Climb one of the seven summits

1. What’s the difference between Ameghino Upper Guanacos & Polish and Traverse Route?

The Ameghino Upper Guanacos and the Polish Traverse use the same trekking route, the Vacas and Relinchos valley until Plaza Argentina base camp. The only section where they came apart is after camp 1! The Ameghino traverse through the Ameghino col to the old Guanacos route reaching the chooper camp or camp ! The Polish Traverse continue to the base of the glacier where we set camp 2, near the glacier where the wind with the help of the glacier blows strong and cold…..this camp is also more expose and the hike to Piedras Blancas more demanding than from camp 2 of the Ameghino Upper Guanacos.

2. Which route should I choose?

The Ameghino because: more progressive, less crowded, beautiful, full circuit, best high camp, most successful, etc.

3. Can I hire a Porter ?

You have to confirm it in advance. A porter can carry up to 20 kg and cost approximately US $1,300 through the Ameghino Upper Guanacos, Polish Traverse and Polish Glacier route and US $800 on the Normal route. You normally share it between two, so he carry 10kg each and cost you half of the price.

4. Which training do I need?

Once you get register we will send you a training program, for you to be fit and ready to climb the Aconcagua.

5. What time should I arrive and where do I meet my guides?

We organize a meeting with your guide on day 1 of our program at 5:00pm, at the hotel (Hyatt Park Plaza or NH Cordillera Hotel, depending which Hotel we are using).
For an earlier or latest arrival, please contact us to help you to organize it.

6. How many climbers will participate on the expedition?

We accept a maximum of 12 climbers in each expedition that follow the Ameghino & Upper Guanacos, Polish & Traverse and Normal Route. For the Polish Glacier route we accept 6 climbers.

7. What is the maximum weight I’m supposed to carry?

As we use porters for gears (tents) and thanks to our double carry strategy (as we go twice to each High Camp, we carry first, half of the weight and then the second half) you might have to carry 10-12 kilos (22 – 26 lbs) maximum.

8. Does someone will pick me up at the airport?

Our driver will meet you at Mendoza airport and will drive you to your hotel in Mendoza (if you arrive earlier than day 1 we will be happy to advice you for hotel booking). We will ask later for your flight information.

9. How much is the Aconcagua Climbing Permit ?

During the season, 2010-2011, climbing permits did raise till US $714 for high season, US $523 for mid season and US $285 for low season.

10. How can I pay the Aconcagua Climbing Permit?

You have to pay it cash, in Argentinean Pesos. Your guide will go with you on Day 2 of our program to the Aconcagua Provincial Park Office to assist you on the procedure.

11. How can I pay the Aconcagua Climbing Permit?

You have to pay it cash, in Argentinean Pesos. Your guide will go with you on Day 2 of our program to the Aconcagua Provincial Park Office to assist you on the procedure.

12. How much should I tip my guide & Aconcagua Express staff?

Tipping is a personal matter. You should tip accordingly to the quality of the service and help you received.

13. Do I need a visa for Argentina?

It will depend of your nationality, please check here.
Check if you will have to pay a reciprocity fee.

14. Will I receive a Summit Certificate?

All our clients receive a certificate at the end of the expedition attesting that you reached the summit of or a certain altitude on Aconcagua.

15. When is the best time to climb Aconcagua?

We offer departure from the end of November to the middle of February, when the weather is warmer and climate more stable. Usually December and January are the warmer months.

16. Is it possible to arrange a special diet?

In our application form we will ask you if you have a special diet (vegetarian, vegan, no pork, etc…) and we will of course provide you an appropriate meal. Just mention it.

Climber Experiences

Hallo Joaquin
Ich möchte mich auf diesem Weg für Dein perfektes Service bei unserer Aconcagua Expedition bedanken. Es war von Anfang an eine Freude mit Dir zusammen zu arbeiten. Die Transfers, sowie die Reservierung und Bezahlung der Permits haben wunderbar geklappt, auch die Hotels waren einfach klasse.

Es gilt besonders hervor zu heben die Flexibilität von Aconcagua Express bei Terminänderungen und die Freundlichkeit der Mitarbeiter. Ich werde Dich und Deine Firma auf alle Fälle bei den Alpinschulen in Österreich, Italien und Deutschland weiterempfehlen.

Christine und Werner
Austria

Mecha (Gabriel Rocamora) was a great lead guide, I can’t recommend him highly enough !

