3 DAY TREK
3-DAY TREK IN ACONCAGUA
AMG 3-Day Trek to Plaza Francia, Aconcagua
Join us on a remarkable 3-day journey into the heart of the high Andes. This trek takes you to Plaza Francia, the dramatic viewpoint beneath Aconcagua’s legendary South Face—a towering vertical wall of rock and ice that rises more than 9,000 feet to the mountain’s 22,838-foot summit.
No technical mountaineering skills are required for this adventure. You’ll spend two nights at Confluencia Base Camp, enjoying fully supported accommodations.
Our Trek is led by experienced AMG guides, and all meals and lodging are included. Our professional team is committed to delivering the highest quality service and Base Camp comfort—so you can relax and enjoy the beauty of this iconic mountain landscape.
Highlights
- Hike to the dramatic viewpoint of Plaza Francia, where you’ll stand before Aconcagua’s legendary South Face.
-
Spend two nights in Confluencia Camp, the first major base camp used by
climbing expeditions. - Share trails with international climbers and immerse yourself in the mountain culture.
- Surrounded by high mountain walls offering great vistas.
Essential Trek Information
Physical Preparation
The 3-day trek requires participants to be in good physical condition. Day 1 involves a 4-hour hike covering approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), with a gradual ascent of 2,000 feet to reach Confluencia Base Camp. Day 2 is a 6–8-hour round-trip hike of 20 km (12.4 miles) from Confluencia to the Plaza Francia viewpoint and back. We gain about 2,500 feet in elevation, reaching a high point of 13,780 feet. Day 3 is a 3-hour descent back to the park entrance, followed by a transfer by vehicle to Mendoza.
Gear List
Bring everything on the gear list! Please contact us with any gear questions you may have.
Lastly, enjoy the trek! It’s a wonderful experience.
This picture shows the 3 day route and each camp. The day to day itinerary below makes reference to these locations.
Itinerary
Pre-Trip: Gear Check & Orientation | Day Prior To Departure– Mendoza (2,493 ft / 760 m)
On the day before your trek, you’ll meet with one of our professional mountain guides for a slide show and a detailed gear check. If you’re missing any required equipment, your guide will assist you in renting or purchasing what you need from our local gear shop in Mendoza. This preparation ensures you’re fully equipped for a safe and enjoyable trek in the mountains.
DAY 1 – Mendoza / Los Puquios / Horcones / Confluencia (3,300 m) 10,824 ft.
After breakfast, we drive three hours to Los Puquios, our privately owned ranch near the entrance of Aconcagua Provincial Park. We will then transfer to the park entrance and present our permits before beginning the 3-4 hour trek to Confluencia Camp. Upon arrival, AMG staff welcome you with refreshments and a camp tour. Accommodations range from private glamping tents (pre-booked) to dormitory-style or two-person mountaineering tents. Full-board meals, drinks, and complimentary Wi-Fi are available.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Dinner
Duration: 3-4 hours, 2,000 ft elevation gain
Overnight: Confluencia
DAY 2 – Confluencia / Plaza Francia (4,000 m) 13,123 ft / Confluencia
Today, we trek to Plaza Francia to view the South Face of Aconcagua, one of the tallest rock and ice walls in the world. During our hike, we will be surrounded by high mountains and following the Horcones Inferior River upstream. Plaza Francia provides a spectacular view of the 9,000-foot face covered in hanging glaciers and vertical rock. History was made here by some of the greatest Alpinists, such as Reinhold Messner and Lucien Berardini.
At Plaza Francia, we will eat lunch and relax while taking in the spectacular views of the South Face and the surrounding mountains. After exploring the area, we will descend back to Confluencia Camp for the night.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Dinner
Duration: 6-8 hours, 2,500 ft elevation gain
Overnight: Confluencia
DAY 3 – Confluencia / Horcones / Mendoza
Today, we will bid farewell to our friends and staff in Confluencia. We will descend for 2 hours down the Horcones Valley to the park entrance, where we’ll be greeted by our staff and transportation back to Mendoza.
