BY Sunny StroeeR, founder of AWExpeditions, who has set 2 Women’s Speed records on Aconcagua
Last Updated: February 10, 2025
I have spent a significant portion of my life on Aconcagua – the giant of the Andes which rises to 22,838ft above sea level and is a coveted high altitude summit for expedition climbers of all experience levels. But what’s the real cost of climbing Aconcagua?
No matter your style of climbing, Aconcagua isn’t cheap; the climbing permit alone runs near $1,000 (depending both on which route and time of year you choose for your climb), and then there are on-mountain logistics costs, mandatory gear, guides, porters, and a host of other considerations.
Whether you’re budgeting for your first expedition or refining plans for a repeat attempt on Aconcagua’s summit, this guide breaks down the full cost of a climb—from permits to gear to guided expeditions.
As you can tell, there are many different options for how to approach an Aconcagua climb; the above table yields too many permutations for me to price out each single one, but let’s take a look at some of the key cost drivers so you can understand what your levers are for managing the cost of your Aconcagua expedition.
Permits for Climbing Aconcagua
The first mandatory expense is your climbing permit, which is required by the Argentine government to legally summit Aconcagua. Permit prices vary based on the route you take and the time of year:
- Normal Route: $800 – $1,000
- Polish Glacier Route: $1,000 – $1,200
Pro tip: Prices fluctuate seasonally, with peak season in December through February. Preferential pricing available for those who work with an expedition company for guide or logistics services, and book early. Make sure to factor this into your overall expedition timeline. When you sign on to a commercial expedition, be it with an Argentinian outfitter or a “Western” guide company, the climbing permit is usually NOT included in your expedition fee.
Aconcagua Gear Costs: Renting vs. Buying
Aconcagua demands specialized, high-altitude gear. Depending on whether you’re buying new equipment or renting, gear costs can range from $1,500 to $3,000 and more:
- Sleeping Bag: Rated for extreme cold (-20°F/-28°C)
- Mountaineering Boots: Double or triple boots
- Technical Gear: Crampons, ice axe, and helmet
- Warm and Weatherproof Layers: Expedition-weight down jacket, GoreTex shell jacket and pants, high-altitude mittens
Renting gear can lower costs, but it’s essential to prioritize comfort and quality—especially for critical items like boots and sleeping bags. There are several rental shops in Mendoza that have a good selection of appropriate gear including double mountaineering boots, expedition parkas and warm sleeping bags.
Want to avoid overspending? Download our free Aconcagua Expedition Budget Planner to map out your expenses and save where it matters most.
Aconcagua Travel Costs: Flights and Transportation
Getting to Mendoza, Argentina is another significant cost to consider. Round-trip flights generally range between $1,200 and $2,000, depending on your point of origin. Once in Mendoza, transportation to the trailhead (usually Penitentes) is an additional cost—typically $350+ for a shuttle or private transport.
Pro Tip: Book your flights 4-6 months in advance to secure the best prices. Also, make sure to keep an eye on baggage fees: if you are climbing Aconcagua independently, i.e. without a commercial expedition, you will need a minimum of two checked bags – even if you pack light. Excess luggage can quickly amount to hundreds of dollars of added fees.
Aconcagua Guided Expedition Costs: Is It Worth It?
If you’re going on a guided expedition, you can expect to pay between $4,000 and $7,000 in expedition fees, depending on the services provided. Full-service expeditions typically include:
- Guides, group gear and transportation
- Camp logistics: Including food, water, and tents
- Mules for equipment transport: Essential for high-altitude loads
Guided expeditions provide peace of mind and take much of the logistical stress out of the climb, allowing you to focus on summiting.
Are you considering joining a guided climb? Learn more about our all-women Aconcagua expeditions designed to offer a challenging, empowering experience led by expert women guides. We also lead co-ed expedition teams on a private, custom basis.
Hidden Costs to Prepare For
Climbing Aconcagua comes with additional costs beyond the obvious expenses of permits, gear, flights, and guiding:
- Travel Insurance: $200 – $400, ensure it covers high-altitude climbs
- Additional Acclimatization: Budget extra for accommodations and meals
- Miscellaneous: Tips for guides, porters, and souvenirs ($100 – $300)
Pro Tip: Don’t forget about evacuation insurance, which needs to covers helicopter evacuation in case of emergency. This is mandatory on the mountain, and the park won’t issue you a climbing permit without proof of rescue insurance that covers helicopter evacuations.
Why Join an All-Women Aconcagua Expedition?
While this guide is for everyone, if you’re a female climber, you may find that an all-women expedition offers something unique. AWExpeditions specializes in creating an empowering environment for women to climb and adventure together, led by expert female guides. Many women find that the camaraderie and support that comes with a thoughtfully led all-women team is a completely different (and wonderful!) experience from many co-ed adventures.
Learn more about our all-women expeditions and how they can make your summit experience unforgettable. Join us for the next season of Aconcagua climbs.
The Bottom Line: Total Estimated Costs
Taking into account permits, gear, flights, accommodation, food, and guided services, the total cost of climbing Aconcagua typically ranges between $8,000 and $12,000. While this may seem steep, the experience of summiting one of the Seven Summits is a priceless adventure.
Ready to start planning your Aconcagua expedition? Download our Aconcagua Budget Planner to calculate your exact costs and make the most of your expedition preparation.
Conclusion
Climbing Aconcagua is a serious financial and physical commitment, but for many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. By understanding the full scope of costs—from gear and permits to guided services—you’ll be better prepared to tackle the adventure.
Want to make this your year to summit Aconcagua? Join an all-women expedition with AWExpeditions and take your place among those who’ve taken on the challenge of the second-tallest of the Seven Summits. Learn more and sign up today!
Bonus Content: Case Studies
Want to take a look at actual numbers? Here are two scenarios to give you an idea of where your money goes depending on which style you decide to climb Aconcagua in.
THE BUDGET APPROACH TO CLIMBING ACONCAGUA
Aconcagua Normal Route, Low Season, Unguided Party of 2
The ultimate low-cost climb of Aconcagua would be to climb the Normal Route as a party of two, in the low season, unguided and without porter support but with basic mule logistics support. Here’s what the budget for that type of climb would look like (with actual figures from 2019):
In short – if you and your climbing partner already own all the prerequisite gear (including double mountaineering boots, a four season tent and a -30F sleeping bag), can swing a climb during the low season, are willing to go unguided and carry pretty much all of you gear yourself once you are above basecamp… it is possible to climb Aconcagua for under $3,500 per person, door to door. If you are traveling solo, up this number to $4,200-$4,500. I should mention that the low season (Nov 20 – Dec 14, and Feb 1 – Feb 20) tends to have reasonably stable climbing weather; permit prices are lower then mostly because these early and late climbing windows don’t coincide with the Christmas holidays and as such are less busy.
A note about mule support: I have climbed Aconcagua without the assistance of mules, and I cannot recommend this approach. Yes, mules are pricey (~$500 for a 30kg load to basecamp, one way), but they are well worth the money. If you decide to skip the mules, you have to be prepared for two things:
1) You will be humping a 65-80lbs to your chosen basecamp, which means two to three very long and hot days of incredibly hard work before the real climbing even begins. Reaching basecamp exhausted does not set you up for success on the upper mountain.
2) The savings that you are hoping to pocket from not hiring mules will be partially offset by a higher permit fee, as the government charges a premium to unsupported climbers to deter this type of approach.
THE “TIME IS MONEY” APPROACH
High Season, 360 Route Accelerated Climb, Guided, with key gear purchases
On the top end of the spectrum here’s what you’re looking at if you decide to climb Aconcagua in the high season, via the 360 Route, guided as part of – in this example – one of Alpenglow Expeditions’ Rapid Ascent Teams. I have chosen to showcase Alpenglow here (a highly regarded, California-based expedition business) as they are among very few guide services who are in a position to offer safe accelerated climbing schedules. It’s a pricey option, but it may be well worth it: if you are tightly constrained on how much time you can spend away from your job / family / home but you have the money to spend, this may be your ticket.
[Warning: do NOT attempt to climb Aconcagua on an accelerated schedule without the preparation and guidance of a high-end guide service like Alpenglow. The preparation for these types of climbs involves special training and equipment including thorough pre-acclimatization through the use of hypobaric tents. Without such measures and proper supervision, you cannot shortcut the climbing schedule on Aconcagua; acclimatization cannot be shortchanged, and attempting to do so can be fatal.]
Of course it’s easily possible to spend even more money on an Aconcagua expedition – business class flights, comprehensive gear upgrades, generous guide tips and a few days of high-end Mendoza R&R can all add up to bring a deluxe Aconcagua adventure to north of $20,000.
These are what I would consider the two extreme cornerstones of the cost spectrum for an Aconcagua climb: $3,500-$4,000 for a barebones unguided climb in the low season vs. ~$15,000-$18,000 for a top-end guided climb in the high season.
“The two extreme cornerstones of the cost spectrum for an Aconcagua climb: $3,500-$4,000 for a barebones unguided climb in the low season versus ~$15,000-$18,000 for a top-end guided climb in the high season.“
Most Aconcagua hopefuls choose an option that falls somewhere between those two numbers: they tend to be both cost-aware yet are keen on a guided ascent, as being part of a guided team radically reduces the planning effort and takes a lot of the guess work out of your time on the mountain. This not just saves you time during your trip preparation, but also increases your odds of having a good and successful time on Aconcagua during your first go at the summit.
If you are interested in joining one of AWE’s all-women teams for an ascent of Aconcagua, check out our expedition details here.
If you’re in the planning stages of your own Aconcagua adventure, also check out the following resources:
WoW! I can’t believe all of the things I didn’t know about the true cost of climbing Aconcagua. I’m now much more prepared I think for my upcoming expedition, though will have to dive back into the Prep School content to get my gear totally dialed.
I planned to climb Aconcagua in January of 2025. I signed up with a U.S.-based guide service in July 2024 which had listed the expedition cost at $7,400* I quickly learned that, like doping in sports, the asterisk is a killer. Trip insurance came to $850; additional/upgraded gear items i.e. -40 sleeping bag, 8,000-meter boots, 850-fill down jacket, expedition mittens, insulated pants came to around $2,000 (buying most of these items on eBay); the climbing permit cost $1,050; flights with extra-bag or overweight fees took me back about $1,500. And then there are the “hidden” fees such as changing your phone plan to insure it works in Argentina at $12/day for three weeks; tips for guides $100/each; tips for porters $100 added to the pot; and direct porter fees up to $1,900 U.S. cash. On top of this, you need quick access to at least $1,600 to pay for non-medical emergencies that may call you off of the mountain. That comes to about $16,500, or a far cry from $7,400. In the end, I developed an upper-reparatory, viral infection after the flight from Miami to Santiago, Chili. I missed my launch date. Recovered, and was set to attempt the climb two weeks later but thought it best that I return home because . . . I was running out of money! Lasty, if you get sick, SEE A DOCTOR! Secure a record of your illness, because the only department larger than sales in an insurance company is the claim denial department! – elb