Aconcagua
Overview
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The second highest of the Seven Summits and the highest mountain outside the Himalaya
Introduction
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in both the western and southern hemispheres and the second highest of the illustrious Seven Summits. It can be climbed by fit walkers without roped mountaineering experience. However, even the 'normal' route via the Horcones Valley is an extremely arduous ascent due to the scale of the mountain, altitude and the unpredictable weather.
You travel from Mendoza to Aconcagua Provincial Park where you'll initially spend three nights at 3,395m in Confluencia Camp (two is the norm) to acclimatise before moving up to base camp at Plaza de Mulas (4,365m). From base camp you'll make an ascent of Bonete Peak (5,004m), to further help you acclimatise. On the mountain three camps are used, the highest being at 5,993m. Three days are set aside for the summit bid on Aconcagua itself. Summit day typically takes 10 hours from Colera Camp (5,993m), with the Canaleta, a large gully leading to the summit ridge, being the most challenging part of the climb. The views from the top are breathtaking and make all the hard work worthwhile.
Join the mountaineering experts on Aconcagua
- Jagged Globe leaders from the UK, supported by certified Argentine Mountain Guides.
- Minimal load carrying - just carry your own personal gear (additional porterage optional).
- The highest-quality base camp set up, food and logistics available on the mountain - see trip PDF for more details.
- 23-day bespoke itinerary, including 3 nights at Confluencia (3,395m) on the trek in for more acclimatisation and 3 days set aside for a summit attempt.
- Optional pre-expedition training weekend in the Peak District, plus training advice from Jagged Globe staff who have climbed Aconcagua.
- Our price includes Climbing Permit (worth USD 1,170).
- Hire equipment available (ice axe, crampons, down jacket, down sleeping bag, double mountaineering boots).
- 'With Flights' package from London to Mendoza. Jagged Globe is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator.
Experience Required
We provide you a high level of support, but to join this expedition you will need:- Previous experience of using ice axe and crampons in winter conditions (such as, on a Scottish Winter Course or Alpine Introduction course).
- Experience of wilderness camping. You will need to put up and take down a tent and know how to organise your sleeping set-up, clothing and equipment.
- To be mentally prepared for the rigours of a desert environment with extremes of heat, cold and wind on a high and exposed mountain.
- A high level of fitness, determination and robustness (contact us to discuss your training plan).
Additional Information
If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.Dates & Prices
| Date | With Flight | or Meeting in | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 28 Nov – Sun 20 Dec 2026 | UK | Mendoza |
Available
|
| 1 more required | £9,295 | £7,895 | |
| Sat 19 Dec – Sun 10 Jan 2027 | UK | Mendoza |
Available
|
| Expedition Leader David Hamilton 1 more required 1 place left with £250 early booking offer |
£10,295 £10,045 |
£7,895 £7,645 |
|
| Sat 16 Jan – Sun 7 Feb 2027 | UK | Mendoza |
Trip Guaranteed
|
| Expedition Leader Sam Benson | £8,895 | £7,595 | |
| Sat 18 Dec – Sun 9 Jan 2028 | UK | Mendoza |
Available
|
| 2 places left with £300 early booking offer | £10,595 £10,295 |
£8,395 £8,095 |
|
| Sat 15 Jan – Sun 6 Feb 2028 | UK | Mendoza |
Available
|
| 2 places left with £300 early booking offer | £9,395 £9,095 |
£8,195 £7,895 |
|
Our Trip Guarantee
- The trip will run.
- It will leave on the date advertised (unless, it is beyond our control, for example, the airline changes something).
- The “Land Only“ price will not increase after you have booked.
This expedition is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
Click to Change currency for prices on this site.
Group size: 5 – 12 people.
Single room supplement: £375
For comparison, this expedition starts from £330 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).
With Flight pricing
Our 'With Flight' price includes an Economy class return airfare from the UK. The cost is based on a group fare that we have already reserved, or individual seats that we have budgeted for. Note that in some circumstances, the earlier you book, the less expensive the airfare and the 'With Flight' price.
Know Before You Go
Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for Argentina on the FCDO Website.What the price includes
- Aconcagua Climbing Permit (value: USD 1,170 for 2025-26 season).
- 3 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation in Mendoza.
- A Jagged Globe Leader (small teams may be led by a local leader).
- Argentine mountains guides, together with the leader, to the ratios as follows: one leader/guide for every 4 team members between base camp and Camp 3, one leader/guide for every 3 team members from Camp 3 to the summit.
- Mountain Porters, as needed, to carry group equipment (tents/ stoves/ food) to the higher camps.
