Ameghino Valley
Aconcagua Ameghino Valley Upper Guanacos Traverse (Porter Option Available)
Overview | Full itinerary | Cost Includes
Our Aconcagua Ameghino Valley and Upper Guanacos traverse route, with porter availability, is presently the BEST route on Aconcagua. Our long-time favorite route on Aconcagua, the Guanacos Valley route, is presently closed (the lower part of the route) to expedition access.
Overview
We will be using our Ameghino route to approach Aconcagua while this closure is in effect. Our Ameghino/Upper Guanacos traverse expedition uses part of a previously established route (a.k.a. Relinchos Valley), which we have named the Ameghino Valley after the striking Ameghino Peak, (19,530’), which surrounds the route. This route joins up with the upper section of our Guanacos route. Our Ameghino route is cleaner and less climbed than the over popular Normal Route of Aconcagua. This route, just as our Guanacos Valley route, has a higher success rate due to a longer approach (than the Normal Route) allowing more time for acclimatization. The Ameghino route is non-technical, and porters are readily available, if needed, at Base Camp – Plaza Argentina, for carries to the higher camps, and for the descent.
Above Camp One of the Ameghino route, we reconnect with the upper portion of our long-time favorite Guanacos route, offering our clients the benefits of both routes. The benefit of the upper portion of the Guanacos route, and the benefit of the less remote Ameghino Base Camp (Plaza Argentina), allowing our expedition parties the comforts of an established base camp, our own chef, access to porters, a medical doctor, and more, none of which are available at the lower Guanacos Base Camp.
Note: The Aconcagua Park Authorities have closed the lower Guanacos Valley until further notice. We hope to see this route reopened. This route closure does NOT affect our Ameghino / Upper Guanacos Traverse Expediton.
Dates of Trips
2024-2025
Nov 30 - Dec 18, 2024
Dec 9 - 27, 2024
Dec 17, 2024 - Jan 4 2025
Dec 27, 2024 – Jan 14 2025
Jan 5 – 23, 2025
Jan 11 – Jan 29, 2025
Jan 18 – Feb 5, 2025
Jan 25 – Feb 12, 2025
Feb 1 – 19, 2025
2025-2026
Nov 29th – Dec 17, 2025
Dec 9 – 27, 2025
Dec 17, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
Dec 27, 2025 – Jan 14, 2026
Jan 4 – 22, 2026
Jan 10 – Jan 28, 2026
Jan 17 – Feb 4, 2026
Jan 24 – Feb 11, 2026
Jan 31 – Feb 18, 2026
Feb 7- 25, 2026
Rates
$5,500
Discounted Price: $5,100 expires March 1st, 2025
Booking Deposit: $800
Deposit amounts are insurable through Global Rescue and IMG.
Waiting List: If an expedition departure you are interested in is full, please contact us to be put on the expedition’s waiting list. In the event of a cancellation, qualified applicants will be able to get that new spot and register.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Group Meets in Mendoza
Group meets in Mendoza, Argentina at the Mendoza Park - Hyatt Hotel. Please be at the hotel by 3 pm. Afternoon or evening team meeting at the hotel, individual equipment check with your guides. For dinner we will have a chance to taste the fine Argentinean cuisine and wine.
Cost Includes
- Professional Mountain Guides
- 2 nights hotel accommodation in Mendoza at the Mendoza Park Hyatt Hotel with breakfast buffet (1 night at the beginning of the expedition and 1 night at the end of the expedition)
- Mules
- All expedition food (4 full days at base camp included - normally more than enough), any extra days at base camp will have a fee per person
- All land transportation (except for airport drop off, we leave this as leisure since many people travel afterwards etc, this can be arrange directly at reception at the Hyatt as well)
- All community gear such as: tents, stoves, state of the art Base Camp, cooking gear, medical kits, satellite phones, radios, gamow bag, pulse-oximeters, etc.
You are responsible for
- Round-trip flights to and from Mendoza, Argentina
- Aconcagua climbing permit fee ($700 to $900 depending on season) which you will pay in Mendoza, accompanied by your guide. South Americans pay about half of this amount and Argentinean Citizens about 1/4 of that amount.
- Meals in Mendoza
- Personal equipment
- Passport
- Personal items and services (laundry, snacks, drinks, tips, etc.)
- Expenses incurred in the case of a rescue or early departure from the expedition
- SAT phone charges
- Porter fees (See below)
Hiring Porters (Available on all routes)
Porter fees are not included in any of our trips costs, but porters are available to hire on EVERY route that we offer.
If you plan to hire porters, please let us know and we will be more than happy to arrange it for you. We don't take a fee for arranging porters, you just pay the porters directly.
Porters cost from $160 to $300 per load carry depending on the altitude they carry to. The cost per load increases as you climb the mountain, so a carrying a load from Camp 2 to Camp 3 will be more expensive than carrying the same load from Base Camp to Camp 1.
You will need a maximum of 5 to 6 load carries from Base Camp to High Camp and back down to Base Camp again (~$1,200 USD), if you choose to have a porter for each carry, and move, and for the descent of the mountain.
Porters are available at Base Camps on both sides of Aconcagua: Plaza Argentina for Ameghino Valley/Polish Glacier routes, and Plaza de Mulas for the Normal route which is also used for our 12 Day Climbs. The final number of estimated load carries can be decided when you get to Base Camp but it's best to plan ahead and let us know if you do plan on hiring porters so we can ensure a smooth and easy experience for you!
