• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • FAQ
  • About
    • Why Choose Aconcagua Express
  • Our Guides
  • Contact
  • Links

Aconcagua Express

Climb one of the seven summits

  • Aconcagua Trips
    • Aconcagua Normal Route
    • Aconcagua Ameghino & Upper Guanacos Route
    • Ojos del Salado & Aconcagua
    • Aconcagua & El Plomo Route
    • Aconcagua Polish Glacier Route
    • Aconcagua South Face Trek
  • Other Trips
    • Atacama Expeditions & Treks
      • Ojos del Salado & Altiplanic Lagoons
      • Ojos del Salado & San Pedro Atacama
      • Llullaillaco
      • San Pedro de Atacama Trek
    • Patagonia
      • Patagonia Torres del Paine National: The W Circuit
      • Patagonia Torres del Paine Full Circuit
      • Patagonia Torres del Paine Full Circuit & Fitz Roy Trek
      • Easter Island Archeological Trek
    • Central Andes
      • Tupungato Volcano
      • El Plomo near Santiago
  • Aconcagua Information
    • Map
    • Training
    • Equipment
    • Travel
    • Packing Tips
    • History
  • Trip Application
    • Step 1 – Trip Application
    • Step 2 – Client Information
    • Make a Payment
  • Aconcagua Trips / Routes
    • Aconcagua Information
    • Aconcagua & El Plomo Route
    • Aconcagua Ameghino & Upper Guanacos Route
    • Aconcagua Normal Route
    • Aconcagua Polish Glacier Route
    • Aconcagua South Face Trek
    • Ojos del Salado & Aconcagua
  • Atacama Expeditions & Treks
    • Llullaillaco
    • Ojos del Salado & Altiplanic Lagoons
    • Ojos del Salado & San Pedro Atacama
    • San Pedro de Atacama Trek
  • Central Andes Treks
    • El Plomo near Santiago
    • Tupungato Volcano
  • Patagonia Treks
    • Easter Island Archeological Trek
    • Patagonia Torres del Paine Full Circuit
    • Patagonia Torres del Paine Full Circuit & Fitz Roy Trek
    • Patagonia Torres del Paine National: The W Circuit
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Our Guides
    • Why Choose Aconcagua Express
  • Trip Application
    • Trip Application – Client Information
    • Trip Application – Medical Information
  • Make a Payment
  • Contact
Aconcagua El Plomo

Aconcagua & El Plomo Route

Location: Home » Routes » Aconcagua & El Plomo Route
  • Duration: 20 days.
  • Difficulty: Excellent physical shape
  • Space Available / Trip: 6 climbers
  • Expedition Cost: US $6,990 per person
  • Other Costs: Private Porter: US $2,000 per person, Hotel single supplement: US $1,100, Reservation cost: US $900
  • Payment Balance Due: 120 days prior departure

An expedition to the Aconcagua (6,959m / 22,831 ft), the highest point on the American continent, is made easier and more enjoyable following an acclimatization climb on Cerro El Plomo (5,430m / 17,814 ft), the tallest mountain visible from Santiago. Presenting no technical difficulties, El Plomo offers similar elevation, wind, and temperature conditions to the Aconcagua, but on a smaller scale, and is easily accessed from Chile’s national capital. Known by the Incas as Apu–guardian of the valley– the three-day climb passes an Inca shrine at 5,140m /16,863 ft where the mummy of a young boy was found in 1954. Stunning views from the summit take in the highest peaks of the main range of the Chilean Andes.

Following a short flight to Mendoza, on the Argentinean side of the Andes, we obtain our mandatory Aconcagua permits and travel 160 km west to the village of Penitentes. The Aconcagua’s Normal route ascends by way of the Horcones Valley–with views of the mountain’s awesome south face–to Confluencia, our first mid-mountain camp. Continuing on through Plaza Francia we’ll reach the busy Plaza de Mulas base camp (4,300m / 14,107 ft). Having attained an elevation of 5,430m / 17,814 ft on El Plomo, our bodies process of acclimatization has been accelerated. As a result, our ascent through the high camps will be faster and our final push to the summit will be less arduous, allowing expedition members to focus on the magnificent experience of reaching the roof of America.

