Climb the highest mountain in South America - Aconcagua.

Flights are NOT included. You will need to make your own way to and from Mendoza Airport, Argentina (MDZ). We will organise flights nearer the time so we get the same ones.

• 3* hotel accommodation in Mendoza at beginning and end of trip

• Rustic mountain hotel at Penitentes www.ayelenhotel.com/en/ (website mainly in Spanish)

• On the walk to Plaza Argentina, we stay in tents for 2 nights

• Shared dorm-style tents at Plaza Argentina & Plaza de Mulas (the Base Camps)

• Rustic shower, various eating options, and toilet facilities are available in Plaza Argentina & Plaza de Mulas

• Above Plaza Argentina, mountain tent accommodation (shared two-person geodesic tents)

All food on and off the mountain is included, from arrival at the hotel on the first day to departure of the hotel on the last day. In the valley, there is a good range of cafes and restaurant options. On the hill, there is basic food available at Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas.

Above Plaza de Mulas, we will be eating freeze-dried ‘Summit Meals’ cooked on an MSR XKG liquid fuel stove.

You bring your own 'Summit Meals', from the UK. At altitude, people often find that their appetite diminishes. Finding appetizing food becomes difficult, and while a range of freeze-dried meals for Camp 3 will be available, it is best if you bring your own personal favourites. You will need 4 x breakfasts, 4 x evening meals, 4 x puddings. Try a range beforehand and see what you like!

Frequently hot and dusty below BC, by Camp Cólera the temperatures may be as low as -20°C or colder at night, with snowstorms being common. The summit day is known for being both bitterly cold and sometimes windy! This of course comes with the caveat that once in a while, it can be warm and still, even on the upper mountain.

On the summit morning, we start early – and it is often below freezing. With the altitude, circulation to the hands and feet declines (and you won’t generate much heat anyway as you have to move so much slower at altitude), so you need a down jacket and beanie/gloves.

We will have mule support from Penitentes to Plaza Argentina. From Penitentes, we can send up to 30kg per climber to Plaza Argentina. The mules go up via the same route and use the same camps, so we have access to all our camping things at Pampa de Lenas, Plaza Piedra, and Plaza Argentina. Once we climb above Plaza Argentina, we can send down 10kg per climber of kit (normally just trekking clothes) which will go around the mountain to wait for us at Plaza de Mulas (the Base Camp on the other side) for when we descend that way.

Descending from Plaza de Mulas to Penitentes, we will have a 30kg allowance. If that’s confusing, your leader will run through it all at the time!

• Biggar, John; The Andes: A Guide For Climbers. Andes Press, 3rd Edition. 2014.

• Ryan, Jim; Aconcagua and the Southern Andes: Horcones and Vacas Valley ascent routes. Cicerone, 2018. Kindle version available.

• Neate, Jill; Mountaineering in the Andes, Royal Geographical Society, 2nd Edition, 1994

Your leader will have copies of the above for you to read.

Mountaineering insurance including to the relevant altitude of the trip, helicopter evacuation, and repatriation. (A copy is required with final payment).

https://partner.globalrescue.com/summitguides/index.html

For UK passport holders, you will be granted a 90-day tourist visa on arrival. This has historically been free of charge, but check before travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/entry-requirements

Doctor and/or First Aider at both Base Camps (a check-up is generally conducted). Helicopter permanently at Park Entrance (although access to the upper mountain is often limited by weather conditions). Hospitals at Mendoza. Your Leader will be carrying a full expedition medical kit.

A higher degree of fitness is required than say Elbrus, with both a bigger emphasis on load carrying, higher altitude, and longer trip duration. Cardio 3 times a week is recommended, starting 4 months before the start of the trip, and long days walking with a heavy pack on (ideally in the hills) at least 3-4 days a month.