Aconcagua Expeditions

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Please inquire for an exact cost. Since we offer a highly customized trip, our costs are dependent on group size.  The cost for a 1-on-1 guiding experience is higher than for a group of 5, for example.

Regardless of group size, here's what's included in the price and what's not:

Expedition Cost Includes: 

• Jon’s guiding fee & airfare. 
• Roundtrip transportation to and from the Mendoza airport and the hotel.
• Roundtrip transportation to and from Mendoza to Punta de Vacas (trailhead).
• Hotels in Mendoza (2 nights). 
• Meals in Mendoza and Pentitentes. 
• All base camp meals. 
• Your climbing permit. 
• Mules for transporting gear to base camp. 
• Porter to carry personal gear to high camps. 
• Weather forecasting services on the mountain. 
• Medical care in Base Camp 
• Satellite coverage and tracking through Jon’s InReach device. 
• Dr. Jon’s Adventures gear (long sleeve hoodie, hat, Buff, puffy) 

Expedition Cost Excludes: 

• Your roundtrip flights to/from Mendoza, Argentina 
• Visa / passport 
• Travel insurance 
• Personal climbing gear  (we'll provide advice on what to purchase/bring)
• Food for higher camps (dehydrated meals) 
• Laundry / snacks / alcohol 
• Tips
  
   

While Aconcagua has a reputation as a non-technical high altitude mountain climb, it's still a very demanding physical challenge.  Your goal is to be as fit as possible going into this climb as it will help you acclimatize faster, and you can enjoy your downtime instead of being wiped out every day.  

In order to speed up the acclimatization process, we recommend that clients who do not live at high elevation come to Colorado for 2-3 days first and spend a couple nights at 9000-10,000’ while also doing an acclimatization climb up even higher (which we can guide you on). 

To reiterate, this climb does require an advanced level of endurance and aerobic conditioning. Our philosophy is, you never want your lack of physical fitness to prevent you from reaching your dreams.  On this climb, a lack of physical fitness could force you to have to turn around early and head back down the valley while the rest of the group continues up the mountain.

Also, while Aconcagua may not be as technical a climb as many other high altitude peaks, it still requires knowledge and proper use of crampons and ice axe.  We often encounter deep snow and hard ice at some point on the climb.  

How can you prepare and train for climbing Aconcagua?  

• Contact us for training advice (which is included in the climb price). 
• Sign up for our customized daily Personal Adventure Training program. 
• Come to Colorado to train 1-on-1 with Dr. Jon in the Rocky Mountains, where you will train on terrain that's similar to this climb in terms of elevation gain and difficulty.
• You'll want to do a consistent regimen of aerobic (running, hiking, cycling, etc.) and resistance (weight training, balance, core, etc.) training to sufficiently prepare you for the amount of time you'll spend your on feet during the climb, the amount of elevation gain, the uneven terrain, and the altitude.
• We hire porters to carry most of your gear to higher camps other than the daypack you carry each day with food, water, and layers.  However, we recommend preparing by doing at least one multi-day backpacking trip before you go as a great way to train for hiking several hours a day for consecutive days, and getting comfortable living out of a backpack.  
• You must have experience climbing cold, glaciated peaks (such as Mt. Rainier, Denali, or some of the more challenging CO 14ers) to learn how your body adapts to higher altitudes, how to pace yourself on long climbs, how to eat and drink on the move, to test your gear, figure out how to layer clothing to stay cool or warm, depending on the weather, and be comfortable with an ice axe and crampons. 
• You must also have experience with winter camping, and multiple-day trips with a heavy pack.

In terms of acclimatizing to high elevations, getting up to and above 10,000 feet will certainly be helpful in the weeks leading up to your climb.  We have a tried and tested method for safely gaining altitude on this climb and taking appropriate rest days to allow our bodies time to adapt and produce more red blood cells.  We monitor our clients pace and physical health to ensure they are moving at the correct pace for them to avoid the issues and symptoms that signify altitude sickness.

With the exception of our meals up in higher camps on the mountain, all meals are covered in the cost.  We'll have cooks in base camp (Plaza de Argentina) and a dining tent where we'll be served 3 meals a day.  

You are welcome to bring your own higher camp meals with you when you fly in, or we can go shopping to purchase snacks and dehydrated meals once in Mendoza.

You will want to bring your own snacks and sports drink (in powdered form) for hiking, to maintain your energy levels.  You'll be burning more calories than your normally would at home, so those snacks are very important for maintaining your strength. 

