Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From the car park by the ranger station at the Horcones entrance to Parque Provincial Aconcagua, the interpretive path heads north up the valley over open, stony ground. It reaches the Mirador Horcones, which looks straight up the Horcones valley to the snow and ice of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas. The path then circles the small Laguna de Horcones, a green pool among grass and cushion plants, and returns to the ranger station.
It is 2.1 km round with 48 m of ascent; allow about half an hour, with time to stop. The grade is Easy: a short, clear path, but at almost 3,000 m.
You must book a time slot online before you travel, which includes the entry ticket: the park does not sell them at the gate. At this height take it slowly, especially if you have come straight up from Mendoza. Wind, cold and sudden snow are common, and in winter snow can close Ruta 7.
Buses from Mendoza's bus station stop at Horcones, about four hours away. There is no food for sale at Horcones.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Aconcagua, 6,962 m, is the highest mountain in the Americas
- From the viewpoint you look up the Horcones valley to the mountain's south face, nearly 3,000 m high
- Parque Provincial Aconcagua protects almost 84,000 hectares of the high Andes
- The Horcones valley is also the start of the normal route to the summit
Getting there
Start: Horcones car park. -32.81192, -69.94301
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Mendoza: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.