The Aconcagua Expedition season officially runs from November 15 to March 31 of each year, with December 15 to January 31 being the high season.
The suggestion for those who wish to venture to Aconcagua is to do it between the end of November and the end of February, since there are two factors: first due to the weather conditions. It is within these months when the climate is warmer in the Southern Hemisphere and more stable in Aconcagua.
The second factor is that there is greater availability of the necessary services to carry out the ascents (mules, base camp services and porters).
Before or after the recommended time, there is a very low number of visitors to Climb Aconcagua and it is very likely that you do not have the necessary logistical services to face this demanding excursion.
As for the climate, outside the recommended season there are heavy snowfalls, strong winds and wide fields of ice and snow that cover both the access to the base camps and the ascent routes.
During the summer (December to March), you can experience the temperature at night in places that reach 5,000 meters of approximately -20 ° C, and the temperature at the top is -30 ° C.
Cold, snowy, and unpredictable conditions make most Aconcagua hike during winter dangerous.
Aconcagua is located within the Provincial Park located 185 kilometers from the City of Mendoza. It can be accessed by renting a car and heading towards National Route No. 7 to the signs that mark the entrance to the park. They are approximately 3 hours away.
Another option is to take a bus from the terminal in the center of Mendoza (Av. Acceso Este and Av. Videla) the Buttini bus line to Uspallata and once at the local terminal, take the taxis located at the entrance to the entrance. from the Aconcagua Provincial Park (73 kilometers).
To begin the trekkings and ascent to Aconcagua, it is mandatory to register online, request the permit and make the payment of the entrance fee. For the walk to Laguna los Horcones, online registration is not necessary. Payment is made at the visitor center of the Provincial Park.
For the trails it is mandatory to carry ID or passport, sports shoes, shelter, sun protection, food and drinking water. There is no food sale in the park! Aconcagua Provincial Park is located west of the province of Mendoza, 180 km from its capital city, in the Department of Las Heras.
The Aconcagua Provincial Park is one of the 17 protected areas in the province of Mendoza, created by provincial law in 1983, and is open for promotion from November 15 until, generally, the Holy Week festivities. Mount Aconcagua, reaches 6,962 meters above sea level, becoming the highest in America. Its imposing peaks, crowned by eternal glaciers, attract large numbers of climbers from all over the world, as well as important archaeological sites.
The entrance routes to the Park are those of the Río Horcones and the Río Vacas, which reach the base of the hill where the main base camps are located: Plaza de Mulas and Plaza Argentina, respectively. The Park is accessed through International Route No. 7, from the town of Puente del Inca.