Top 10 Alpine Huts and Base Camps on Aconcagua
Aconcagua (6961 m) in the Argentine province of Mendoza is the highest peak in the Americas, the highest outside Asia, and one of the Seven Summits. It attracts approximately 5,000 permit-holding climbers per year during its season (November–March), making it the most commercially developed high-altitude mountain outside Nepal. The camp system — permanent structures and designated camp areas on two main ascent routes — is the most elaborate of any mountain in the Americas.
1. Plaza de Mulas, 4370 m — Normal Route Base Camp
The main base camp for the Normal Route (the most popular Aconcagua ascent via the northwest face), Plaza de Mulas at 4370 m is a year-round staffed camp with commercial tented accommodations, a mountain rescue post (rescatistas), medical facility, satellite communication, and a remarkable range of services for a location 40 km from the nearest road. Operated under permits issued by the Mendoza provincial authorities. The approach from Puente del Inca (2720 m) takes 2 days via the Horcones valley. Capacity in the commercial tented camps collectively runs to several hundred people in peak season.
2. Plaza Argentina, 4200 m — Polish Glacier Route Base Camp
The base camp for the Polish Glacier Route (the southeast face route, more technically demanding than the Normal Route and involving glacier climbing on the Polish Glacier) sits at 4200 m in the Vacas valley. The approach from Los Penitentes takes 3 days via the Relinchos valley. Plaza Argentina is quieter than Plaza de Mulas and serves a smaller, more technically experienced clientele. Basic park warden facilities and designated camping.
3. Plaza Francia, 4200 m — South Face Base Camp
The base camp for the south face approaches — among the most technically demanding routes on any Seven Summit — at approximately 4200 m near the snout of the French Glacier. The south face of Aconcagua is a 3000 m face with routes rated D to ED; not accessible to non-technical climbers. Plaza Francia is used primarily by serious alpinists.
4. Camp 1 (Normal Route), 5050 m — Nido de Cóndores
The standard acclimatisation camp on the Normal Route at 5050 m — Nido de Cóndores (the Condors' Nest) — is a wide flat area with wind-sheltered spots behind rock walls built by climbers over decades. Most guided teams spend 2 nights here as part of the rotation acclimatisation protocol (ascend high, descend to base, re-ascend). No permanent hut; tent camping only.
5. Camp 2 (Normal Route), 5560 m — High Camp / Casa de Piedra
A secondary camp at 5560 m on the Normal Route, sometimes called Casa de Piedra for a large boulder that provides partial wind shelter. The terrain above here becomes more demanding, with the Canaleta couloir (loose scree at very high altitude) and the final ridge to the summit.
6. Camp 3 (Normal Route), 6000 m — White Rocks / Piedras Blancas
The high camp on the Normal Route at approximately 6000 m, typically used only by teams making a summit push. The altitude effects here — poor appetite, disrupted sleep, reduced reasoning — are pronounced. Guides emphasise that the decision to proceed from Camp 3 requires honest self-assessment.
7. Refugio Berlin (Historic), 5970 m — Normal Route
The famous "Berlin" hut, once located at approximately 5970 m on the Normal Route, was a metal structure used by summit parties from the 1980s through the 2000s. Severely damaged by storms and later removed, it is now part of Aconcagua's mountaineering history rather than a functional shelter. It is mentioned in virtually every historical account of Normal Route ascents and its removal marked a change in how the upper mountain is managed.
8. Camp 1 Polish Glacier Route, 5000 m — Polish Glacier lower slopes
The first camp on the Polish Glacier Route at approximately 5000 m establishes a base for the technical glacier climbing above. The Polish Glacier (or Polish Traverse) involves 45–55 degree glacier ice — crampons, ice axes, and rope management are required.
9. Refugio Emilio Frey (Mendoza side), 1700 m — Cerro Catedral, Bariloche
In the broader Argentine Patagonia region near Bariloche, the Refugio Emilio Frey (distinct from the similarly named hut discussed in the Chile/Patagonia section) serves as the primary hut for the granite walls of Cerro Catedral above Lago Gutiérrez. Capacity around 90; the primary technical climbing hut in Argentine Patagonia.
10. Casa de Guías Mendoza, 720 m — Mendoza city
The guides' association offices and mountain support infrastructure in Mendoza city serve as the logistical base for all Aconcagua expeditions. All permits, guide contracts, and equipment checks begin here or at the park entrance at Puente del Inca.
Permits and logistics
All Aconcagua climbers and trekkers must hold a permit issued by the Mendoza Provincial Parks authority (aconcagua.mendoza.gov.ar). Permit fees are tiered by season and by activity: full climbing permits for the peak season (December 15 – January 31) are the most expensive, currently approximately USD 900 per person. Trekking-only permits (allowing access to Plaza de Mulas but not the summit) and low-season climbing permits are available at reduced rates.
The permit system includes a mandatory medical examination fee. All climbers must have a physical examination on arrival at the park entrance; those showing signs of inadequate cardiovascular fitness, pre-existing altitude sickness, or other disqualifying conditions may be denied entry. The park medical staff at Plaza de Mulas can also order descent for any climber whose condition deteriorates.
Guided services are not mandatory but are strongly recommended for independent climbers attempting the mountain for the first time. Several Argentine and international guide companies operate full-service expeditions including mule transport, camp setup, high-altitude cooking, and summit guide support. The guided trip cost is typically USD 5,000–9,000 depending on the season and service level.
Acclimatisation schedule
Aconcagua's altitude demands a structured acclimatisation programme. The standard guided approach takes 18–21 days from the trailhead to summit and back, including multiple rotation days (climbing higher then returning to base camp to sleep lower). The Rothlisberger rule — "climb high, sleep low" — is fundamental at Aconcagua. The failure rate for climbers who attempt to summit in fewer than 14 days from sea level is significantly higher than for those who take 18–21 days.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) are genuine risks above 5000 m. The Aconcagua mountain rescue service (rescatistas) operates a helicopter rescue system for medical emergencies; the cost of helicopter rescue is covered by mandatory insurance that is part of the permit fee. Climbers without separate high-altitude rescue insurance are advised to check their permit coverage carefully.
The summit: what to expect
The summit of Aconcagua (6961 m) can be reached in good conditions by a fit, well-acclimatised non-technical climber on the Normal Route. The final 2000 m from Nido de Cóndores to the summit via the Canaleta couloir takes 8–12 hours round trip from Camp 2. The Canaleta — a steep, loose scree couloir at extreme altitude — is universally described as the most dispiriting section of the climb: slow, difficult, and physically taxing at 6500–6900 m. The summit is wide and flat; in clear conditions, the Pacific Ocean is visible to the west and the Pampas to the east. The descent from the summit back to Plaza de Mulas takes most teams 2 days.
Explore on the map
Aconcagua base camps and Argentine mountain huts — including Plaza de Mulas, Refugio Emilio Frey, and the Patagonian refugios — are plotted on the Open the map.