2020/21 Trip Dates

December

  • AEE3-02 – Sat. Dec. 5 – Dec. Thu 24, 2020
  • AEE3-03 – Sat. Dec. 12 – Dec. 31, 2020
  • AEE3-04 – Sun. Dec. 20, 2020 – Jan. 8, 2021

Route Itinerary

Day 1 Santiago. You will be picked up at Arturo Merino Benitez Airport in Santiago and transferred to our Hotel. Coming in from the airport, the first objective of our expedition, Cerro El Plomo, will be visible as the highest peak on the skyline above Santiago, with its distinctive, helmet-shaped glacier. After settling into our hotel, we’ll meet the guides and other members of the group, make an equipment and gear check, and have a presentation of the expedition.

Hotel / Elevation – 543m / 1,781 ft

Day 2 Santiago – Farellones. In the morning we’ll drive up a spectacular mountain road with views down to Santiago and up into the high Andes, a trip of approximately an hour and a half. Farrellones (2,340m / 7,677 ft) is a picturesque mountain village, from where we’re likely to see Andean condors soaring on thermal updrafts. Farellones’s elevation will allow our bodies to begin the process of acclimatization. We’ll stay overnight at the Hotel La Cornisa or Posada Farellones.

Transfer distance 36k / 22 miles / Transfer time 1 1/2 hours / Hotel La Cornisa / Elevation Min 543m / 1,781 ft – Max 2,340m / 7,677 ft

Day 3 Farellones – Piedra Numerada. A vehicle will leave us at the Portazuelo del Franciscano (3,500 mts / 11,482 ft), the highest point of the La Parva or Valle Nevado ski area. From here, we’ll descend into the Cepo Valley, hiking about 3 hours to reach our base camp at Piedra Numerada (3,300 mts / 10,826 ft).  Trekking Time – 3 hours / Tent / Elevation – Min 3,300 mts / 10,826 ft – Max 3,500 mts / 11,482 ft

Day 4 Piedra Numerada – La Olla – Piedra Numerada. Today we hike approximately 4 hours to reach La Olla camp (4.000 mt / 13,123 ft), where we’ll enjoy spectacular views of El Plomo’s Iver glacier. We return to Piedra Numerada base camp for the night.  Trekking Time – 6 hours / Tent / Elevation – Min 3,500 mts / 11,482 ft – Max 4,000m / 13,123 ft

Day 5 Piedra Numerada – La Olla. Today we return to La Olla camp where we’ll spend the night.   Trekking Time – 4 hours / Tent / Elevation – Min 3,500 mts / 11,482 ft – Max 4,000m / 13,123 ft

Day 6 La Olla – El Plomo summit – La Olla. Leaving our camp very early in the morning, we’ll take the standard route up El Plomo, following the south-west ridge to the right of the Iver glaciar. We’ll pass the site where in 1954 local arrilleros (animal herders) came across the mummified body of a young boy, left as a ritual offering by early Inca peoples. The mummy is kept at the Museum of Natural History, in Santiago. We’ll cross an icefield to reach the summit ridge. From the summit we’ll have outstanding views of the highest peaks in the central Andes: La Falsa Parva (3,888m / 12 755 ft), La Parva, (4,047m / 13 277 ft), El Pintor, (4,180m / 13 713 ft), and La Leonera (4,954m / 16 253 ft). As we have been gaining altitude slowly, allowing our bodies to acclimatize, our summit day will be very comfortable and easy to achieve in about 8 hours. We’ll return to La Olla camp for the night.   Trekking Time – 12 hours / Tent / Elevation – Min 4,000m / 13,123 ft – Max 5,430m / 17,814 ft

Day 7 La Olla – El Pintor – Santiago. On our return to our starting point at La Parva, along the long plateau of Cancha Carrera, we’ll hike up El Pintor (4,000 mt / 13,123), an attractive peak of multicoloured rock which gives the mountain its name: The Painter. We’ll return to Santiago in the evening for dinner and a good rest at Hotel Kennedy.   Trekking Time – 5 hours / Hotel / Transfer distance 36k / 22 miles / Transfer time 1 1/2 hours / Elevation – Min 543m / 1,781 ft – Max 4,000m/ 13,123 ft