Edouard Derom
USA

Lieber Joaquin,
Als erstes möchte ich mich bei Dir für Deine Leistungen bei der Expedition zum Aconcagua bedanken. Bergführer Abi Kirschner hat sich sehr lobend über Deine Arbeit geäußert. Auch Pierre Kintgen war mit Bergführer und KL Adventure sehr, sehr zufrieden. Ich denke, das wird unseren gemeinsamen Produkten sehr gut tun – denn die Teilnehmer tragen Ihre Zufriedenheit weiter und das ist die beste Werbung für uns alle. Ich danke Dir und Deinem Team für die hervorragende Arbeit und Bemühungen! Herzliche Grüße aus München.

Michael Roepke
DAV-Summit Club Manager, Munchen
Germany

I would firstly like to thank you all for putting together such a great expedition. I would like to make particularly comment on the efforts of our guide Cristina who did such a great job.
The cooks at both base camps also deserve mention, as the food they prepared was fantastic. Having said that the cooked meals provided at altitude were perfect for the conditions. The hotel at Penitentes was also a little run down, but again there did not seem to be many other options.
This criticisms do not even rate as concerns. The service provided by your company was fantastic and I would not hesitate to recommend it to others.

Stephen Hynd
Australia

Dear Joaquin,
Thank you for everything and making our trip to Aconcagua 100% successful! The entire team reached the summit via the False Polish route the 12th of February. Your services and staff helped make the expedition a better experience for our team. Carolina and Marcelo were great!

Bill Crouse Lead Guide Adventure Consultants
New Zealand

Beautiful route, and the strategy for adjusting to the altitude was very good. I really enjoyed our team, and Christina and Marianna also seemed to be enjoying themselves very well. Good atmosphere.

Choice for Aconcagua Express Expeditions was also because you were the only ones to actually give me advice on an expedition when I e-mailed you. You offered me a specific expedition and date. So the personal info was important for me.

Martijn de Boer
Netherlands

Hello, Magaly!
Was good talking to you on the phone today. We are very happy with the trip, a bit tired and feel very lucky with the weather and our guide, Gabriel, both being important factors that allowed us to summit.

Olga Kotova
Latvia

Gabriel and Mariana were really fantastic and helpful, especially since I struggled with acclimatization. Suzanne (at base camp) was also really great. When I descended early she looked after me to ensure that all of my logistics for leaving the park were coordinated. The trip was overall well organized, very informative, very realistic expectations and a great experience – unfortunately, my body did not hold up as well as usual, but I do not feel that I (or the company) could have done anything differently to improve my chances. A great climbing team!

Nancy Henning
USA

Everything went very smooth, it was great to have a small bag of stuff sent from Plaza Argentina around to Plaza de Mulas, as we could have clean underwear, socks and our trail shoes without having to carry them to high camp.

Tatiana seemed very knowledgeable with first aid and altitude sickness, and seemed well prepared.  Tatiana’s food was awesome. The other groups in our camps were jealous when all they had was rice and we had fresh baked pizza in Camp 2! A couple mornings in base camp, there was not much provided for breakfast (one day was only toast) and we finally had to ask them each day to make eggs.

Joaquin was very helpful with all of my requests, and very quick to respond, which is one of the main reasons I selected KL Adventure to work with on this trip.

The transfers and transport was fine.  All vehicles were comfortable and there was plenty of room.  Hyatt is awesome of course. Penitentes is not great, but obviously there is no other option.

The trip was great, we will definitely work with you again for our 2010 climb, and also hope to add a Patagonia trip in the near future. It was also nice to have Joaquin meet the group in Mendoza and to spend more time with him on the drive to Santiago. We would definitely want to have Tatiana as our guide again.  She was exceptional and there was not another guide on the mountain I would have rather had than her. It is also very nice to have a local guide as your leader, better in my opinion than having American or European guides.

Billi also did a very nice job, as an assistant guide she was great.  The two of them worked very well together.

Andrew Nachman Northwest Voyageur
USA

Aconcagua Express & KL Adventure was truly a wonderful experience. From the pre- trip client care to the world class guide and staff, fabulous base camp cuisine, traveling safely and ethically, superior route experience and better pricing than most other outfits. Truly a fantastic trip that I have no reservations in recommending to Americans or anyone else interested in a climb.

Eric Hornbeck
USA