Trek Duration: 2-3 hours
Meals Included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch; Mendoza Dinner not Included
Overnight: Mendoza
Services Included
Services Not Included
- International airfare. Round-trip airfare from your home country to Mendoza is not included.
- Airline and airport costs. This includes excess baggage charges, lost luggage, airport taxes, and any airline-related fees.
- Payment and transfer fees. Wire transfer fees, credit card charges, and other administrative or payment-processing surcharges are not included.
- Trekking permit fee. The Aconcagua Park entrance permit/ascent fee is not included. Permit costs vary according to the climber’s nationality and the max. altitude.
- Guide and staff tips. Tips for guides and base camp staff are not included.
- Meals and drinks not listed in the itinerary. This includes lunches and dinners in Mendoza and any other meals not specifically mentioned as included.
- Alcoholic beverages, bottled drinks, and personal snacks. Items such as candy bars, energy bars, gels, and specialty sports drinks are not included.
- Early departure costs. All fees incurred for early departure from the scheduled itinerary (whether personal or medical), including additional hotels, mules from Confluencia to Puquios, a guide or companion from Confluencia to Puquios, or the private transfer from Puente del Inca to Mendoza. There is a possibility that you will be evacuated by helicopter, and in that case, your belongings will not travel with you. If you do not wait for your belongings in Puente del Inca, you will have to pay not only for the mule to carry your equipment down, but also for transportation to Mendoza. A full schedule of departure evacuation fees will be sent in confirmation materials for early departures.
- Personal mountain gear and clothing. Please refer to the gear list for all required personal equipment.
- Costs caused by delays beyond AMG’s control. Any expenses resulting from weather, transportation disruptions, governmental measures, or other circumstances beyond AMG’s control are not included.
- Any service not specifically listed as included.
Trek Difficulty & Training
TECHNICAL SKILLS
All three of our treks, 7-Day, 3-Day, and 1-Day, require no previous technical training. We walk with ski poles on most trails to keep better balance during the trek. In some areas, there are small to moderate-sized river rocks that we will walk over. All the trekking is on established trails.
PHYSICAL FITNESS & TRAINING
You must do physical training to prepare for your trek. The level of training depends on the trek you choose. Look at the Essential Trek information and Day to Day Itinerary on the website for your trek. This gives an overview of the time duration and altitude gained for every day. You should slowly (over several weeks or months) train to have sufficient physical fitness to match the hardest days and the stamina to do it several days in a row if trekking requires.
This training should include cardiovascular endurance (via aerobic training), strength endurance (through strength conditioning), and hiking-specific training (hiking with a 10 to 15lb backpack) to simulate the trekking you will do on the mountain.
Note: The 7-DAY TREK is considerably harder than the 3-DAY TREK. Feel free to contact AMG at info@aconcaguamg.com
We are happy to assist in your training or selecting the best trek for you.
ALTITUDE
It is important to understand that hiking and sleeping at higher altitudes is more difficult than hiking at low altitudes ( 5000 ft or less). Our trip is designed for proper acclimatization, but previous experience is always helpful. This is particularly helpful for the 7 DAY TREK.
PACK WEIGHT
You will carry a 10lb to 15 lb pack weight consisting of bottled water, extra clothing in case of wind or rain, a camera, etc. It is important to train with this amount of weight when you are doing training hikes or using an inclined treadmill in a gym.
SELF-MANAGEMENT
You should also be prepared to take care of yourself in a cold environment. This means knowing how to control your body temperature by hydrating well, putting on different layers of clothing to maintain body heat, and eating sufficiently (regularly throughout the day) to maintain your strength. It is important to learn how to monitor your health and know how you are feeling. We will help you to fine-tune many of these skills as we trek.
3-Day Trekking - Schedule & Dates
2026/2027 CLIMBING SCHEDULE
| 3 DAY TREK | Guide |
|---|---|
| 21 Nov - 23 Nov | Hernán Rios |
| 05 Dec - 07 Dec | Gabriel Fracchia |
| 08 Jan - 10 Jan | Emilio Abudi |
| 22 Jan - 24 Jan | Juan Araya |
| 06 Feb - 08 Feb | Ruben Barrera |
| 19 Feb - 21 Feb | Emanuel Luquez |
