A. An Overview of Aconcagua and Its Environment
At 6,961 meters (22,837 feet) high, Mount Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in South America and the world outside of Asia. The Andes, in the western part of Argentina (Mendoza Province), are home to this huge hill. Mountain climbers from all over the world come here every year to try to reach one of the famous Seven Summits. Mountain hikers from all over the world see Aconcagua Argentina as both a natural landmark and a rite of passage.
The name of the mountain comes from Quechua or Aymara, and it can mean anything from “Stone Sentinel” to “white ravine.” The Normal Route goal of climb Aconcagua is often called a “non-technical climb,” but this is a very dangerous mistake. High altitude, strong winds, extreme cold, and other tough physical conditions make it a very hard task that is failed about 60% to 70% of the time.
You must spend months getting ready for climbing Aconcagua. During that time, you work on your fitness, plan your route, buy gear, and prepare your thoughts. Every season, between 3,500 and 4,000 climbers try to reach the top of the mountain. This makes it one of the most famous high-altitude goals in the world. A lot of people are trying, but most of them are still not successful. This shows how dangerous any Aconcagua expedition is.
B. Getting to know the mountain’s shape and personality
Cerro Aconcagua rises from high desert valleys with few plants and dramatic rock formations. The Andes can be seen from here. There are many faces and ridges on the mountain, and each one has its own set of climbing challenges and adventures. It is possible to get to the northwest face from the Horcones Valley and follow the well-known Normal Route. During the summer climbing season, this is where most Aconcagua expeditions put most of their efforts.
Normal Route goes to the northwest, and Polish tracks go to the east through the Vacas Valley. These are the Aconcagua two faces most people who have climbed remember. It’s very different between these faces when it comes to people, scenery, and getting used to the altitude. One of the most scary big walls in the Western Hemisphere is on the southern face. It’s about 3,000 meters high and has mixed climbing that is so hard that only the best mountain hikers should try it.
Four base camps are set up between 4,200 and 4,400 meters above sea level. The Normal Route goes through Plaza de Mulas, and the Polish Route goes through Plaza Argentina. There are a number of camps on the mountain that build on top of each other. People start their climbs to the top at the camps that are about 5,900 meters above sea level. Over the course of several days, the Aconcagua climb profile has a lot of vertical gain. Breaks are planned to help you get used to the air.
C. Things to Think About About Climate, Weather Patterns, and the Four Seasons
It is very important to know about Aconcagua’s weather before you try any Aconcagua ascension. The mountain is in the rain shadow of the Andes, but storms from the Pacific can still hit very fast. The best time to go climbing is different every time during the season, which lasts from November to March.
The core season lasts from the middle of December to the end of January. This is when the weather is the most stable, it’s warm, and all the base camp services work. However, this is also the busiest time, and trails and camps can feel crowded at times. You can try Aconcagua ascenso by yourself if you want to. The early or late season is best because fewer people are trying to do the same thing. It is colder, though, and the weather is less stable.
Temperature changes can be very big or very small, depending on the altitude and time of day. The Plaza de Mulas base camp can get up to 5 to 15 degrees Celsius hot in the summer. After sunset, the cold can intensify, with temperatures often falling as low as −10°C to −20°C. As you go up into the camps, it gets colder. At the peak, temperatures often drop to -25 to -40 Celsius, and that’s before the strong winds come. The famous “viento blanco,” or white wind, can reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour higher up. This dangerous wind chill stops people from reaching the top.
D. Different routes and some technical things to think about
As you pick your route, there are two main valley approaches from which to start your Aconcagua treks. To get to the Normal Route, go from the Horcones Valley. To get to the Polish trails, go from the Vacas Valley. When it comes to views, getting used to the altitude, and crowds, each way has its own pros and cons.
It is easiest to get to the top of the mountain by going up the Normal Route (Northwest Ridge), which is also the route that most people take. If the weather is good, the way isn’t too hard, but you need to be in great shape, make sure you’re used to the altitude, and be able to handle steep scree slopes and loose rock. When hikers are making their last push to the top, the famous Canaleta, a steep gully full of loose, tiring scree, tests them.
The Aconcagua Polish Route comes in from the east, beginning in the Vacas Valley. The Normal Route doesn’t give you as many chances to get used to the steep slope. In the end, this road should meet up with the Normal path higher up so that you can push to the top. Many experienced climbers like this path because it’s easier to get up and there are fewer people and more beautiful views. It generally makes the trip longer by one to two days.
