Plan your trip · Guide
Argentina
What to know before you climb Aconcagua: getting to Mendoza, entering the country, the park permit, money and health.
01 · The basics
Before you go
The expedition starts in Mendoza, the base city for Aconcagua.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Getting there | International flight with a connection to Mendoza. |
| Entry | Many nationalities don’t need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Since 2025, on arrival you may be asked to declare the purpose of your trip and show proof of health insurance. Check the requirements for your nationality. |
| Park permit | Climbing Aconcagua requires a permit from Aconcagua Provincial Park, which in turn requires medical and evacuation insurance. On our trip, the permit is included. |
| Currency | Argentine peso. ATMs don’t always have cash and withdrawals can be expensive, so bring more than one way to pay. |
| Weather | Mendoza is hot in summer. On the mountain the wind is strong and it’s intensely cold at altitude, well below freezing on summit day. |
| Plugs | Type I, 230 V. If yours are a different type, bring an adapter. |
02 · The trip
Aconcagua
Aconcagua via the Normal Route
Best time: November to March, the southern hemisphere summer.
The highest summit in the Americas, with no technical climbing, but demanding: 19 days at altitude, with rest days to acclimatise and a summit day of 12 to 14 hours.
All dates are in the departure calendar.
03 · Health and insurance
Health, altitude and insurance
- Altitude: our trips are designed to give you proper acclimatisation. Safety comes first, and with altitude we don’t take chances. If you have any questions, just ask us. More in altitude sickness and acclimatisation
- Insurance: it’s mandatory. It must cover the activity you’ll be doing, based on the maximum altitude and whether technical gear is involved, as well as helicopter rescue and evacuation and repatriation. Before departure you’ll also sign a waiver
- Rescue on Aconcagua: the Argentine state no longer covers rescue costs on Aconcagua, so the climber pays for the helicopter. It’s essential that your insurance covers it
- Vaccines: requirements depend on the country you’re travelling from. Check the latest on your country’s official health website or with a travel health clinic, or ask us
- Physical preparation: here it’s key. Your fitness is the engine that will get you to the summit, so we recommend following a training plan. We can help you with it. See how it works
Questions?
Got a question?
If you’re thinking about Aconcagua and have questions about the expedition or how to prepare, write to us and we’ll reply by email.
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