The Best and only Months for Climbing Aconcagua are December, January and February each year. The climbing season on Aconcagua starts in late November and continues until the beginning of March each year. Check out our upcoming trips.
When is the Best Time to Climb Aconcagua
For those looking to climb Aconcagua, timing is everything. As the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, Aconcagua presents unique challenges that are heavily influenced by seasonal weather and high winds. We guide climbers to the summit only under the safest and most favorable weather conditions possible. Understanding the best times to undertake this epic journey can make all the difference in your experience, safety and success.
In reality there is no set weather window. You could aim to summit on the 1st of February every year and the weather will be different every year. You might find better weather in February than December or January. The key is to have more available days for your summit attempt. Having the correct acclimatization along with spare summit days is really important. Read some reviews from our trips.
Weather Conditions from Base Camp to Summit
The journey from Aconcagua Base Camp to the summit of Aconcagua exposes climbers to a wide range of weather conditions. Even tough Plaza de Argentina is a little warmer than plaza de Mulas Base Camp. Both Base Camps can be quite mild with temperatures comfortable enough for lightweight hiking gear during the day. However, as you ascend, temperatures can plummet, and the climate becomes more severe.
The summit itself can be brutally cold with temperatures dropping as low as -30°C (-22°F), especially early in the morning or late at night. Wind speeds can also accelerate significantly, occasionally reaching over 120 km/h (75 mph), which adds an extra layer of challenge to the climb.
When winds rise above 60km/h (37 mph), we start to consider it unsafe to climb Aconcagua. Beyond 100 km/h, you start to get into the territory of hurricane-force winds, which we would strongly advise all climbers to avoid. Sections of the summit climb can be risky especially in icy conditions. We believe climbers must be prepared for extreme cold and potentially fierce winds as they approach the summit. Check out our packing video.
Climbing December and January
You will hear people talking about mid December and mid January being the best weather window and this really is, this is not the case. The reality is, that a lot of people crowd the mountain at this time and makes it more dangerous.
A lot of people flock to the mountain at this time so they can maximize annual leave from work. In saying this, December and January are great months for climbing Aconcagua. We recommend climbing when there are less people.
Climbing Aconcagua in February
There have been years where it has been impossible to reach the summit in December and January on specific trips. I think six of my Aconcagua summits have been in February. I have stood on the summit with liner gloves and fleece in February. This year one of our teams reached the summit on the 28th February. There was no wind and it was 37 Fahrenheit/ 3 Celsius on the summit.
Prepare for the Worst
While the summer months offer the best opportunity for milder weather conditions, they can also bring days of significant snowfall, whiteouts, and prolonged high winds. These conditions can halt your progress and, in some cases, require you to turn back if the weather becomes too dangerous.
We emphasize the importance of flexibility in our climbing schedule to accommodate delays due to adverse weather, by having multiple buffer days to allow us to wait for the best weather window.
Access to Water on Aconcagua
There can be challenges gaining access to water high on Aconcagua. The Vacas Valley Traverse Route has better access to water than the normal route later in the season and all the way into February.
Snow disappears off Aconcagua very quickly even after a big snow fall. The wind and sun do not help. Ice is melting very quickly on Aconcagua. The difference in the past 15 years of going to this mountain is immense.
Sometimes we have to carry extra water from Camp 2 to Camp 3 before the team can move into a position to make the summit attempt. It is normal to see big snow falls disappear within a matter of weeks on the mountain. By the time we come to February and March the mountain can be complete bare of snow.
When are There less people on Aconcagua
Choosing the right month for your Aconcagua expedition need some consideration. You also need to consider the number of people on the mountain and the permit cost. The largest number of mountain climbers will be on the mountain in December and January.
Most of those climbers will join via the normal route via Plaza de Mulas Base Camp. If you don’t want to climb surrounded by crowds of climbers, try to avoid arriving mid December to mid January. We recommend the Vacas Valley traverse to avoid crowds.
Permits and the Right Month
Firstly, high season permits are more expense during Aconcagua Expedition and something to consider. The cost of permits has risen significantly over the years. We used to pay USD $250 per person the main season.
Now, at the same time the permit can be USD $980 depending on the exchange rate at the time you go. Off season permit is around USD $780.
In 2020 the off season permit cost our clients USD $630 per person with the exchange rate. The challenge with permitting is that there maybe be no more high season and no low season. Be prepared for permitting, costs so change at any time.
We have access to the best permit rates and we have a staff member manage all logistics around permits. You just need to show your Helicopter evacuation cover and card and bring the permit fee in cash and we will do the rest.
Contact Experts
Before deciding the month you want to go to Aconcagua contact us and we can chat with you. We only run quality run trips working with a great locate team to provide the highest level of safety. We look forward to helping you reach your goal of standing on the highest mountain in South America.