Mendoza hiking and treks: Aconcagua, Cordón del Plata and Tunduqueral

The most popular trek in Mendoza is in Aconcagua Provincial Park, starting from the Horcones valley: one day to Confluencia (about 3,380 m), three days to Plaza Francia, at the foot of the South Face, or five days to Plaza de Mulas (about 4,300 m), the base camp of the normal route. The park's summer season ran from 1 November to 30 April in 2025-2026. Beyond Aconcagua, Cordón del Plata, about 80 km from the city, and Cerro Tunduqueral, in Uspallata, are the other hikes I recommend most.

One thing first: I'm not a guide or a tour operator, and I don't take anyone into the mountains. My role is different, and I explain it at the end.

What are the Aconcagua treks?

They all start at the Horcones entrance, on Route 7, the same road as the Andes day trip. Here's how I think about each one:

• Confluencia: a full-day outing, there and back the same day, with about 6 to 7 hours of walking in total. The one-day walk uses the day-trekking permit. If you prefer, you can sleep one night at Confluencia and come down the next day.
• Plaza Francia: 3 days and 2 nights. It's the viewpoint for Aconcagua's South Face, a wall of roughly 3,000 meters, one of the biggest in the world.
• Plaza de Mulas: 5 days and 4 nights. It's the base camp for climbers on the normal route, where trekking meets the world of expeditions.

All of this can be adjusted to your pace, your acclimatization and your dates.

On Aconcagua, the right question isn't "how many days do I have". It's "how many days does my body need to go up well".

Do you need a permit to trek on Aconcagua?

Yes. The park sells permits by activity: day trekking, short trekking, long trekking and summit climbs, valid from one to twenty days depending on the activity.

In my experience, foreigners can get the short-trek permit on their own. Long treks and summit climbs go through licensed service providers and require evacuation insurance. For the 2026-2027 season, the pre-sale of those two permit types ran until 30 September 2026, only through the providers.

Fees change every season. I put together what was published in Aconcagua season 2026-2027: permits, prices and deadlines (in Portuguese). Before you commit to anything, check the current table on the park's official site.

When is the best time for hiking in Mendoza?

On Aconcagua, the summer season. In 2025-2026 it ran from 1 November to 30 April, and day trekking was allowed from 15 November to 10 April. The 2026-2027 dates are set by decree, so confirm them first.

Cordón del Plata is open all year, but a visit depends on the weather and the state of the access road.

My rule of thumb: always leave a free day after a trek. In the mountains, the weather decides. Each month's weather is in Mendoza weather by month.

What is Cordón del Plata?

It's a provincial park of more than 175,000 hectares, about 80 km from Mendoza city, reached via routes 7 and 98. The Government of Mendoza lists trekking, mountaineering, photography and wildlife and plant watching among its activities. There are six privately run refuges with food and lodging, and entry is free.

The last stretch of road is steep dirt and stone. It's not a place to improvise with a city car.

For people who want real mountains without entering the Aconcagua circuit, it's what I recommend most. It's also the classic acclimatization spot for those heading to higher peaks.

Where is Cerro Tunduqueral?

In the Uspallata valley, about seven kilometers from the village along Provincial Route 52. It's an archaeological site with petroglyphs, rock carvings attributed to pre-Inca peoples. And it's where the set that stood in for Tibet in Seven Years in Tibet was built.

Tunduqueral is a hike, not a roadside stop, and it doesn't fit into an Andes day trip. It needs its own time in the itinerary. I tell the story in Seven Years in Tibet in Mendoza (in Portuguese).

What about the expedition to the Andes plane crash site?

It's not a day hike. It's a summer expedition in Malargüe, in southern Mendoza, to the Valle de las Lágrimas, where Flight 571 came down in 1972. Departures are already confirmed for January and February 2027. I wrote about it in The expedition to the Uruguayan plane (in Portuguese).

Do you need a guide to hike in Mendoza?

For long treks and summit climbs on Aconcagua, park rules already put you with a licensed provider. For the rest, it depends on the trail, your experience and the season. In the mountains, going with someone who knows the terrain is what separates a good story from a rescue.

What is my role in your trek?

I plan and I recommend. I don't guide.

On the video call, we work out which trek fits your trip and your fitness, where it goes in the itinerary, how many buffer days to leave and who to go with. I share the names of the people who do good work in the mountains on the call, not here. Then the rest of the trip, wineries, restaurants and rest, falls into place around it.

I'm Beto, a private travel advisor in Mendoza. I'm not a travel agency or a tour operator and I take no commission: you hire directly, at the real price.

• Initial Chat (USD 89): one video call and a written PDF itinerary.
• Tu Amigo Plan (USD 297): three calls, and you book live with me alongside you.
• Premium Amigo (USD 597): I make the bookings in your name.

See pricing or tell me about your trip in the form below.

FAQ

Can you trek on Aconcagua without experience?
The day hike to Confluencia is the most common starting point. Plaza Francia and Plaza de Mulas call for good fitness and acclimatization.

How many days is the trek to Plaza de Mulas?
I work with 5 days and 4 nights, adjustable to your pace.

How much does the Aconcagua permit cost?
It changes every season and depends on the activity: day, short or long trek, or summit. The current table is on the park's official site, and I gathered what was published for 2026-2027 in the post linked above. Guide and logistics are quoted to measure, and I give you that on the video call.

Is Laguna de Horcones a trek?
No. It's a short, non-technical walk that fits into the Andes day trip. See Mendoza Andes day trip.

How high is Aconcagua?
It's the highest mountain in the Americas, at 6,961 meters.

Sources

• Wikipedia — Aconcagua (EN): Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas altitudes
• Wikipedia — Aconcagua (ES): South Face and base camp
• Los Andes — Aconcagua Park: prices and rules for the 2025-2026 season (Decree 2322)
• Government of Mendoza — Pre-sale of permits for the 2026-2027 Aconcagua Park season (16/09/2026)
• Government of Mendoza — "Winter and nature": Cordón del Plata (05/07/2024)
• Diario Uno — Night hiking in Uspallata (2019)
• Wikipedia — Seven Years in Tibet (1997 film)
• Wikipedia — Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571