The mountains that live in the indelible memory of an expedition that made many of us dream
An adventure in the heart of one of the most extraordinary high mountain corners of the Andes Mountains. As in the historic expedition of the Poles in 1934, which inspired the mountaineer Victor Ostrowsky (a member of the aforementioned expedition) to write one of the (if not the most) important mountaineering books in Argentina, when they crowned 5 of the 6 summits. of more than 6,000 meters that are found here, including Mercedario (6,701 meters above sea level), one of the 13 mountains more than 6,500 meters high in America, just 100 km north of Aconcagua.
We invite you to live an adventure on foot to observe, almost within reach, these colossi that decorate the Main Andes Mountains in a thousand colors. A region that also moved General San Martin, when he carried out the feat of crossing into Chile, with one of his armies, through the Los Patos Pass.
Itinerary
Day 1: Barreal - 1650 masl. Arrival in the town of Barreal, San Juan, in the afternoon (check for charter bus option). Meet the guides, gear check, and rental advice. Last-minute shopping. Overnight in a local inn or cabins.
Day 2: Barreal – Laguna Blanca (3,100 m) – Guanaquitos Base Camp (3,550 m)
Breakfast. Early morning start to our great adventure. 4x4 transfer to Laguna Blanca, where we’ll load the mules and begin our ascent to Guanaquitos Base Camp at 3,550 m.
With the help of pack animals carrying our gear, we’ll enjoy a light-weight trekking day. The first incredible views of Cerro Mercedario appear. Camp setup, acclimatization, and overnight stay.
Day 3:Guanaquitos Base Camp (3,550 m) – Acclimatization Hike – Guanaquitos
Breakfast. We’ll hike to a nearby peak such as Cerro El Pelado (4,100 m) or a similar one, depending on the guide’s decision — around 5 to 6 hours of moderate ascent for acclimatization. Return to base camp and overnight stay.
Day 4: Guanaquitos Base Camp – Turquesa Stream Camp (3,950 m)
Breakfast. Trek to the stunning Turquesa Stream, at approx. 4,000 m, named for its striking turquoise color. The water emerges suddenly from a spring on the eastern slope of Mercedario.
Light trekking with little elevation gain, about 6 km round-trip. Return to base camp, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 5: Turquesa Stream Camp – Mirador Balcón de los Seismiles – Return to Camp (3,950 m)
Early breakfast. Long day to reach the spectacular Balcón de los Seismiles viewpoint (4,850 m), offering a panoramic view of the Río Colorado Valley surrounded by glaciers and the highest peaks of the Andes: Pico Polaco, Alma Negra, La Mesa, La Ramada Sur, La Ramada Norte, and Mercedario itself. A full 12-hour day, covering approx. 23 km. After photos and rest, descend back to Guanaquitos Camp. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Turquesa Stream Camp – Laguna Blanca – Return to Barreal
After breakfast, we break camp and begin our return trek to Laguna Blanca, where the 4x4s will pick us up and take us back to Barreal. Overnight in inns or cabins.
Day 7. Barreal – Breakfast – End of Services
Optional activities available: rafting, Pampa del Leoncito excursion, astronomical observatories, and land sailing (carrovelismo).
