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Upper Vacas Route, The Guanacos Valley
Our journey to the top of Cerro Aconcagua takes a less traveled route. It follows the Vacas Valley past the Relinchos Valley, continuing up into the beautiful and remote Upper Vacas Valley and the Quebrada Vieja Alta, or the high old canyon, where we make our base camp. We do not use Plaza De Mules or Plaza Argentina base camps due to overcrowding on those routes. The Upper Vacas is a spectacular valley full of Guanacos (Llama like animals) and completely separate from the other routes on Aconcagua. Our route traverses a protected area of Parque Provincial Aconcagua and the park service has allowed us special access. So, we are frequently the only group in this valley and usually have it all to ourselves, quite an experience on a mountain as popular as Aconcagua. Above base camp we follow the Gussfeldt Glacier to the remote west side of Cerro Ameghino, then up a valley below the Polish Glacier on the North Face of Aconcagua. The camps along this route are located closer together than any of the other routes, with a total of 4 camps above our base camp. This creates an ideal and easier acclimatization schedule. Keep in mind that lack of acclimatization and going too fast are the primary reasons people do not summit Aconcagua, not because of weather! Our groups use Lower White Rocks as high camp allowing a shorter summit day, without carrying loads higher. We summit via the Canaleta on the west side, than traverse down the Horocones Valley. This is our preferred path, offering a more remote wilderness experience and much higher chance of success. The other routes on Aconcagua have greater exposure to extreme winds, higher altitude base camps, and fewer camps with longer distances between each camp. The Upper Vacas route is no more technical than any other standard route. Choose from multiple departure dates each season. We have led over 85 trips to Aconcagua and know the mountain well!
Download a printable copy of our Aconcagua Trip Description in PDF Format