Q. How fit do I need to be?
A. Although technically easy, Aconcagua is physically very demanding. The extreme altitude, heavy rucksacks and harsh environment mean most people will have to do some training prior to their expedition. Long days in the hills with a 15kg rucksack is the best training supplemented by aerobic training (running or cycling) and some lower body strength training. As a guideline you should be fit enough to manage three long days backpacking in the UK hills covering approximately 40-50 miles.
Q. I am a vegetarian. Will this be a problem?
A. No. The Argentinian diet is largely meat based but Mendoza is a very modern city and there are plenty of options. However you should be aware there will be plenty of meat on display in restaurants and butchers. At base camp our expert cooks are well used to providing vegetarian meals and you should eat very well.
Q. I would like a single room and tent. Is this possible?
A. Accommodation in Mendoza is on a twin room basis with a member of the same sex or a double room where requested. During our climb we can offer the option of a single tent (approximately £15 supplement per night) although higher on the mountain this will increase the weight of the loads.
Q. Is Argentina safe?
A. Argentina is one of the friendliest countries in which to travel but you should always exercise due care and be aware of the risks. We support the British government's Know Before You Go campaign, which provides invaluable information on any potential risks as well as lots of other useful details.
Q. What equipment will I need?
A. 1) Double mountaineering boots (B3) 2) Crampons 3) Ice axe 4) Four season sleeping bag. See our Expedition Gear List page for full information. If you are looking to purchase new equipment, team members receive a discount at Cotswold Outdoors and Montane.
Q. What happens if I get ill?
A. When travelling in developing countries there is always a risk of illness or accident. Our staff will work hard to reduce this risk to an acceptable level. Our itineraries include extra acclimatisation and spare days in case of inclement weather or illness. This gives us plenty of flexibility to deal with any unexpected occurrences. All our leaders have a current mountain first aid qualifications and they will carry an extensive first aid kit. The following websites all provide useful information on staying healthy while travelling: MedEx Book , BMC Medical Information, UIAA Fact Sheets, NHS Choices, Fit for Travel, Travel Health.
Q. What insurance do I require?
A. It is a requirement of your booking with Activus Outdoors that you have adequate travel insurance for the planned activities which covers you for emergency medical, repatriation and rescue expenses, including the use of helicopters, up to the maximum altitude of your trip. We also recommend you have cancellation cover as your deposit is non-refundable. Some good insurers for high altitude trips are Snowcard and BMC.
Q. What is the weather like on Aconcagua?
A. Aconcagua's weather is very unpredictable! The peak itself has its own microclimate. The weather can be pleasant in the central Andes whilst a storm is raging up on Aconcagua summit. During the summer months it can be windy all of the time. In the valleys it can be 27°C and as low as 3°C at night. At the highest camp during the night it can be -15°C to -30°C. In the middle of the day on the summit the temperature could range from -25°C to +15°C. The daily pattern tends to be that clouds clear up early during the morning leaving clear skies by midday. In the early afternoon clouds usually appear again, engulfing the summit by mid to late afternoon, then clearing again as night falls.
Q. What previous experience do I need?
A. This expedition is ideally suited to strong walkers and backpackers with basic experience of using crampons and ice axe. If you need training in these skills then our Winter Mountain Skills course based in the Lake District or Scotland will give you a solid foundation. You will need some experience of having been to altitude, ideally to 6000m, e.g. Island or Mera Peak. See the Useful Links section on our home page for more information about travelling to altitude. Many people attempt Aconcagua after a successful attempt of Kilimanjaro but it is physically a much tougher proposition and we do not recommend it without plenty of training. The environment is a lot harsher, colder and higher and the rucksacks a lot heavier. The support infrastructure is not nearly as developed and you will be involved in cooking and pitching the tents on the mountain.
Q. What visas do I require?
A. It is your personal responsibility to check with the relevant authorities and ensure that you have the correct visa or the means to get one on arrival if required. British passport holders are issued with a free 90 day tourist visa on entry into Argentina.
Q. Who will be leading my expedition?
A. One of the most important factors affecting the enjoyment and success of your expedition is the quality of your leader. Acongaua Treks leaders have together led successful expeditions up Aconcagua hundreds of times. Their knowledge and expertise on this mountain is second to none. They are experts in predicting weather patterns and in assessing the best routes to take at any given time. The team has a solid infrastructure within the Aconcagua Provincial Park, offering state of the art mountain accommodation facilities such as geodesic domes and access to mules and porters for climbers. Our expedition guides are qualified High Altitude Mountaineering Instructors and all are bilingual. Their passion is the mountains and their job on this peak is vitally important to them, to their families and to the local communities in which they live. In the 30 years we have been running expeditions on Aconcagua, we have never had an emergency rescue evacuation and this is largely down to the professionslism of our team leaders, who ensure that each climber is given care and encouragement throughout the climb as well as sufficient acclimatisation time.