- Mules to carry your personal gear (max 25kgs) to Confluencia and base camp. You carry a day pack.
- International Flight - economy return from the UK to Mendoza (excluded if joining land-only). Please contact us if you would like an upgrade.
- UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) and Argentine Airport Taxes (excluded if joining land-only and you make your own international flight arrangements).
- Road transfers between Mendoza Airport and hotel, connecting with flights.
- 2 group private road transfers between Mendoza Airport and Aconcagua Provincial Park Gates.
- 17 nights’ sleeping in tents (full-board) – base camp or mountain camps.
- Modern Base Camp: Dome dining tent, freshly prepared food, power supply, Wi-Fi, secure storage, VHF Radio.
- Showers in Confluencia and base camp.
- WiFi on the mountain (available in Base Camp and higher camps).
- All road transport by private vehicles, as described in the itinerary.
- A large Jagged Globe kitbag.
What the price does not include
- Visa - not required by UK Citizens. (Visas, payable on arrival, are needed by some. US, Canadian and Australians pay reciprocity fees on-line before travelling. Please check with your own Argentine Embassy).
- Lunch and/ or evening meals in Santiago and Mendoza.
- Bar bills, laundry and other personal hotel expenditure.
- Travel insurance.
- Porterage above base camp of personal clothing, equipment and some food (see itinerary for more details).
- Extra hotel nights needed in Mendoza by you as a result of you returning from the mountain ahead of schedule, for whatever reason.
- The cost of your walk-out from base camp and transport to Mendoza plus the porterage of your equipment by mule, if not trekking and travelling with the main expedition group (for example, should you leave early or be evacuated for medical reasons).
- Any medical costs incurred by you, or costs associated with a medical incident, such as your evacuation from the mountain and/ or hospitalisation (for which you should have travel insurance).
- Optional trips or excursions.
- Tips for local staff and guides.
Tailor Made Trips
We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.
Insurance
You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »Itinerary
Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »
Typical Itinerary
| Day 1 - 2: | Fly London to Mendoza Fly London to Mendoza. Those joining on a 'Land Only' basis should arrive in Mendoza on Day 2. Overnight in hotel. Bed and breakfast. |
| Day 3: | Mendoza Meet guides. Gear check, organise cash and make any last minute purchases. Afternoon free (optional wine tour - cost not included). Overnight in hotel. Bed and breakfast. |
| Day 4: | Drive to Park gate and trek to Confluencia (3,395m) Early breakfast then 3 hour drive to Los Penitentes (with coffee stop) to split gear into loads (some goes directly to base camp). Then a 4 hour walk to the campsite at Confluencia follows with first views of Aconcagua. This is the first night under canvas, and the start of your acclimatisation proper. You spend 3 nights here (most people on spend 2). |
| Day 5: | Acclimatisation Hike to Plaza Francia (4,000m) Today, you hike to Plaza Francia, from where you can see Aconcagua's huge South Face, rising 3,000m above. Picnic lunch then return to Confluencia for the night and the regime of “Climbing High, Sleeping Low” has begun! |
| Day 6: | Acclimatisation around Confluencia There’s no pressure to do much of anything today – you’ll acclimatise just fine by resting – basting in the juices of altitude like a slow-roasting chicken! Take a good book, listen to music or if you want to take a walk, the leader will organise it. |
| Day 7: | Trek to Plaza de Mulas (4,365m) A tough 8-hour trek and 1000m of “up” leads to base camp – the 3rd hardest day of the expedition. In base camp, you meet the local staff, extra guides, cooks and camp assistants, who support your climb from now on. A mess tent caters for meals, meetings and socialising. |
| Day 8: | Acclimatisation and rest day at Base Camp (4,365m) Today you rest and acclimatise further. Some may still be feeling the strain of altitude after the previous hard day. We have breakfast, lunch and dinner in base camp, as well as hot drinks and water to keep hydration levels up to help you acclimatise (showers are available). |
| Day 9: | Camp 1, Climb to Canada Place (c5,000m), return to base camp Today, you climb to Canada Place, Camp 1. The team leaves soon after breakfast. It will be a flog to start off with, but you arrive by mid-afternoon, drop off a small stash of gear for your future use and descend very quickly to base camp. |
| Day 10: | Climb Bonete Peak (5,004m) and view the route up Aconcagua Bonete is a great (optional) day out and for added acclimatisation. Also, your first summit. From its top, you see most of the route to the summit of Aconcagua. You’ll be there soon enough – in 7 days’ time! |
| Day 11: | Camp 2, Nido de Condores (5,559m), return to base camp After an early breakfast, you head out on to the slopes to regain a point just short of Canada Place. By-passing Camp 1, you head up to the “change of slope”, above which the huge scree field, that descends from where the Canaleta, opens out. Now, on a rising traverse, you plod incessantly onwards to Camp 2, Nido de Condores. |
