Tour Best Of The Andes: Rainbow Mountain To Aconcagua

Meals

Breakfast x 13 Lunch x 14 Dinner x 12

Transport

Private vehicle for location transfers of treks

Flights

Domestic flights from Cusco - Lima - Santiago - Mendoza

Accommodation

Camping One nights accommodation in Mendoza

Others

Arrieros & Mules All Camping & Dining equipment (Sleeping bags to hire + Trekking Poles)

Guide

Professional high-mountain guide (English & Spanish)

Not included:

Others

Hotels before & after (can be organised as part of trip) Tips for crew Crampons, Helmet (can be hired as part of trip) Entrance permits to the Aconcagua National Park (We will help you secure these permits) Any additional extras

Insurance

Travel & Medical Evacuation required for the trip

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Cusco - Anantapata
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Cusco - Anantapata

Early in the morning, you’ll leave Cusco to begin this Peru adventure. On a bus ride along the Vilcanota River Valley, and on to the town of Checacupe. After a visit to its Colonial Church of the Immaculate Conception, you’ll start ascending the Pitumarca Valley, through the spectacular Japura Gorge that leads to Chillca, you’ll start the trek near the Ausangate Community, and from there we will see the south face of the sacred Ausangate Mountain, as we continue towards the red sandstone formations of the "Nevado del Inca".

Accommodation: Camping Anantapata

Maximum Altitude: 4750 masl / 15580 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 3 hrs

Approximate Driving Time: 4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 Anantapata - Huampacocha Via Rainbow Mountain
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Anantapata - Huampacocha Via Rainbow Mountain

After breakfast, we take the trail to another mountain pass. Dropping down, you’ll hike by Lake Kayrawiri, surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and the great valley below. Striations of color are embedded in the hillsides. Then we go on to Cerro Laya Grande via the massive glacier del Inca and the most striking colors in the sediments of Yauricunca. This area is called ‘Montana arcoiris’ by the locals, and is often referred to as ‘Rainbow Mountain’ by visitors, the spectacular colors make for amazing photography. You lunch here in this unique landscape. On our way, we see hundreds of Andean geese nesting in the cliffs of Anta, and the flatiron formations of Apu Labrayani near Huampococha Tambo, where we will spend the night at the Camino del Apu Ausangate.

Accommodation: Camping Huampococha

Maximum Altitude: 4980 masl / 16388 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 7 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Huampacocha - Pacchanta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Huampacocha - Pacchanta

After a last climb over the Anta pass, you’ll gradually make your descent. In this section, the first crops and houses come into view. The landscape changes quickly as the red sandstone formations are followed by the carsten erosion of limestone, forming a one-of-a-kind stone forest, and a perfect habitat for “vizcacha” (members of the chinchilla family). By the time we get down the valley, you’ll continue to head towards Pacchanta.

Maximum Altitude: 4900 masl / 16100 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 4 hrs

Approximate Driving Time: 3 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Pacchanta - Cusco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Pacchanta - Cusco

You are leaving at around 9 am for Cusco after breakfast, arriving at your hotel in about 3.5 hrs.

You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to relax and explore this magnificent ancient Inca City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Hotel, San Blas
Day 5 Domestic Flights From Cusco To Mendoza, Argentina
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Domestic Flights From Cusco To Mendoza, Argentina

Today you’ll take a series of Domestic Flights from Cusco - Lima - Santiago - Mendoza.

Overnight: Hotel, Mendoza
Day 6 Mendoza
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Mendoza

Day in Mendoza to organize climb permits & equipment for your expedition.

Overnight: Hotel, Mendoza
Day 7 Transport From Mendoza To Penitentes. Trek To Confluencia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Transport From Mendoza To Penitentes. Trek To Confluencia

On arrival at Penitentes, we’ll load our mules with the equipment required for the high camps. Starting from Penitentes you’ll trek for around 3-4 hrs. The trek paths are very dry and dusty but always surrounded by the backdrop of the stunning range of Andean mountains. Glimpses of Aconcagua are present on the first day. You’ll reach camp at Confluencia after only a few hours of trekking.