It takes advanced mountaineering skills to climb the Polish Glacier Direct and several South Face routes. These routes are for technical climbers who want to go on harder routes. For example, you need to have experience with big walls, ice climbing, and going on glaciers. They should only be tried by skilled climbers who have done a lot of work at high elevations and have the right gear.
E. Making plans for the expedition’s timeline and length
You need to start planning your Aconcagua hike many months ahead of time if you want to be safe. Six to twelve months ahead of time, most climbers start getting ready. They can get in shape, buy gear, get permits, and make other plans during this time. This extra time is needed to build up the heart and muscle strength that weeks of hard work at a high elevation require.
It usually takes 18 to 20 days for an Aconcagua guided climb, starting with getting to and from Mendoza and ending with spending 15 to 17 days on the mountain. The idea of “climb high, sleep low” says that this amount of time is enough for proper acclimatization. It also gives hikers days in case of bad weather and a pace that most of them can handle. People who have already been hiking for a while can cut their plans down and reach the top in eleven to fourteen days. But these last-minute plans make getting mountain sickness much more likely.
A typical Normal Route Acomara Aconcagua expeditions schedule might take two days to get permits and get ready in Mendoza, two to three days to get to base camp, four to five days to get used to the altitude and carry loads, four to five days to set up higher camps and get ready for the summit, one to two days to try to reach the top in case of bad weather, and two days to go back down to the trailhead. This framework can be changed to fit different rates of adaptation and the fact that delays due to bad weather are inevitable.
F. Guided services vs. going up by yourself
You must decide if you want to climb with a trained guide or on your own. This is a big decision that affects safety, cost, and the quality of the experience. There is a lot of useful knowledge about the area, safety rules, and group support that Aconcagua mountain guides bring. This makes the chances of success much higher, especially for people who are climbing at a high altitude for the first time.
Professional expédition Aconcagua services handle everything from getting permits to finding the best way to get to your location. They also take care of food, group gear, base camp facilities, and mule services. Guides with a lot of experience decide when to reach the top, how fast to adapt, and when to turn back if things are getting worse. It’s possible that guide teams could save lives when altitude sickness hits because they can spot symptoms early and make sure that the right steps are taken for descent.
Mountain climbers with a lot of experience who want to save money and be on their own can still do it. Small or solo independent teams, on the other hand, must show that they can do everything by themselves, such as finding their way, reading the weather, giving first aid, and saving themselves. The climb Aconcagua cheap approach is much more dangerous, even for experienced mountain climbers. This is clear from the fact that solo climbers have much lower success rates than organized groups.
G. laws, rules, and other things that the law requires
All climbers must get a pass from the people in charge of Aconcagua Provincial Park before they start learning how to climb Aconcagua. You can’t give someone else your permit; it’s only good for a certain season or route. The pass system keeps the environment safe, pays for cleanup, and makes mountain climbers answerable.
Permit prices change a lot based on the time of year, the driver’s country, and the route they choose. There are three different price ranges for passes: early, late, and high season. The high season lasts from mid-December to January. People from Argentina and MERCOSUR countries save a lot of money compared to hikers from other countries. Some pre-sale plans let people who buy passes months ahead of time save an extra twenty to thirty percent.
The insurance that climbers need must cover medical evacuation and relief at high elevations for at least 7,000 meters. Most travel insurance plans don’t cover climbing above 4,000 to 5,000 meters, so you’ll need to find a company that only covers extreme sports. There are strict rules about how to deal with trash, set up camp areas, and follow the “Leave No Trace” attitude all over the park because of environmental laws.
H. Getting in shape and training physically
The first step to successfully reaching Aconcagua is to make a full training plan that includes a lot of different health tips. Heart and lung strength are very important because you’ll be moving heavy things over rough terrain for weeks at a time at a high elevation. A big part of your training should include long-duration aerobic activities that help your body work better with less air.
You can build up your stamina for summit day by running, cycling, hiking with heavy packs, and climbing stairs. On summit day, you’ll usually have to work hard for ten to fifteen hours straight at very high elevations. Start with short workouts three times a week for thirty to forty-five minutes each. As your Aconcagua 360 route expedition gets closer, slowly make your lessons two to three hours long. One or two times a week of high-intensity interval training will improve both your anaerobic endurance and your ability to recover.