| Day 12: | Rest day at Base Camp (4,365m) Rest and acclimatise. You may practise using crampons on the nearby glacier. |
| Day 13: | Climb to Camp 1 (c5,000m) This time you leave base camp with your heart and mind focussed on the summit. Taking with you stuff for 6 nights on the mountain, you head up to Canada Camp to spend the night. Having been here and higher already, you should awake ready for a determined push to the higher camps. Great sunsets here. |
| Day 14: | Climb to Camp 2 (5,559m) Trek over to Camp 2, Nido de Condores. The angle relents after a couple of hours, at the aptly named “Change of Slope”, when the upper scree field comes into view as does the Canaleta above. Above base camp, the local guides do the cooking and provide hot drinks. In the afternoon, you can walk around the campsite area, getting good views of the upper sections of the mountain. |
| Day 15: | Acclimatisation day at Camp 2 (5,559m) Rest and acclimatisation in Camp 2. |
| Day 16: | Climb to Camp 3 ‘Colera Camp’ (5,993m) Today you climb new ground to Colera Camp following switchbacks up the scree and climbing a rock step just below camp. It takes about 3 hours to ascend the 380m/1.5Km. From Colera Camp there are excellent views but most of the route to the summit is not visible. |
| Day 17-19: | Summit Bid – 3 Day Window (6,959m) You have 3 days for the summit bid. When you go, it will be the hardest day of all with as much as 10 hours to reach the top. You leave at 6am. A path through rock, scree and over occasional snow patches leads to the Independencia Hut at 6,377m. Then it is up and across the grand traverse at the head of the scree field to the bottom of the Canaleta. Strenuous walking up this leads to the summit ridge. A small mound of boulders and a cross marks the summit. After celebrating, you go down to Colera Camp, to sleep and to dream of the great day done. |
| Day 20: | Last night on the mountain You make a rapid descent down scree slopes to base camp, by early-afternoon. The final night’s dinner on the mountain is accompanied by beer, wine and tales of the adventure. This is you last night in a tent. |
| Day 21: | Return to Mendoza and celebration dinner Trek all the way back to the road at the park entrance, where the transport meets you. Then it’s by road back to Mendoza and your hotel. Dinner with your team mates and guides to celebrate the expedition. Overnight hotel, bed and breakfast. |
| Day 22 - 23: | Fly Mendoza to London |
PLEASE NOTE: Please note that the above itinerary is intended as a guideline only. Although every effort will be made to adhere to it, changes may be forced on it by weather conditions, transport failure or other unforeseen events. Please be prepared to be flexible if necessary.
Optional Ojos del Salado
Ojos del Salado (6,893m) is the highest peak in Chile and, after Aconcagua, the second highest in South America. It is also the world's highest volcano and the second highest mountain on earth outside the Himalayas. We offer a 5-day extension to Aconcagua:
Extension available with a minimum of 2 people. See Expedition PDF for Inclusions/Exclusions.
Day 22 |
Arrive CopiapoAirport transfer. Overnight hotel. Please contact us if you would like us to arrange flights from Mendoza to Copiapo via Santiago. |
Day 23 |
Drive to Laguna Verde (4,300m) In the morning the team will make the 112Km/3 hour drive to Laguna Verde (4,300m). There are hot springs and a small Refugio by the shore of the lake. There are deposits of salt on the lakeshore and numerous species of birds can be seen. Overnight Camp. |
Day 24 |
Drive to Ojos del Salado base camp (5,200m) A 38Km/hour long drive on rough tracks leads to the base camp for Ojos del Salado at 5,200m. There is a steel shipping container at this site which serves a basic shelter. It is known as the Refugio Universidad de Atacama, so this site is commonly referred to as 'Atacama'. Overnight Camp. |
Day 25 |
Summit Day 1 (and down to Atacama) In 'normal' conditions, with little snow, the climb should take about 8-10 hours up and 4 hours down, giving a 12-14 hour summit day. However snow cover can extend these times by a few hours. Potential overnight at Tejos camp on the descent. |
Day 26 |
Summit Day 2 A spare day for attempting the summit. |
Day 27 |
Drive to Copiapo Drive back to Copiapo. Much of the journey is on a different route from the outward leg. Total travel time 6 - 7hrs. Overnight Hotel. If the team has summited a day earlier, it might be possible for you to book accommodation and stay overnight at the seaside village of Bahia Inglesa, rather than have two nights in Copiapo., However, this is not included in the package and would be dependent on availability - Bahia Inglesa is very busy in the Chilean holidays. |
Day 28 |
Depart Copiapo Service ends. Please contact us if you would like us to book you flights from Copiapo – Santiago.
|
Price £3825 per person
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Confluencia camp - Aconcagua
What clothing are we wearing at Camp 2 on Aconcagua?
