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Mount Aconcagua 

Aconcagua, at 6,961 metres, is the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere. It is located in Argentina within the Andes mountain range, close to the border with Chile. It is one of the Seven Summits - the highest mountains of each of the seven continents - and the second highest peak in the world outside of the Himalayas.

The mountain is noted for its glaciers, the largest one being the Ventisquero Horcones Inferior, which is 6 miles long and descends from the south face to about 3,600m. Others include Ventisquero de las Vacas Sur, Glaciar Este and the north-eastern or Polish Glacier, which is a popular ascent route.

Most climbers fly into Santiago in Chile or Mendoza in Argentina and take a bus to Puente del Inca for the normal route, or to Penitentes for the Polish Glacier, Polish Traverse and Vacas routes. The Polish Glacier is one of the most difficult routes on Aconcagua requiring technical ice climbing skills and roped climbing.

Aconcagua Insurance

If approached from the north, via the normal route, Aconcagua is technically an easy mountain as it does not require ropes, axes, and pins. However weather conditions can be severe with high winds, freezing temperatures and white-outs. As with any high mountain the effects of altitude can be severe, so it is vital to acclimatise by tackling the height in stages. It should be noted that only about 60% of climbers who attempt the mountain complete the expedition with the rest falling victim to altitude sickness, frostbite, or extreme weather conditions.

An average climb, starting from Mendoza, usually takes around 21 days with 3 days spent trekking to base camp at 4206m where you need to rest and acclimatise for a couple of days before another 4 days of ascent to the highest camp on the mountain, Berlin Camp, at 6000m. From there the summit is an 8 to 10 hour round trip.

All climbers must buy a permit in Mendoza at the Aconcagua National Park office. Permits fees depend on the route, the season and whether guided or unguided. We would recommend booking with a UK-based tour operator who can organise all flights, accommodation, guides, porterage and permits for you.

When to go

The southern hemisphere climbing season is best between December and March, but the weather can be extremely cold and windy at any time.

The importance of Aconcagua Insurance

Travel insurance is essential for any journey, but is particularly important when undertaking potentially hazardous activities such as trekking in remote regions where medical facilities or assistance may not be close at hand. You’ll enjoy your adventure better with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have the right insurance cover in place should a mishap occur. This can be anything from lost or stolen luggage to a full helicopter rescue off a mountain.

For trekking you need to ensure that your travel insurance covers you for altitude. Most standard policies provide cover for walking up to a maximum of 2,500 metres.

Big Cat Travel Insurance’s Extreme Activity Pack covers any altitude above 4,600 metres, and is suited to the most challenging of mountain treks such as Aconcagua, at 6,961m, the Annapurna Circuit, Everest Base Camp, Mt Kilimanjaro, and Mont Blanc.

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