For the legs, core, and upper body, it’s important to do workouts that make you stronger and tone your body. Your quads, hamstrings, and calves will have to do most of the work when you go up and down steep hills made of loose sand and rocks. Doing squats, lunges, step-ups, and leg press again for weeks at a time makes your muscles strong enough to climb. Core strength helps your body stay stable when you’re moving a heavy thing or when you’re tired from a long day.
I. Getting used to living at high levels and taking care of health
Understanding altitude physiology represents critical knowledge for any Aconcagua ascents attempt. When you go up, the air pressure drops. The amount of oxygen in the air stays the same at 21%, but there are fewer oxygen molecules in each breath. The amount of air at sea level is about 40% of what it is at the top of Aconcagua. Everything takes a lot more work for your body because of this.
Preparing for a major trekking Aconcagua expedition? Try practicing on mountains that are 3000 to 5000 meters high. This will help you get used to the altitude and make sure your gear works. Plus, they make you feel better about yourself. Mountain climbers in North America might think of Mount Rainier, Mount Shasta, or several fourteeners in Colorado. Mountain climbers from Europe can train in the Alps. Mountain climbers from other parts of the world should look for the tallest hills to get used to the height.
Getting used to the altitude be part of the “climb high, sleep low” plan. This means taking your gear to camps higher up and then sleeping at lower elevations. In this way, your body can slowly get used to it. In most Aconcagua trekking plans, there are days set aside just for getting used to the altitude. You can do nothing at all, take short walks to slightly higher levels, or rest at camp on these days to let your body get used to the mountain air. Too much time spent getting used to the altitude is a big reason why people fail to reach the top and get dangerous altitude sickness.
J. What altitude sicknesses are common and how to avoid them
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) makes a lot of hikers who go above 3,000 meters sick and tired. It can also make you have trouble sleeping. Mild AMS is painful, but it generally goes away after you rest and drink the same amount of water every day. But going up while symptoms get worse can cause conditions that are so bad they can kill you.
People who have High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) need to go down right away to get better. People with HAPE have a lot of fluid in their lungs, which makes it hard to breathe, coughs, and feels tight in the chest even when they’re not moving. In HACE, brain swelling leads to severe headaches, confusion, loss of balance, and changes in how aware you are of things. In both cases, you could die within hours if you don’t get down quickly.
As you climb, be sure to stay hydrated, eat lots of carbs, stay away from alcohol and sleepy pills, and slowly ascend. If your doctor tells you to, you might also want to take acetazolamide (Diamox) as a preventative drug. As a high-altitude climber, the most important survival skill is being able to spot early signs and stop or go down right away.
K. Important gear and tools
Having the right gear for an Aconcagua expedition can mean the difference between success and failure, as well as between comfort and pain. It’s important that your gear can handle being in harsh conditions like very cold weather, strong winds, full sunlight for weeks on end, and more. It’s worth spending more on well-known names that make good quality items that last and work well even when things go wrong.
Layers are what the clothing system is based on. Base layers pull sweat away from your skin, mid-layers keep you warm, and top shell layers keep wind and rain out. For high camps and summit day, your main piece of clothing should be a very warm down or synthetic jacket that is rated for very cold weather. Besides that, you should have warm pants, a mask, neck gaiters, good eye protection, and a range of gloves, from thin liners to thick adventure mitts.
You should give some thought to what shoes you wear. You can choose between single or double warm climbing boots based on the path, the season, and how well you can handle the cold. For long days of climbing, your boots should be comfy and big enough to fit thick socks. They should also keep your toes from freezing on summit pushes when it’s very cold. When you wear well-made gaiters, snow and scree stay out of your boots and your legs stay warm.
L. Tools for work and camping stuff
Your sleeping bag needs to keep you warm at night, when it’s below 30 degrees Celsius at high camp. A sleeping bag that can handle temperatures of at least -25 to -30 Celsius and a good, heated sleeping pad will help you get the rest you need for the day you climb Aconcagua to the top. A lot of hikers use two sleeping pads on cold ground to keep warmer.