70Km gusting winds at Colera Camp 5900m on Aconcagua
Aconcagua - November/December 2016
Aconcagua
Aconcagua - Camp 1 @ 5,000m
Reports & Reviews
First Expedition: Feb 1992
Total: 67 trips
Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.
Team Member Reviews
- “I successfully summited Mount Aconcagua with Jagged Globe on the 21st of January 2025 after 15 days of sweat, tears, and pure determination. The entire experience with Jagged Globe was exceptional - from securing my booking to the actual expedition, everything was world-class. Our main guide was highly experienced, and we felt safe and well taken care of throughout the trip. This adventure changed me in more ways than one. Thank you, Jagged Globe, for an unforgettable experience! I highly recommend Jagged Globe to anyone, even if you're outside the UK. Gerhard le Roux, Cape Town, South Africa” Aconcagua - January 2025
- “
Getting to the top of Aconcagua was the icing on the cake after a very enjoyable venture with a varied group of like-minded individuals.
” PS, Aconcagua - January 2019 - “I was extremely satisfied the expedition leadership. They were all extremely professional, knowledgable, helpful and friendly.” PB, Aconcagua - January 2016
- “Aconcagua was fabulous with respect to both the people and the place - far exceeding my expectationsÖthe expedition from start to finish was a wonderful experience.” BP, Aconcagua - January '16
- “It was tough, I learnt a great deal and it was a great experience.” RD, Aconcagua - Dec/Jan '16
- 11 more reviews »
Leader Reports
- Aconcagua - January 2026
“We ascended to Camp 1 after our acclimatisation ascent of Bonete Peak and then monitored the weather forecast for the following week. Predicted wind speeds on Tuesday and Wednesday, and possibly Monday, would have made a summit...”
report added 05/Feb/26 - Aconcagua - December 2025
“At 6,962m Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the world outside the Himalaya. Yet it is often considered an 'easy' mountain and it's difficulties underestimated. I must hold up my hands and confess that this year I set...”
report added 09/Jan/26 - Aconcagua - 4 to 26 January 2025
“On Sunday 5th January we all met up in Mendoza pretty exhausted after a long flight from Europe. The next morning we had the chance to meet our superb guide Diego and sort out plans for the mountain. Leaving early on Tuesday we...”
report added 30/Jan/25 - Aconcagua - 6 January 2024
““These mist-covered mountains are a home now for me But my home is the lowlands and always will. Some day you’ll return to your valleys and your farms And you’ll no longer burn to be brothers in...”
report added 01/Feb/24 - Aconcagua - 7 to 29 January 2023
“New Year was a dim and distant memory and now it was our acclimatisation plan to source a ma-hoosive steak and the best wine Mendoza could muster. Over that fine supper the newly assembled team chittered about the plan to scale...”
report added 20/Feb/23 - 46 more reports »
Altitude
6,959m/22,830ftDuration
23 NightsPrices
With Flights
from £8,895.00 deposit £450.00*Without Flights
from £7,595.00 deposit £450.00** Final payment due 60 days before departure
Difficulty
Downloads
- Full Detailsaconcagua.pdf ~5.9Mb
- Acclimatisation ProfileAcclimatisation Notes - Aconcagua.pdf ~242Kb
- Equipment ListAconcagua Clothing and Equipment List.pdf ~324Kb
News About this Trip
| Aconcagua - January 2026 | (Feb '26) | |
| Aconcagua update | (Jan '26) | |
| Aconcagua - December 2025 | (Jan '26) | |
| Aconcagua summits! | (Jan '26) | |
| Everest summiteers leading … | (Dec '25) | |
| Aconcagua 20 December - 1 p… | (Sep '25) | |
Training Courses
To get the most from your expedition, Jagged Globe offer courses to make sure you have all the skills and fitness you need... read more »Equipment Hire
Over the years, we have gained an incredible amount of experience and expertise in outdoor equipment and clothing. We have applied this to each trip that we offer and recommend what we believe to be the most suitable items for your trip.
We offer a comprehensive Equipment Hire Service »
Pre-Trip Weekend
Discuss equipment, fitness, health and acclimatisation in Sheffield... read more »The Seven Summits
The other trips that make up this fantastic challenge... read more »
