Vinson + Aconcagua
Contact us for additional dates & pricing.
You’ve already flown all the way to the bottom of South America to fly to Antarctica to climb Vinson. Since you in the neighborhood, why not also climb Aconcagua? As the second tallest of the Seven Summits and the tallest peak in the Southern and Western Hemispheres, Aconcagua stand tall at 22,841 ft (6,962 m) making it a bucket list climb for many.
Capitalize on your training, acclimatization and time, and dovetail your Vinson climb right into Aconcagua Expedition!
A true test for any mountaineer, Aconcagua sits along the Andes spine roughly equal distance between the stunning South American towns of Mendoza, Argentina and Santiago, Chile. The mountain is a predominantly arid, hot climate making for stable summer climbing with some snow and cramponing high on the peak.
Not to be underestimated, Aconcagua’s altitude, elevation gains and load carries make it a physical challenge similar to Denali, an amazing accomplishment for even the seasoned mountaineer.
All prices are in US Dollars.
CTSS requires clients to buy trip insurance for all expeditions. For more information, please see our page on trip insurance and cancellation policy.
All payments, once submitted, are non-refundable and non-transferable. If balances are not received by specified dates, the client forfeits their place on the program and any prior fees paid.
This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. This is adventure travel, meaning things rarely go as planned, and this schedule will likely change. Climbers need to be adaptable and positive. We always recommend climbers arrive in Punta Arenas one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (e.g., hotel, food, or sightseeing) of this extra day are the client’s responsibility. Please let us know if you want us to arrange logistics for early arrivals or for a single-rooming option.
- Day 1: Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile
- Day 2: Team Breakfast, gear checks, expedition briefing
- Day 3: Luggage Check-In and Cocktail Evening with Antarctic Flight Service
- Day 4: Fly to Union Glacier, Antarctica
- Day 5: Fly from Union Glacier to Vinson Base Camp
- Day 6: Move to Low Camp
- Day 7: Carry to High Camp
- Day 8: Rest
- Day 9: Move to High Camp
- Day 10: Summit Vinson and descend to High Camp
- Day 11: Descend to Vinson Base Camp
- Day 12: Fly to Union Glacier, Antarctica.
- Day 13: Contingency day
- Day 14: Contingency day
- Day 15: Scheduled flight from Antarctica to Punta Arenas, Chile
- Day 16: Fly to Mendoza, Argentina
- Day 17: Gear checks and guide briefing
- Day 18: Permits and travel to Puente del Inca, Argentina
- Day 19: Mule-assisted day hike to the first camp, Pampa de Leñas
- Day 20: Mule-assisted day hike to the second camp, Casa de Piedra
- Day 21: Mule-assisted hike to Plaza Argentina Base Camp
- Day 22: Rest and acclimatization day at Base Camp
- Day 23: Load carry to Camp 1 and return to Base Camp
- Day 24: Rest in Base Camp
- Day 25: Move to Camp 1 with gear
- Day 26: Carry to Camp 2 and return to Camp 1
- Day 27: Move to Camp 2 with gear
- Day 28: Rest day at Camp 2
- Day 29: Move to Camp 3
- Day 30: First potential summit day of Aconcagua
- Day 31: Descend to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp, completing the traverse
- Day 32: Trek out from Base Camp to the park entrance and drive to Mendoza, arriving late
- Day 33: Fly home
- Day 34: Contingency day
- Day 35: Contingency day
Our expeditions are designed to be fully inclusive, except for some services/items of a personal nature like flights, gear, insurance. Here’s a detailed list so you know what to expect.
Included:
- Professional mountain guides
- Flights to and from Punta Arenas, Chile, to Union Glacier, Antarctica
- Flights to and from Union Glacier, Antarctica, to Vinson Base Camp
- Checked luggage up to 55 lbs (25 kg) to Antarctica
- Three nights lodging in Punta Arenas, Chile (two nights before the expedition and one night after). Plus, one or two nights (depending on your program) in Mendoza, Argentina, upon arrival, one night at Penitentes, and one night in Mendoza upon return. Any additional nights due to delays, etc., will be at your own expense.
- All expedition food on the mountain, including breakfast, dinner, snacks, and hot drinks. In addition, all breakfasts at the hotel in Punta Arenas, Chile, and Mendoza, Argentina.
- Reliable, professional mule support from the best local outfitters on Aconcagua.
- All group transportation is provided while on the expedition. If you depart early, you are responsible for the added expenses for transport, lodging, rescue, and evacuation.
- All team gear, including four-season tents, cooking gear, group duffels, stoves, etc.
- Satellite phone to update the CTSS blog and available to clientele at $3/min
Excluded:
- Flights to and from Punta Arenas, Chile
- Flight costs to and from Mendoza, Argentina
- Transportation from and to the airport in Punta Arenas and Mendoza.
- All in-town restaurant meals (breakfast is provided), Penitentes dinner, and specialty mountain lunch food
- Luggage over 55 lbs (25 kg) to Antarctica
- All porters on Aconcagua
- Mountain climbing permit fee ($700-$1,000 depending on season)
- All personal climbing gear is the responsibility of the client
- In the event of a rescue, evacuation, or early departure from the group, any rescue expenses incurred or excess expenses above and beyond our normal trip costs, including transport, hotels, evacuation, flight changes, and gear shipping, are the responsibility of the client.
- Unused contingency day hotel nights in Mendoza
- Guide and porter tips (customary but optional)
- Costs incurred as a result of events beyond the control of CTSS above and beyond the normal expedition costs
- Required trip insurance policy (for trip cancellation, interruption, rescue & evacuation, medical treatment, repatriation, etc.)
