Guided expedition · 360 Route

Cross Aconcagua from side to side.

20 days entering through the Vacas Valley, summit via the Polish traverse and descent through the Horcones Valley.

20 days6.962 MMax 6Demand: Very high

The 360 Route is the most complete expedition you can do on Aconcagua. You enter through the Vacas Valley — the eastern side, more remote and far less travelled —, set base camp at Plaza Argentina and gain altitude up to the traverse camps.

The summit is reached via the Polish traverse, which joins the final ridge, and the descent runs down the Normal Route to Plaza de Mulas. By the end you have crossed the whole mountain: in through one valley and out through the other.

It demands more than the Normal Route: three approach days, camps with less infrastructure and crampon and ice-axe work on the snow sections. In exchange you see the east face of the mountain and find real solitude on route.

Climber in red with arms raised on the summit, 6,962 m. — 6.962 MMax altitude

A lone climber crosses a snowfield with the tents of Plaza Argentina behind, 4,190 m.

Two figures climb the slope above the sea of clouds.

Day by day

Itinerary

The itinerary is a reference. The mountain sets the pace: reserve days exist to wait for the good-weather window, not to pad the calendar.

Day 1760 M
Arrival in Mendoza
Pick-up, hotel transfer and team meeting. Technical briefing and gear check; permit finalized for the Vacas route.
Day 22.400 M
Mendoza → Punta de Vacas
Transfer to the head of the Vacas Valley. Loads packed and weighed for the mules, first night at moderate altitude.
Day 32.900 M
Punta de Vacas → Pampa de Leñas
Park entry and the first trekking day up the valley, between 6 and 7 hours of walking.
Day 43.241 M
Pampa de Leñas → Casa de Piedra
A stage alongside the Vacas river, with Aconcagua appearing at the head of the valley for the first time.
Day 54.190 M
Casa de Piedra → Plaza Argentina
River crossing and the most demanding day of the approach up to base camp.
Day 64.190 M
Rest at Plaza Argentina
Recovery, medical check and full setup at base camp.
Day 74.190 M
Acclimatization at base camp
Altitude walk over the glacier moraines and a review of technical gear.
Day 85.000 M
Carry to Camp 1
First load carry up to the high camps. Back down to sleep at Plaza Argentina.
Day 94.190 M
Rest at base camp
A full recovery day and saturation checks before moving up to sleep.
Day 105.900 M
Carry to Camp 2
Second carry, now in high-altitude terrain. Return to base camp.

Day 114.190 M
Rest at base camp
Recovery and forecast analysis to define the summit window.
Day 124.190 M
Reserve day
Margin for carries and weather at base camp. Used to move up if the forecast improves.
Day 135.000 M
Base camp → Camp 1
Move up with full gear to settle at altitude.
Day 145.900 M
Camp 1 → Camp 2
Move to the last camp of the traverse. Afternoon of hydration and the summit briefing.
Day 155.900 M
Waiting for the window at altitude
Reserve day at the high camp. Departure time is set according to wind and temperature.
Day 166.962 M
Summit day · 6,962 m
Pre-dawn start, the Polish traverse up to the ridge and the summit. Descent toward the Horcones side.
Day 174.350 M
Descent to Plaza de Mulas
Down to the base camp in the Horcones Valley. First night with hot food and a bed.
Day 182.700 M
Plaza de Mulas → Horcones
Out of the Park, completing the traverse of the mountain. Transfer to Penitentes.
Day 19760 M
Back to Mendoza
Transfer to the city and closing dinner.
Day 20760 M
Reserve day / departure
Final margin for weather or logistical delays. Certificates handed out and end of services.

In detail

Three-day approach

Pampa de Leñas, Casa de Piedra and the Vacas river crossing: natural acclimatization walking through an almost empty valley.

20
Days: 6.962 M
Max altitude: +8.722 m
Cumulative gain

Altitude profile

Days: 20Max altitude: 6.962 MCumulative gain: +8.722 m

Two base camps

Plaza Argentina in the Vacas Valley for the ascent and Plaza de Mulas in Horcones for the descent. Both with our own infrastructure.

Groups of up to 6 people

A more technical route, a smaller group and an even lower guide-to-client ratio.

The whole mountain

East face, summit ridge and western valley. No other route shows this much Aconcagua in a single trip.

What's included

Certified high-altitude guides
Park permit assistance for the Vacas route
1 night hotel in Mendoza
High-mountain lodging before the expedition
Private transfers airport ⇄ Mendoza ⇄ Punta de Vacas / Horcones
Mule cargo transport to Plaza Argentina, round trip
Our own base camp at Plaza Argentina with dining dome and kitchen
Descent base camp at Plaza de Mulas
Full board at base camp and altitude food on the traverse
High-camp equipment (tents, gas, kitchen, utensils)
Group gear portering between high camps
Treated drinking water at base and on the mountain
VHF and satellite communications
Technical briefing and gear check in Mendoza
Traverse certificate

What's not included

Aconcagua Provincial Park entrance permit (Vacas route)
Medical & rescue insurance with evacuation (mandatory)
Personal gear: clothing, double boots, crampons, ice axe and sleeping bag
Flights and transfers to Mendoza
Extra nights and meals in Mendoza
Mule cargo above the included allowance
Emergency evacuation costs
Staff gratuities
Anything not expressly listed

The Park permit and the medical & rescue insurance are mandatory and contracted separately. We handle the paperwork for you at no extra charge.

On the ground

Two geodesic domes with a satellite dish and chairs outside, at base camp.

Panoramic view of the camp on the moraine, with the snowy ridge closing the valley.

The approach trail climbing the valley, with big clouds over the slopes.

Aerial view of the massif with the valley floor below, taken from a drone.

A dome lit from inside at night, under a sky full of stars.

Four members of a rope team together in the valley, geared up.

A red dome lit at dusk, the mountain wall still catching sun above.

A sharp peak cut against the end of the dry valley, high clouds above.

A valley of loose red stone, slopes streaked by meltwater.

The trail drawn across the scree, seen from above, a tiny walker on it.

Park permits

The Park permit, explained.

Aconcagua Provincial Park charges a mandatory permit to everyone who enters. It is set each season by the Government of Mendoza, so the exact amount is confirmed when we quote: we handle the whole procedure at no management charge.

What the amount depends on

Your nationality

There are different rates for Mendoza residents, Argentine nationals, Latin American countries and the rest of the world.

The entry route

The permit for the Quebrada de Horcones (Normal Route) and the one for the Vacas Valley (360 Route and Polish Glacier) have different values.

The length of stay

A short trek is not the same as a summit expedition: duration changes the permit category.

The entrance permit and the medical & rescue insurance with helicopter evacuation are mandatory and paid separately from any package. We give you the current amount in writing when you book and do the paperwork for you.

What now?

If you already know what you want to do, write to us. If you're still comparing, keep going here.

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