When you climb, different-sized backpacks come in handy for different tasks. A big adventure pack (75 to 90 liters) moves and hauls things when camp moves. Your peak pack, which is 30 to 40 liters small, holds the things you’ll need on the day of the Aconcagua climb. When you’re going downhill, trekking poles help your knees and give you more support when you’re on soft ground. Headlamps with extra batteries and lights are needed to start climbs early in the morning and do things at camp at night.
To go on different trips for climbing Aconcagua, you need different kinds of gear. Along the Normal Route, you only need hiking poles when the weather is nice. But on icy or mountain routes, you’ll need crampons and ice axes. In late winter or early spring, ice or hard snow can appear out of nowhere, so many climbers bring these things with them just in case. This is true even on the Normal Route.
M. Where to go and what to do at Base Camp
Mendoza is a busy city in Argentina that is about 122 km southeast of Aconcágua and where most Aconcagua expeditions to the mountain begin. A lot of hikers from other countries fly into Buenos Aires and then take a flight within Argentina to get to Mendoza. The city has many places to stay, from cheap hostels to fancy hotels. Outside stores let you buy or rent gear right up until the last minute.
You can get your licenses and medical checks in Mendoza for your Mount Aconcagua journey. You can also meet your guide team if you’re going on a planned trip and make any last-minute plans. The city, which is about 750 meters above sea level, doesn’t help you get used to the air, so most plans take you straight to the mountains.
Puente del Inca, the park gate and ranger office, is about a three-hour drive from Mendoza. From there, you can get to trailheads for your Aconcagua Argentina adventure. You’ll be driving through beautiful Andean scenery. You show your permit here, have your gear checked, and then you can start your real hike into the woods. The heavy expedition gear is taken to base camp by mules from here, so you can walk with just a daypack full of water, layers, and personal things.
Plaza de Mulas base camp is like a small town during the busy season for Cerro Aconcagua climbers. There are places to eat, set up tents, and go to the bathroom. Users of full-service base camps can also enjoy hot showers, WiFi, and meals that are just as good as those at a diner. If you want to heal faster and, in more comfort, these services are better than camping alone, but they cost extra on top of basic passes.
N. Every day on the normal route, you can go climbing
The normal way to do an Aconcagua guided climb starts with a moderate walk from the Horcones entrance to the camp at Confluencia, which is about 3,300 meters above sea level. The walk on the first day goes through the Horcones Valley and follows the river upstream through high desert. It takes three to four hours. A day to get used to the high altitude at Confluencia is often planned, along with a walk to Mirador Plaza Francia to get a different view of the South Face.
It takes seven to eight hours of hard work to get to Plaza de Mulas base camp on your Aconcagua hike. The trail goes for about fifteen kilometers and rises 4,300 meters. Along the bottom of the valley, the road goes by some cool rock formations. Going up to the huge base camp area, it gets steeper in the end. Most hikers get there tired but excited, ready to begin the acclimatization phase.
At base camp, people rest, go for short walks to help their bodies get used to the altitude, and take loads to higher camps every day during their Aconcagua treks. Along the way to Camp Canada, you could bring some gear with you. At night, you could return to base camp to sleep. Now you will move on to Camp Canada, which is about 5,150 meters above sea level. You will stay there for one or two nights. Before getting back to base camp, you might have to climb up to Camp Alaska. And yet, this yo-yo rhythm is needed for good acclimatization, even though it’s dull.
O. Peak Push and High Camps
At some point, you’ll have to permanently go higher and set up camp at either Nido de Condores (about 5,570 meters) or Camp Colera, which is also higher on your Aconcagua ascension journey. Living in these high camps is very hard because it is very cold and there isn’t much air. Even easy things take a lot of work. It takes a long time and a lot of work to melt snow for water, cook food, and put away gear at this level.
Every summit day for trekking Aconcagua starts with a small breakfast between midnight and two in the morning. Over rocky ground and scree slopes, the road slowly goes up in the dark, past the empty Independencia refuge. It ends at the top pyramid. The well-known Canaleta can be seen at dawn. Every climber must prove they are strong and healthy by going down this steep slope of loose scree. The ground is soft and there isn’t much air, so this part moves very slowly. Every step is a deliberate act.
