike from Ausangate Base Camp to Lake Ticllacocha. Along the way, more vizcachas and perhaps even rare camel-like vicuñas may be roaming the green grasses of the valley.

Then, rise for your final challenge: Q’ampa pass (5,050 m). You’ll see some strikingly beautiful glaciers as you tread over the snowy scree to summit the pass. Once you reach the top, you can see the towering Apu Salkantay. After descending the pass, you’ll set up camp for the last time at Pacchanta (4,360 m), and rest in the soothing waters of the site’s hot springs.

Accommodation: Camping

Overnight: Pachanta

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Pacchanta - Tinqui - Cusco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Pacchanta - Tinqui - Cusco

This morning, enjoy an easy 3 to 4-hour hike downhill from Pachanta back to the village of Tinqui (4,237 m) where you’ll eat lunch. After lunch, bid farewell to the muleteers, and transfer to your hotel in Cusco for some well-deserved rest.

Overnight: Cusco

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 Domestic Flights From Cusco To Mendoza, Argentina
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Domestic Flights From Cusco To Mendoza, Argentina

On Day 8, you’ll take a series of Domestic Flights from 1. Cusco - 2. Lima - 3. Santiago - 4. Mendoza.

On Day 9, you’ll finish the administration for your climb permit to Aconcagua in Mendoza.

Overnight: Mendoza

Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Transport From Mendoza To Penitentes. Trek To Confluencia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Transport From Mendoza To Penitentes. Trek To Confluencia

On arrival into Penitentes we’ll load our mules with the equipment required for the high camps. Starting off from Pentitentes you’ll trek for around 3-4 hrs. The trek paths are very dry and dusty, but always surrounded by the backdrop of the stunning range of Andean mountains. Glimpses of Aconcagua are present on the first day. You’ll reach camp at Confluencia after only a few hours trekking.

Accommodation: Camping Confluencia

Maximum Altitude: 2,950 masl / 9678 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 3-4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 9 Trekking From Confluencia To Plaza De Mulas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Trekking From Confluencia To Plaza De Mulas

Today it’s a very early start with breakfast before departure. You’ll begin the trek very early at around 7:00 am, today the estimated trekking time is 8-10 hrs. Today is a fairly long stretch, but always accompanied by mules being driven through the Horcones Valley. Lots of water, sunglasses, headwear and sunscreen is vital for this day. On arrival to base camp at the ’Plaza de Mulas’ you’ll have a place to stop and rest before the push to the summit.

Accommodation: Camping Plaza de Mulas

Maximum Altitude: 4,500 masl / 14764 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 8-10 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 10 Camp 1 - Canada
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Camp 1 - Canada

Taking breakfast before departure. You’ll initiate the ascent towards the direction of the first advanced camp, this is ’Plaza Canada’. The trekking time is from 3 to 4 hrs. Installation of Camp, the night will be cold but it’s important to be prepared with very good equipment.

Accommodation: Camping Canada

Maximum Altitude: 4,910 masl / 16108 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 3-4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 11 Camp 2 - Nido De Condores
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Camp 2 - Nido De Condores

Taking breakfast before departure. You’ll continue the ascent to the second camp, ’Nido de Condores’. An impressive sight awaits of the Andes mountain range. You are high enough (over three miles above the Pacific) to grandstand above the smaller part of the Andes. Trekking from 2-4 hrs. Installation of camp.

Accommodation: Camp Nido de Condores

Maximum Altitude: 5,450 masl / 17880 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 2-4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 12 Camp 3 - Colera
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Camp 3 - Colera

Taking breakfast before departure. Ascent to the third high field "Camp Colera". Time estimated from 2-4 hrs. Installation of the High Field camp. This is a very important day, to rest early in the evening and take a light dinner.

Accommodation: Camp Colera

Maximum Altitude: 5,870 masl / 19258 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 2-4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 13 Camp Colera - Summit - Plaza De Mulas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Camp Colera - Summit - Plaza De Mulas

This day begins at 4:00 am, with breakfast. You’ll climb the North Edge up to the refuge Independence, located at around 6,450 m. It is in this place where the sunbeams reach us for the first time during this day. You’ll encounter the " Portezuelo of the Wind ", where you must face strong winds even on days of relative calmness.

From there voyage on the top part of the West face and climb " The Canaleta ", a channel of 300 mts. that leads us to the summit edge. After The Canaleta, the " Edge of the Gump " represents an easy voyage up to the summit. The latter part normally takes us an hour. From the edge of the Gump, we can observe directly under our feet the 3,000 mts. of vertical ice and rock of the South Wall of Aconcagua, considered to be one of the biggest walls of the world.

At the summit is the ultimate prize: a sight of 360 º and the experience of personal feelings and indescribable emotions, which only are understood by experiencing it for yourself. The satisfaction of reaching your aim, coupled with the termination of the expedition, mean it is time to begin the asecent and make your way back to Mendoza. It is necessary to save some of your energy for the descent back to the ’Plaza de Mulas’.

Accommodation: Camp Plaza de Mulas

Maximum Altitude: 6,962 masl / 22841 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 8-10 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 14 Plazas De Mulas To Penitentes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Plazas De Mulas To Penitentes

Leaving early in the morning after a good breakfast you’ll head back to Penitentes from the Plaza de Mulas, where transport will be waiting to transport us back to Mendoza for onward connecting flights.

+11

16 days tour

Ausangate To Aconcagua - 16 Days

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Ausangate To Aconcagua - 16 Days

Arrival Lima - Cusco

Cusco - Tinqui - Upis

Upis To Jatun Pucacocha

Jatun Pucacocha To Ausangate Base Camp

Ausangate Base Camp To Pacchanta

Pacchanta - Tinqui - Cusco

Domestic Flights From Cusco To Mendoza, Argentina

Transport From Mendoza To Penitentes. Trek To Confluencia

Trekking From Confluencia To Plaza De Mulas

Camp 1 - Canada

Camp 2 - Nido De Condores

Camp 3 - Colera

Camp Colera - Summit - Plaza De Mulas

Plazas De Mulas To Penitentes

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania