Description
Pere Vilarasau is a UIAGM-certified high mountain guide and instructor with over a decade of experience guiding climbs through Latin America. When he’s not climbing some of America’s highest peaks, Pere is an agricultural engineer taking his PHD in enology and viticulture. These qualifications make him a great contact for On The Road Travelers seeking adventure at altitude.

Pere understands that a region as unique and varied as Mendoza needs to be approached from multiple perspectives. These three options are a great start with an alternative for all levels of experience:

Tour 1: Rock Climbing Seminar (7-8 days)
Begin at Arenales (3000 meters), a beautiful granite area, 160 Km from Mendoza.
Here you will be introduced to the basics of rock climbing, including safety and techniques as well as traditional climbing (nuts and friends) and multi-pitch climbing routes. You will spend almost a week camping in the beautiful outdoors. Your week is capped off with a trip to one of the best vineyards in the region.

Day 1: Night in Mendoza. Checking equipment.
Day 2 : Transfer to Arenales - 160 Km from Mendoza. Basic technical instruction: rappelling, nuts, belaying, etc…Camping.
Days 3 to 5: Some sport and multi-pitch climbing routes. Camping.
Day 6: Mountain climbing to Cerro Negro (4200m). Take in the rewarding views of this outstanding mountain range. Return to Mendoza for a night of relaxation and recapping.
Day 7: Visit to the vineyards. Optional Extra (US$40)
Day 8: Depart Mendoza.

Price: US$1,200 per person (minimum 2 people)

Included: High Mountain Guide and Instructor, Mountain Assistant (groups larger than 2 people), meals while in the mountains, camping and cooking equipment, land transportation, hotel in Mendoza in a double rooms, rock climbing equipment

Not included: personal climbing wear, meals in Mendoza, visit to the vineyards, calls and laundry, medical and travel insurance, etc…

Tour 2: High Altitude Mountain Climbing and Acclimatization for Beginners (11 days)
If you prefer mountain climbing or hiking to rock climbing, this is the trip for you. Cordon del Plata sits at 6,000+ meters, only 80 Km from Mendoza. Most people come to the area to experience Aconcagua, the highest summit in America, but this smaller Cordillera is stunning and well worth a visit. The Andes in Argentina are 5,000 km long, so there is still plenty of virgin terrain to explore and smaller Cordilleras, such as this one, where fewer people travel.
This trip will introduce you to the acclimatization system, so you can see how your body reacts to high altitude – all while still having a good time. You will climb 4 or 5 minor summits before heading up the main one, Cerro del Plata (6,000 meters).
Cordon del Plata is a picture-perfect scene and a great way to familiarize yourself with altitude.

Day 1: Night in Mendoza. Checking equipment.
Day 2: Transfer to Vallecitos. Short hiking, 3-4h to Loma Blanca summit (3,800m). Stay the night in a mountain hut at 2,400m.
Day 3: San Bernardo summit at 4,500m. 8h. Return to hut.
Day 4: Load carry to Camp 1 at 3500m (2h).
Day 5: Climb Cerro Stepanek (4,100m).
Day 6: Load carry to High Camp at 4,200m and back to Camp 1.
Day 7: Move up to High Camp.
Day 8: Summit day to Vallecitos (5,500m). This is a long day.
Day 9: Swing day in case you need it for acclimatization or poor weather conditions.
Day 10: Return to Mendoza, night in hotel.
Day 11: Depart Mendoza

Price: US$1,500 per person (minimun 2 people)

Included: High Mountain Guide, Mountain Assistant (groups larger than 3 people), meals while in the mountains, camping and cooking equipment, land transportation, hotel in Mendoza (double room), mountain climbing equipment, mountain huts, mules or porters to BC, permits.

Not included: Personal climbing wear, meals in Mendoza, visit to the vineyards, calls and laundry, medical and travel insurance, etc…

Tour 3: Aconcagua Base Camp Trekking and Cerro Bonete Climbing (9 days)
This program will invigorate you with the emotion of high altitude and will allow you to view the most imposing walls of the highest peak of America, taking you to the summit of Mount Bonete at 5,000m which, in addition to withholding its own grandeur, constitutes a privileged scenario from which you can contemplate an extraordinary vastness and singular beauty, surrounding the Aconcagua.

Mount Aconcagua stands out among the mountain range for its sheer size. It is said that indigenous people named it "Ackon Cahuak", which means the Stone Sentinel. It was noticed long before our time and respected. We highly recommend hiring a guide to insure your safety. This mountain towers at 22, 840 feet, and it is the tallest in the Americas. It is 4,000 feet higher than any of the neighboring mountains in the Andes.

Day 1: Spend the night in Mendoza getting prepared.
Day 2: Obtain permits. Transfer to Penitentes at 2,800m. Night in Hotel.
Day 3: Trek to Confluencia at 3,200m. Campsite.
Day 4: Hike to the bottom of the super-challenging South Face, the hardest face in Aconcagua. 5h.
Day 5: Trek to Aconcagua Base Camp at 4,200m. Campsite in Plaza de Mulas, the Base Camp.
Day 6: Rest day. Trek through the outskirts of Plaza de Mulas, pasing over the Superior Horcones glacier. Visit Base Camp, where dozens of expeditions from around the world are settled. Dinner and lodging at Base Camp.
Day 7: Climbing Cerro Bonete (5,000m) 6-7h. Back to Base Camp.
Day 8: Hike out to Penitentes and transfer to Mendoza. Spend the night in a hotel.
Day 9: Depart Mendoza
Price: US$900 (min 2 people)

Included: hotel in Mendoza ( 2 nights); land transportation to Penitentes; 1 night in Penitentes Hotel; private transport to and from Pentitentes-Horcones; all meals during trek, meal tents with cook, tableware, tables, stools; trekking guide; lodging in tents with insulated mats.

Not included: park entrance permits; personal equipment; sleeping bag; mules for load transportation.

Mountain Outdoor Adventure Tours, Mendoza Argentina