Day 8 Santiago – Mendoza – Penitentes. We’ll make an early transfer to Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benitez Airport, taking the 50-minute flight over the main chain of the Andes Mountain Range to Mendoza, Argentina. Before leaving Mendoza, we’ll visit the Aconcagua Provincial Park’s permit office to obtain our mandatory, individual climbing permits. Then we’ll drive towards the Park, stopping for lunch in Uspallata.  We’ll continue our journey east to the ski village of Penitentes, (2,580m / 8,464 ft), situated at the entrance to the Vacas Valley, which gives access to our route. We’ll stay overnight at the Hotel Ayelen in Penitentes.   Transfer distance 190 km – 118 miles / Flight 50 minutes / Transfer time 2 1/4 hours / Hotel Penitentes / elevation – Min 761 m (2,497 ft) – Max 2,580m – (8,464 ft)

Day 9 Penitentes – Confluencia. After officially entering the Park, we make a three-hour hike up the Horcones Valley, crossing the Horcones River on a bridge built during the making of the film ‘Seven Years in Tibet’. We climb a gentle, steady slope to Confluencia Camp (3,300m / 10,826 ft).   Trekking Time – 3 hours / Tent / Elevation – Min 2,580m (8,464 ft) – Max 3,385m (11,103 ft)

Day 10 Confluencia – Plaza de Mulas. We make a seven- to eight-hour hike to Plaza de Mulas base camp (4,300m / 14,107 ft) Our chef will be waiting for us with hot drinks and a delicious dinner. This base camp has showers, satellite telephone, and an exquisite menu especially prepared for our Expedition.   Trekking Time – 7 to 8 hours / Tent / Elevation – Min 3,300m (10,826 ft) – Max 4,300m (14,107 ft)

Day 11 Plaza de Mulas. Today we’ll have a rest day relaxing around camp drinking plenty of fluids. Rest and good hydration are the essentials for an optimal acclimatization before continuing on to the rigors of the High Camps and the demands of summit day.    Tent / Elevation – 4,300m (14,107 ft)

Day 12 Plaza de Mulas – Nido de Cóndores – Plaza de Mulas. Leaving our arrieros (mule drivers) and the mules in base camp, we’ll make our first day of portage, carrying light loads of personal and common gear up to Nido de Condores Camp (5,550m / 18,208 ft). Today’s portage—and other days of portage during the expedition—are essential to achieving an optimal acclimatization. Climbing up to higher altitudes and descending to lower ones to sleep will be our strategy from now on. If this ascent plan is carried out gradually, it increases the possibility of reaching the summit successfully and in a safe and comfortable manner. We’ll spend the night at Plaza de Mulas base camp.    Trekking Time – 7 to 8 hours / Tent / Elevation Min 4,300m / 14,107 ft – Max 5,550m / 18,208 ft

Day 13 Plaza de Mulas. A second rest day in our base camp will allow us to drink plenty of fluids, rest, and eat, to enhance our acclimatization and store up energy for summit day.    Tent / Elevation – 4,300m / 14,107 ft.

Day 14 Plaza de Mulas – Nido de Cóndores. We leave base camp behind us today and move to the first of our high camps, Nido de Condores camp. This is a high traffic route, so we’ll meet a lot of people along the trail.    Trekking Time – 7 to 8 hours / Tent / Elevation – Min 4,300m / 14,107 ft – Max 5,550m / 18,208 ft.

Day 15 Nido de Condores Camp – Piedras Blancas Camp. Today we’ll move to Berlín or Piedras Blancas or Piedras Negras, depending on the weather and the guide’s criteria. This will be our last camp before the summit.    Trekking Time – 3 to 4 hours / Tent / Elevation Min – 5,550m (18,208 ft) – 6,000m / 19,600 ft (Piedras Blancas) – 6,250m / 20,500ft (Piedras Negras).

