How long does it take to climb Aconcagua?

Most expeditions take 18 to 21 days from Mendoza and back, of which about two weeks are spent on the mountain. The climbing permit is valid for 20 days, which sets the outer limit. Be wary of a cheap 15-day package: once you add the walk in, acclimatization and a few days of bad weather, it leaves no room for a second chance at the summit.

Where the days go

On the Normal Route most people take three days to walk in to the base camp at Plaza de Mulas, with two nights at Confluencia on the way, rest there, and then move up through the higher camps while carrying loads ahead of you, the same cache-and-carry rhythm that does your acclimatizing.

The summit day from the top camp is long, and the walk out takes one or two days more. The Vacas Valley routes, with the Polish Traverse, have a longer walk in, to the base camp at Plaza Argentina.

Why you need spare days

Aconcagua is known for its wind. A storm can make a summit attempt unsafe for days on end, and extra days added on the spot are expensive, so it is better to book a longer expedition with the spare days built in. The season runs from December to February; the permit allows entry between 1 December and 15 February.

Normal Route or Polish Traverse compares the two routes, When is the Aconcagua climbing season? has the best weeks, and the permit fees are on Aconcagua permits and costs. If Kilimanjaro was your last climb, read I climbed Kilimanjaro. Am I ready for Aconcagua?