Aconcagua Andes Tour

Aconcagua is the highest peak in the Americas and in the southern hemisphere — 22,837 feet (6,961 m) of rock and ice rising west of Mendoza city. Every year climbers from all over the world come to challenge it. This full-day private tour takes you along the historic road to Chile through the Andes, with stops at dams, natural bridges and viewpoints, and a walk inside Aconcagua Provincial Park.

What you’ll see along the way

• Potrerillos dam — turquoise reservoir with the first big mountain panorama.
• Uspallata — a green valley between two mountain ranges, and the coffee stop.
• Picheuta and the old Transandine Railway — remains of the railway that once linked Argentina and Chile.
• Penitentes — Mendoza’s ski area, at 8,500 feet.
• Aconcagua Provincial Park — an easy walk to the Laguna Horcones viewpoint with a direct view of the south face of Aconcagua.
• Puente del Inca — a natural stone bridge over the Las Cuevas river, stained ochre by thermal springs.
• Cristo Redentor viewpoint (weather permitting) at the Chilean border, near 12,500 feet.

What the day looks like

Hotel pickup early in the morning in a private air-conditioned SUV, breakfast on the way, and the drive west along Ruta 7 with stops at each landmark. Lunch is in the mountains, and you are back at your hotel in the evening.

What’s included

Private late-model SUV with a bilingual English/Spanish driver-guide, Aconcagua Provincial Park entrance fee, breakfast, lunch, bottled water, insurance and hotel pickup and drop-off. USD 270 per person; gratuities not included.

Practical details

• Duration: full day, approximately 11 hours, with around 400 km of driving.
• Altitude: up to about 12,500 feet at the border viewpoint. The walking is easy, but take it slowly and drink water.
• Best season: year-round. In winter (June to August) snow can close the highest section — the park and Puente del Inca remain the highlight.
• What to bring: warm layers and a windproof jacket in any season, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat and comfortable walking shoes.

Combine it with wine

Many travellers pair this Andes day with a wine day: Uco Valley for high-altitude vineyards and Andean scenery, or Luján de Cuyo for historic Malbec estates near the city. See all the houses we work with in our guide to the wineries of Mendoza.

Tell Peter your dates and he’ll confirm road conditions and build the sequence of your days in Mendoza.