Once the peak slope shows up during your Aconcagua ascenso, the climber gets their first look at the real top and a break from all their hard work. The last part takes you to the top along the summit ridge. At the top, there are several sites and, on clear days, stunning views that go all the way to Chile and the Pacific Ocean. The critical descent begins after a short time of partying and taking shots. You’ll need to pay close attention if you want to make it back to high camp and, hopefully, lower camps on the same day.
P. Plan your meals and make sure you get enough food and water
It gets harder to eat right as you go up on your Aconcagua Polish Route or Normal Route, but it’s more important than ever. You need more calories even though you’re not as hungry when you’re very high up. It’s hard because how much energy you have for peak day depends on how hard you push yourself to eat. Plan to eat simple, high-calorie foods that you enjoy because you will dislike them more at higher elevations.
People often eat oatmeal, cookies, energy bars, hot drinks, and anything else that sounds good in the morning when it’s cold on Aconcagua 360 route expeditions. People who climb for a living eat snacks like chocolate, energy drinks, cheese, sausage, and nuts for lunch on days when they’re outdoors. At camp, dinner might include freeze-dried food, instant noodles, rice, soup, and hot drinks. As you go up, you must cook your own food on a stove. At base camp, meals are planned and made for you by organized trips.
Because it is so dry in Aconcagua, it is always important to stay fresh when learning how to climb Aconcagua. It is very dry and thin air that makes you lose a lot of water. However, being cold makes you feel less thirsty. During the day, make sure to drink a lot—at least three to four pints. When you’re camping, hot drinks are a tasty way to stay hydrated and keep your body temperature steady. Your body loses minerals when you work out. Adding electrolyte pills to water can help your body get those minerals back.
Q. How to handle risks and follow safety rules
Many processes must work together to keep people safe on Aconcagua during any expedition attempt. Some of these systems are being ready, making smart choices, talking clearly, and being honest with yourself. People might get too sure of themselves because it’s easy to get to the mountain, but the fact that only 30 to 40 percent of people who try make it show how hard it is. A lot of strong walkers fail not because they aren’t fit, but because they don’t get used to the higher elevation, go at the wrong time of year, or don’t know how it can hurt them over time.
Some people think that the weather is the biggest real danger when you climb Aconcagua cheap or with professional services. At higher elevations, storms that move quickly and strong winds can make life dangerous. If you add extra weather days to your plan, you can wait for good top windows instead of trying to climb when the weather is bad. On peak day, set and stick to turn-around times. It’s much more likely that you will get hurt going down in the dark on lose ground.
You should have a long talk about how to spot and treat altitude sickness before you go up on any Aconcagua ascents. Everyone on the team should know what AMS, HAPE, and HACE look like and how to clearly decide when to go down. No matter how proud you are or how high your fever is, safety should always come first. If you get sick at high elevation and come down too late, you could die. The mountain will still be there for a second chance.
There are many ways to talk to each other, from simple agreements between small groups of people to radios or satellite phones carried by Aconcagua mountain guides and guide teams. Helicopter escape is a possible way to get help in some cases, but it should never be thought of as a sure thing. Most of the time, helicopters can’t fly because they can’t see, there are strong winds, or they are too high up. This means that the most important things for your safety are self-rescue and early fall.
R. Take care of the earth and honor other countries
There are strict rules about the environment in Aconcagua Provincial Park for all expédition Aconcagua attempts. These rules are meant to protect the fragile high-altitude ecosystem from the effects of the many tourists who visit every year. The human waste bags that are given out above base camp must be used to carry all human waste off the mountain. “Pack it in, pack it out” refers to all trash, food packaging, forgotten gear, and personal things.
Camps have clear areas where people can set up their tents during their Acomara Aconcagua expeditions. Outside of these places, you can’t camp. You can’t have a fire anywhere in the park. These rules come from the fact that hikers really hurt the environment when they don’t follow the rules. Over time, this makes a harsh climate even worse. The Leave No Trace rules must be always followed to keep Aconcagua open for future visitors.
Respecting people who work in the area, like arrieros (mule drivers), park guards, and base camp staff, will make your Aconcagua expedition experience better and show that you value their knowledge and hard work, which makes climbing possible. They put up with a lot of hardship and know a lot about the mountains. They should get paid fairly and be treated well. Being culturally aware means giving them the right amount of money and doing what they say.