Day 16, 17, 18  Piedras Blancas Camp – Summit – Piedras Blancas Camp. With several days in reserve, we’ll wait for the best climatic conditions for summit day. While we wait, we’ll enjoy superb views of the highest section of the Aconcagua south face wall, a truly impressive sight. Following our summit push, we’ll step onto the ‘roof of America’ with great emotion, take photos beside Aconcagua’s emblematic summit cross, admire panoramic views of the central Andes, and descend tired but satisfied to our last high camp.    Trekking Time – 12 to 14 hours / Tent / Elevation – Min – 6,000m / 19,600 ft (Piedras Blancas) – 6,250m / 20,500ft (Piedras Negras) – Max 6,962m (22,835 ft)

Day 19 Piedras Blancas Camp – Plaza de Mulas. We’ll descend from Piedras Blancas to the Plaza de Mulas Camp (4,200m / 13,779 ft), where our Aconcagua Express chef will be waiting with a delicious dinner to help restore our energy.   Trekking Time – 4 to 5 hours / Tent / Elevation – Min 4,300m (14,107 ft) – Max 6,000m / 19,600 ft (Piedras Blancas) – 6,250m / 20,500ft (Piedras Negras)

Day 20 Plaza de Mulas – Santiago. From Plaza de Mulas, our arrieros (mule drivers) and the mules will help us carry out our gear and equipment. Our hike out through Playa Ancha and down the Horcones Valley to the village of Penitentes will take six to seven hours. At the Park Ranger’s Station our Aconcagua Express vehicles will be waiting to take us back to Santiago. Following a good night’s rest, the Aconcagua & El Plomo route with Porters expedition comes to an end! Some members may wish to spend some time on their own in Santiago, where you can discover the city’s wide range of culinary and cultural options and its exciting night life.   Transfer distance 190 km – 118 miles / Transfer time 4 hours / Hotel / Elevation – Min 567 m (1,860 ft) – Max 4,300m (13,779 ft)

Services

Services included

  • Professional Bilingual Mountain Guide.
  • Ratio, Guide to Clients 1-3.
  • All local organization & supervision by AE Expeditions Staff.
  • Porter for community gear (tents, stove, gas) during the entire expedition.
  • Mules for individual and community gear to base camp and return.
  • High quality expedition common gear: The North Face, Mountain Hardware & Marmot tents, stoves and fuel.
  • Private tent at El Plomo and until Aconcagua base camp.
  • Private tents until base camp.
  • Full dining room set up at base camp, with tables, chairs, etc.
  • All meals during the expedition.
  • Permanently available hot drinks and biscuits at base camp tent.
  • Two hotel nights in Santiago, double occupancy with breakfast, at Kennedy Hotel or equivalent.
  • Two hotel nights in Mendoza, double occupancy with breakfast, at Hyatt Park Plaza, Sheraton or Diplomat hotel.
  • One hotel accommodation in Penitentes, double occupancy with half pension.
  • Private transportation, including airport pick-up and drop-off in Santiago airport.
  • Assistance in Santiago and Mendoza airports.
  • Satellite phone during the entire expedition on a per minute payment basis.
  • VHF 2 mt radio communication equipment.
  • The Aconcagua, “Summit of America” book, by Mauricio Fernandez.
  • The Aconcagua topographic map.

Services not included

  • Mandatory Rescue Insurance.
  • All personal climbing equipment and gear.
  • International round-trip airfare to Santiago & Mendoza.
  • Aconcagua climbing permit fee $850 – $1100, depending on climbing season
  • Single room supplement at hotels in Santiago, Mendoza & Penitentes.
  • Meals in Mendoza.
  • Porter for personal gear.
  • Drinks (soda, beer, or wine) in
  • Guides and mountain staff tips.
  • Cancellation, accident, and rescue insurance.
  • Cash for extra expenses.
  • Airport drop-off.
  • Any costs involved in an early or late departure.
  • Any other service not mentioned above.

Important

  • All itineraries are subject to change due to changes in the weather, individual’s acclimatization rates and the guide’s preferences.
  • Private Porter can carry 20 kg maximum.
  • With good weather and good acclimatization the trip may return to Santiago or Mendoza earlier.
  • Any departure dates can be re-scheduled with a minimum of 6 persons.

Climber Experiences

Le voyage était parfait, avec l’immense satisfaction d’avoir été en haut de l’aconcagua !
Excellent guides, very professional and very dedicated to the success of the expedition. Very good logistics (transfers, mules); Pre-Read materials (Aconcagua book, map…) were very good; Excellent hotel in Mendoza (Hyatt!)