Also, motivation and attitude tend to go down with energy level, so follow the adage "When you feel good, eat."  (Meaning that if you aren't feeling good, you are likely also behind on your calories and need to catch up, so eat while you feel good and avoid that situation.)

We also bring an expedition water filter for the team, so bring your reusable bottles and we'll keep you filled up with treated water.  Not only does this save you from purchasing bottled water, but we also eliminate a lot of potential plastic waste!

Once you are registered, we will provide you with a list of gear needed for this trek.  It's best to buy everything you need several months in advance of your trip so you can test everything out multiple times on training climbs.  Getting a blister from new boots on day 1 of your expedition is not fun and can ruin the experience.

Remember, not all gear lists are perfect or comprehensive. Our gear list will have suggestions of the major items you will need. Part of the reason why there are so many gear options out there is that we all have slightly different anatomy.  What works for us may not work for you.  Go out on your own mini-expeditions and train in your gear to break it in and determine if it will work for you. If you get blisters at home in a pair of boots, you’ll get them on this expedition too.

You will need crampons, ice axe, high altitude mountaineering boots, and down jacket and pants.

See below for the potential daily itinerary of our Aconcagua Expedition for the Polish Traverse route.  Other routes will have different itineraries. We will send you a specific itinerary once we've determined the route for your trip.

A security deposit of 25% of total trip payment is due 120 days prior to trip start date.  Final payment is due 60 days prior to the trip start date.  Payment can be made by check, credit card, Venmo, Zelle, or Paypal. 

Our cancellation policy is: 

• Full refund of your payments (minus 5% cancellation fee) if you cancel 90 or more days prior to your trip start date.
• Refund of everything you've paid except your security deposit if you cancel 45-89 days prior to trip start date.
• If you cancel less than 45 days we won't be able to refund anything because we've spent the money securing permits, porters, base camp logistics, etc.   We'll discuss offering you a credit on a future expedition or trip with us.  

While Aconcagua is not an overly technical mountain, it can still be dangerous due to the high elevation, temperature extremes, and it's grueling physical challenge. You will experience intense heat and bitter cold and windy conditions.  Sickness, rockfall, and serious altitude sickness are also possible.

Climbers should be prepared for and knowledgable about weather-related travel delays, traveler’s diarrhea, high altitude coughs,  Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).

To minimize the travel risks associated with weather-related delays, we build into the itinerary a couple extra rest /weather days.

Everyone reacts differently to higher altitudes, depending on their fitness, genetics, and the elevation at which they normally live. We mitigate this risk by following general procedures of doing acclimatization climbs and including rest days to allow our bodies to adjust to higher elevations. 

If a member does start showing signs of altitude sickness, we have numerous resources available to assist them, including medications such as Diamox. We also have extra guides that can stay behind with a member who is having difficulty, to give them extra acclimatization time.  Our logistics company will also have emergency bottles of oxygen available on the mountain if needed.

We recommend medications to bring for common ailments and have extras with us. To avoid traveler’s diarrhea, we bring water treatment and filtration devices and also purchase bottled water for our trekkers. If someone were to experience stomach distress, we also have medication to help them.  

We will constantly emphasize the following safety protocols:

1. Stay well-hydrated and caught up on calories. Appetite tends to decrease at higher elevation, so eating can become more of a necessity rather than a pleasurable activity. 
2. Go slow while hiking and keep the heart rate low. No need to rush, enjoy the beauty.
3. Bring adequate layers as the weather can change rapidly in the mountains.

Climbers can fly into Mendoza, Argentina from their home country.  Currently with varying COVID policies by country, we recommend avoiding a connection in Santiago, Chile.  With Mendoza being only 1 hour ahead of U.S. Eastern Time Zone, U.S. travelers shouldn't have to worry about jet lag.

Upon arrival at the Mendoza Airport , we will have a staff member there to transport you by private vehicle to your hotel in the city.  All climbers on the team will be staying at the same hotel.  We will assist you in booking your roundtrip flights (the only transportation you arrange on your own and pay for out of pocket) so that you arrive at a similar time as other team members.

Once in Argentina, all your transportation is prearranged and covered.  

Travel insurance is required for the climb and should include coverage for trip cancellation or delay, baggage loss, medical expenses, and evacuation .  There are many options in the marketplace.   We will help you select the right insurance for you as part of our inclusive pre-trip planning services.

For information on travel advisories and restrictions in Argentina, go to the U.S. Embassy website.  In addition, we check in frequently with our staff in Argentina on what's happening on the ground in the country and keep our members updated as their trip approaches.

A valid passport is required for entering Argentina.  We will assist you on applying for and securing your visa upon arriving in Argentina.