Accommodation: Camping Confluencia

Maximum Altitude: 2,950 masl / 9678 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 3-4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8 Trekking From Confluencia To Plaza De Mulas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Trekking From Confluencia To Plaza De Mulas

Today it’s a very early start with breakfast before departure. You’ll begin the trek very early at around 7:00 am, today the estimated trekking time is 8-10 hrs. Today is a fairly long stretch, but always accompanied by mules being driven through the Horcones Valley. Lots of water, sunglasses, headwear and sunscreen is vital for this day. On arrival to base camp at the ’Plaza de Mulas’ you’ll have a place to stop and rest before the push to the summit.

Accommodation: Camping Plaza de Mulas

Maximum Altitude: 4,500 masl / 14764 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 8-10 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 9 Camp 1 - Canada
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Camp 1 - Canada

Taking breakfast before departure. You’ll initiate the ascent towards the direction of the first advanced camp, this is ’Plaza Canada’. The trekking time is from 3 to 4 hrs. Installation of Camp, the night will be cold but it’s important to be prepared with very good equipment.

Accommodation: Camping Canada

Maximum Altitude: 4,910 masl / 16108 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 3-4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 10 Camp 2 - Nido De Condores
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Camp 2 - Nido De Condores

Taking breakfast before departure. You’ll continue the ascent to the second camp, ’Nido de Condores’. An impressive sight awaits of the Andes mountain range. You are high enough (over three miles above the Pacific) to grandstand above the smaller part of the Andes. Trekking from 2-4 hrs. Installation of camp.

Accommodation: Camp Nido de Condores

Maximum Altitude: 5,450 masl / 17880 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 2-4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 11 Camp 3 - Colera
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Camp 3 - Colera

Taking breakfast before departure. Ascent to the third high field "Camp Colera". Time estimated from 2-4 hrs. Installation of the High Field camp. This is a very important day, to rest early in the evening and take a light dinner.

Accommodation: Camp Colera

Maximum Altitude: 5,870 masl / 19258 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 2-4 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 12 Camp Colera - Summit - Plaza De Mulas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Camp Colera - Summit - Plaza De Mulas

This day begins at 4:00 am, with breakfast. You’ll climb the North Edge up to the refuge Independence, located at around 6,450 m. It is in this place where the sunbeams reach us for the first time during this day. You’ll encounter the " Portezuelo of the Wind ", where you must face strong winds even in days of relative calmness. From there voyaging on the top part of the West face and climb " The Canaleta ", a channel of 300 mts. that leads us to the summit edge. After The Canaleta, the " Edge of the Gump " represents an easy voyage up to the summit. The latter part normally takes us an hour. From the edge of the Gump we can observe directly under our feet the 3,000 mts. of vertical ice and rock of the South Wall of Aconcagua, considered to be one of the biggest walls of the world. At the summit is the ultimate prize: a sight of 360 º and the experience of personal feelings and indescribable emotions, which only are understood by experiencing it for yourself. The satisfaction of reaching your aim, coupled with the termination of the expedition, mean it is time to begin the asecent and make your way back to Mendoza. It is necessary to save some of your energy for the descent back to the ’Plaza de Mulas’.

Accommodation: Camp Plaza de Mulas

Maximum Altitude: 6,962 masl / 22841 fasl

Approximate Walking Time: 8-10 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 13 Plazas De Mulas To Penitentes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Plazas De Mulas To Penitentes

Leaving early in the morning after a good breakfast you’ll head back to Penitentes from the Plaza de Mulas, where transport will be waiting to transport us back to Mendoza for onward connecting flights.
Day 14 Day 14: Plazas De Mulas To Penitentes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Plazas De Mulas To Penitentes

Leaving early in the morning after a good breakfast you’ll head back to Penitentes from the Plaza de Mulas, where transport will be waiting to transport us back to Mendoza for onward connecting flights.

+11

13 days tour

Best Of The Andes: Rainbow Mountain To Aconcagua

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Best Of The Andes: Rainbow Mountain To Aconcagua

Cusco - Anantapata

Anantapata - Huampacocha Via Rainbow Mountain

Huampacocha - Pacchanta

Pacchanta - Cusco

Domestic Flights From Cusco To Mendoza, Argentina

Mendoza

Transport From Mendoza To Penitentes. Trek To Confluencia

Trekking From Confluencia To Plaza De Mulas

Camp 1 - Canada

Camp 2 - Nido De Condores

Camp 3 - Colera

Camp Colera - Summit - Plaza De Mulas

Plazas De Mulas To Penitentes

Day 14: Plazas De Mulas To Penitentes

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania