Cerro Penitentes - 2 days
About
Cerro Penitentes - All year roundBOOKINGS NOW OPEN
Penitentes is 4350 metres high and is one of the most accessible 4000ers in Mendoza. It can be climbed at any time of the year! At only 3 hours drive from Mendoza (180km), Penitentes has a small public hut on its base and the summit can be reached in one day. Cerro Penitentes allows the best views of Aconcagua and it’s neighboring peaks and this is why it’s often called Mirador de Aconcagua (Aconcagua’s viewpoint)
Requirements for joining this trip are:
- International Travel Insurance;
- Trekking experience;
- Be healthy and fit enough;
- Fill the booking and medical form;
- Read all the information available on this website.
Itinerary
Cerro Penitentes - 2 daysDay 1 – Mendoza – Penitentes BC – 3250m
We’ll leave Mendoza in the morning and take the international road to a little town also called Penitentes. The drive takes approximately 3 hours. The trail literally starts on the side of the road (2.650m). After a quick lunch, we’ll start the trek to base camp and arrive there approximately at 5pm. We’ll set up camp and start to prepare dinner.
Day 2 – Summit of Penitentes – 4350m
After an early wake-up and a good breakfast, we start the 8 hour round trip trek to the summit. There will be water and food breaks on the way to the summit. There are incredible views of Tolosa (5430m), Aconcagua (6962m) and many more giants. Depending upon the group’s physical state after the climb, we’ll decide whether we stay at camp for one more night or keep going to the road for a later arrival.
Day 3 – Spare day for weather or in case we decide to stay at BC on the 2nd day
** The above itinerary is subject to change due weather conditions, performance of the group, political / administrative problems and any other events not described.
Equipment
Having good mountaineering equipment is one of the key points to have a safe and enjoyable trek to Aconcagua basecamp. Please note all your personal equipment will be checked by one of our guides in the hotel. You can easily rent or purchase all necessary mountaineering equipment in Mendoza. Find out rental prices in our FAQ.
Head
-
Bandana
Buff or similar
Quantity: 1 or 2 -
Hat
Woollen hat or similar for cold days
Quantity: Take for winter conditions -
Ski goggles
UV protection goggles to be used during storms or very cold conditions
Quantity: OPTIONAL -
Sunglasses (cat 3 or 4)
With side protection to fit your face
Quantity: 1 -
Sunscreen and lip balm
30 FPS or more
Quantity: 1 -
Headtorch
Working headtorch and spare batteries
Quantity: 1
Torso
-
Light down jacket
Quantity: For winter and optional for summer
-
Snowproof jacket
A good snow, rain and windproof jacket
Quantity: 1 -
T-shirt
Synthetic fibre long or short sleeve t-shirt
Quantity: 2 long sleeve if possible -
Fleece jacket
Used alone or as part of a layer system for better performance
Quantity: 1
Legs
-
Trekking pants
Light trekking pants
Quantity: 1 -
Gaiters
For snow, sand or scree terrain
Quantity: 1 pair (in case we have snow) -
Base layer pants
For very cold days and summit push
Quantity: Take for winter conditions -
Snowproof pants
Goretex or similar pants will be used for high wind or during snow conditions
Quantity: 1
Hands
-
Waterproof gloves
A pair of good waterproof gloves for ice climbing with padded knuckles
Quantity: For winter and optional for summer -
Mittens
Thick down mittens for summit push
Quantity: OPTIONAL for winter conditions -
Gloves
Fleece or polartec gloves for every day use
Quantity: 1 pair
Feet
-
Sandals or crocs
Sandals or crocs for river crossing or hanging around camp
Quantity: 1 pair -
Trekking boots
Waterproof trekking boots, try wearing them before the expedition
Quantity: 1 pair -
Trekking socks
Good thick trekking socks
Quantity: 3 pairs -
Double boots
A pair of double or double plastic boots such as Koflach Exped, Koflach Vertical, Asolo Ottomilla, Asolo AFS, Trezetta, Scarpa Vega, Scarpa Inferno, La Sportiva Baruntse, Olympus Mons, La Sportiva Spantik, Scarpa Phantom, La Sportiva G2.
Single layer boots such as La Sportiva Nepal XT, EVO, Batura or Boreal Latok, ARE NOT SUITABLE.
Quantity: Single or double boots for winter conditions only
Other Equipment
-
Carbo gels
These gels help out on recovery
Quantity: 2 -
Sleeping Bag
A good down sleeping
Quantity: -5C for summer and -15C for winter -
Rucksack
A decent rucksack with hip belt and rain cover
Quantity: 45 litres or more -
Altitude medicine
Our guides already have pretty much any drugs you might need during any trip. However, it would be great if you could have a spare tab of the most used drugs:
Ibuprofen (Advil)– This is an anti-inflammatory and works great for high altitude head aches
Loperamide (Imodium) – controls diarrea (not to be used in case of digestive infections. Ask our guides) -
Personal Hygiene kit
Soap, tooth brus, come, etc
Quantity: OPTIONAL -
Sleeping mattress
We prefer taking 2 foam sleeping mattress because of sharp rocks. If you have an inflatable mattress you should also bring a foam mattress to protect the inflatable one against sharp rocks. Don’t forget bringing a repair kit if you have an inflatable mattress.
Quantity: 1 -
Water bottle
Nalgene 1 litre bottles or similar are great for expeditions! We prefer to not use camelbacks as its hose pipe might freeze
Quantity: 2 x 1 litre -
Trekking poles
Gives you more stability during walk and summit push.
Quantity: OPTIONAL
FAQ
View our photos of Eduardo Tonetti:
Related links about Eduardo Tonetti:
- From the office to the Andes: The story of the mountain guide Edu Tonetti: From the office to the Andes: The story of the mountain guide Edu Tonetti
Eduardo Tonetti
Mountain Guide and Trekking GuideLanguage skills:
| Portuguese - native speaker |
| Spanish - near native speaker |
| English - good command |
Eduardo Tonetti was born in São Paulo - Brazil and was in the advertising business for 15 years. In 2010 he decided to quit his career and guide for living. After 4 years of studies, Edu has graduated at EPGAMT Guiding School in Mendoza. He is now a professional mountain guide and a WFR trained rescuer, licensed to guide in Aconcagua among many other Andean peaks.
Edu has been a rock climber for 13 years and has extensive experience in several rock climbing areas. He specialized in high altitude mountaineering and climbed dozens of mountains in the region. Edu has climbed big mountains like Aconcagua (6962m, 11 times), Ojos del Salado (6898m), Tres Cruces Sur (6738m), Tres Cruces Central (6640m), Mercedario (6770M), Tupungato (6556m), Cerro Plata (5943m), Vicuñas (6087m), among others.
Eduardo has worked with human development and coaching in São Paulo, Brazil and he is now using mountaineering as coaching activities having amazing results!
He has been working in Aconcagua for the last 4 years in a row and started as a porter in 2012. He worked his way up and has now led several expeditions at Central and dry Andes.
Map
Cost
Cost varies according to the number of participants, contact us to know payment methods:
Price for 1 person: U$ 450
Price for 2 persons: U$ 400 per person
Price for 3-5 persons: U$ 350 per person
What’s included:
- Leadership of Eduardo Tonetti, EPGAMT mountain guide;
- 1 or 2 assistant mountain guides (EPGAMT/AAGM certification) depending upon number or clients;
- Help on purchasing and equipment rental in Mendoza;
- Transport from/to Penitentes;
- Transport/assembly of tents, pots, gas, food, water in all camps ;
- Use of mountain tents and medical kit in all camps;
- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, treated water in the whole mountain;
What is NOT included:
- Hotel nights or meals in Mendoza;
- Flights from/to Mendoza;
- Personal equipment (check equipment tab);
- Money return in case you abandon the trip;
- International travel insurance;
- Reimbursement for loss or damage of your personal equipment.