MULES

Mule Service at Our Ranch

Our Depot, Mule Ranch, also known as “Los Puquios,” lies near the entrance of the park and is the residence for all of our Arrieros, logistical staff, and over 170 mules during the climbing season. Los Puquios provides a safe and convenient place to store climbing gear so it can be quickly sent up to the camps. Our administrative staff is very conscientious in making sure your gear is delivered to the right location safely and on time.

Mules

Mules are an essential part of expedition logistics on Aconcagua, and at AMG, their care is taken seriously. We follow strict load management and handling standards designed to protect their health, comfort, and performance throughout the season.
Their strength, balance, and endurance make them uniquely suited to this terrain, but we do not take that for granted. AMG operates under a formal Animal Welfare Program that establishes clear standards for load control, rest periods, feeding, health monitoring, and overall working conditions. Our arrieros know each animal well and closely supervise their condition throughout the season, making sure they are properly fed, rested between carries, and managed with care at every stage of the expedition. Regular veterinary oversight is also part of that system.
We take real pride in the way our mule team is cared for, because good logistics depend on responsible treatment, not just efficiency.

Load Transport

AMG will transport each climber’s expedition gear and food from Mendoza to Los Puquios by van. From there, mules will carry the equipment to any of the five base camps on the mountain, as needed. These include Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas for the Normal Route, and Pampa de Leńas, Casa de Piedra, and Plaza Argentina for the Polish Route.

For climbers planning to traverse the mountain via the Polish Traverse Route, we will return any cargo left at Plaza Argentina to Los Puquios and then forward any gear you may need to Plaza de Mulas for use after your descent.

When descending back to a Base Camp from your summit attempt, contact us by radio to reserve mules for the return journey back to Los Puquios. This will allow us to have mules ready at your time of departure.

Inclusions with Mule Services

Hiring a mule service with AMG includes the following:

Storage room in Los Puquios and Base Camps.
Vehicle transportation from your lodging in Penitentes to the beginning of the trek.(Horcones Valley or Vacas Valley)
Bathroom use in our Base Camps.
Transport of trash and human waste from Base Camp to Los Puquios for disposal. (Staff in Base Camps will sign your climbing permit as proof that our company will be responsible for all garbage.)

We recommended using strong duffel bags to carry your luggage by mules and covering the ends of ice axes and crampons to ensure safe transport.

For pricing information about our mule services, please contact us at info@aconcaguamg.com