S. Make a budget and list all your costs
No matter what way you choose for climbing Aconcagua, you will have to pay a lot of different fees that can add up to a few thousand dollars. Around $6,000 to $8,000 USD gets you guides, permits, mules, food, base camp services, group gear, and services for the mountain part of the trip. This price doesn’t cover flights outside of Argentina, lodging in Mendoza, personal things, insurance, or tips.
To save about $2,500 to $4,000 USD, climbers who do it themselves can, but they only save on guide fees when they climb Aconcagua. They still must pay for things like permits, insurance, horses, food, and transportation. If you bring your own food, own or rent the gear, and know that you’re more likely to fail and must go on another trip, the price difference becomes less important.
Different times of the year, different drivers, and different routes can make the pass fees range from $400 to over $1,000 for your Aconcagua climb. It takes an extra $200 to $500 to get insurance for this high altitude. There is a wide range of prices for tickets to and from Buenos Aires and Mendoza, but most of the time, they cost between $1,000 and $2,000 each way from North America or Europe. In Mendoza, it costs a few hundred dollars more to stay, eat, and get around. It can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars to buy or rent personal gear, depending on what you already have.
T. How to Succeed and What Not to Do
If you know what makes some Mount Aconcagua climbs work and others not, you’ll have a better chance of getting to the top safely. To be successful, you need more than just good physical fitness. You also need to be able to handle the weather, eat well, and keep your mind tough. Getting used to the altitude too quickly be the most common mistake. This can happen if you try to do too much in too little time or if you are eager and climb too fast.
Climbers also often fail on Aconcagua Argentina because they don’t train enough or after a few weeks at high elevation, they don’t know how hard it is on their bodies. Summit day can last from twelve to fifteen hours of hard work at very high elevations. You need to have very strong muscles and a lot of stamina to make it through this. You will probably fail and could be in danger if you don’t show up fit enough.
It’s painful and dangerous to wear the wrong gear when you trekking Aconcagua, like boots that are too tight and give you blisters on the long approach. While you’re on training walks, you can test all of your gear to see what’s wrong and make changes. You need to prepare your mind as well as your body because the mental challenges of high altitude, pain, and suffering on the day of the peak test every climber’s willpower.
U. How to Get Better and Thoughts After the Climb
It takes just as much effort to go up Cerro Aconcagua as it does to go down. People who are tired and can’t concentrate are more likely to get hurt. When hikers are tired and don’t pay attention, they often fall on lose ground as they go down. As you go on your trip, make sure you rest, drink water, and move slowly.
Most walkers like to rest for a few days in Mendoza before going home after their Aconcagua ascents. Once you’ve been in the mountains for a while, hot baths, nice beds, tasty food, and just breathing in oxygen-rich air at a low level all feel like treats. To help you heal, you can also go to Mendoza’s wine area, think about what happened, and enjoy your win.
It’s a big deal to finish any Aconcagua expedition or Aconcagua trekking trip, even if you turned around before you got to the top. It takes months of planning and weeks of hard work. You learn a lot about your mind and body when you go mountain climbing. You also learn how to make choices when you’re stressed out. Many hikers say that taking on one of the world’s highest peaks changes their lives, even if they don’t make it to the top.
V. Last Thoughts: Should You Climb Aconcagua?
There are many routes up Aconcagua that can only be done by mountain climbers who are ready to spend a lot of time, money, and effort. Anyone who gets close to the mountain must show respect. It makes people humble and rewards those who are ready. Are you in good shape, have been to high elevations (4,000 to 5,000 meters), and want to take on a challenge at very high elevations? Then Mount Aconcagua is the next mountain you should climb.
You need to be honest with yourself about how much knowledge you have when planning how to climb Aconcagua, how fit you are, and how well you can adapt. You should also be ready to turn around if things or your health call for it. The rock is always there to be climbed again, but going beyond what is safe to reach the top is dangerous for no reason. Going to Aconcagua Argentina after getting a lot of rest, setting reasonable goals, and being fully aware of how hard it is will give you the best chance of both a good climb and a safe descent.
It is worth every minute of planning and every hard step along the way to reach the top of the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, whether you go on an Aconcagua guided climb, climb it alone, follow the Normal Route, or take the Aconcagua Polish Route. You will have one of the best trips of your life when you successfully climb Aconcagua if you plan it well, train hard, and respect how strong the mountain is.