I would definitely recommend KL Expeditions / Aconcagua Express Expeditions.

Pascal Tiercelin
France

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

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

Let me just say thank you for how you were with my wife while I was on the mountain. This was a very important to me and I am very pleased that you were so helpful with letting my wife know what was going on.
Leo was a fantastic guide with great energy, and I could not ask for a better companion for the duration of the trip!! All in all, the trip was fantastic and well organized!!
Anyhow, thanks again for all your hospitality and helpfullness…you guys should be proud of your business!

Erhard Zeising
USA

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

Edouard Derom
USA

Overall I was very happy with the trip. Logistics of the trip were well organized; the pre-trip info, the food at base camp, the hotels, transports and equipment provided by KL / Aconcagua Express Expeditions were good.
Our guides, Kristina and Nenu, were excellent. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and capable. I had every confidence in them.

Brett Mc Fadyen
Australia

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

The two guides were excellent in every possible respect. Everything was well prepared and well organized. Overall I am very much impressed by the dignity, the professionalism and the good manners of the guides. Organization and set up of the expedition was at a very high level.

I will certainly recommend your agency to other fellow climber how will want to try the same experience. Thank you

Sotris Skevis
Greece

Tatiana and Billi were great guides on the Aconcagua expedition. I’d be happy to climb another mountain with them again!! Our food was better than that from other groups going up the mountain, and it was nice to have hot thermoses brought to our tent in mornings (other groups noticed this, and the fact that they had to go get their own water, among other things less positive than that of our group). I always felt safe, that Tatiana & Billi knew what they were doing on the mountain, and that they had enough energy to handle whatever could come our way. On summit day, Billi brought a guy down to Camp 3 from 1/3 (or more) of the way up, then she ascended and caught up to us, in order to summit from Camp 3 in only 5 ½ hours! A real rock star. Then, when I was really burnt out almost all the way back to camp (with heavier snow coming down and covering the trail), Billi helped me back to Camp3… a real help when it was needed, and on the part of the trail where accidents are most prone to happen (way down from summit day). This was really appreciated. Our staff helped create a real team atmosphere, and our group was the “cool table” at the lower camps, and out dining tent was the social center of activity with several groups joining us for cards, games, etc after dinner. Our pace up the mountain was the right speed, not to fast and not too slow, enabling 5 of 6 of our group to get to the summit, and the remaining 1 doing his personal best on summit day! One guy from another group was “turned around” partway up on summit day; he later felt that he could have made it to the top with a slightly slower group pace. I’ve seen this before on other mountains. Our pace was just right! We were properly aware of the mountain challenges before the expedition, and the challenge met my personal expectations. I came off the mountain without any physical aches and pains, feeling good about the expedition and ready for more mountains in the future! Perhaps Elbrus and Denali, the 2nd with some technical training and practice. I have NO COMPLAINTS about this expedition! I believe our guides, our food were better than that of other groups, that our group gear was appropriate, and that we were properly instructed on how to prepare for the mountain and which gear to bring! I enjoyed the company of the clients as well, and that of the other teams headed up the mountain with us. This was a great expedition, and I’m lucky to have made some new friends on the mountain.

I’d recommend KL Adventure for anyone wanting to climb Aconcagua, in particular Tatiana as lead guide. Likewise I’d climb a mountain (Nepal?) with Billi and recommend her guiding services as well. Best Wishes, Mark.

Mark
USA

Footer

Aconcagua Express

Online Contact Form

US Contact USA: 1-877-260-5447
Canada Contact Canada: 1-877-260-5447
UK Contact UK: 0 800 868 740
Austraila Contact Australia: 1 800 182 208
Brazil Flag Brazil: 0 800 891 6292
Chile Flag Chile: 56 2 2217 9101 (office)
Chile Flag Chile: 56 9 9798 3807 (mobile)
Skype: powdersouth

summit approach

More Information

FAQ
About Us
Contact
Our Guides
Guide & Success
Why Us
Trip Applications
Aconcagua Information

Copyright © 2021 - Aconcagua Express;
Augusto Mira Fernandez #14248 Las Condes CP 7591409 Santiago, Chile