The High Andes: Uspallata, Puente del Inca and Aconcagua
Mendoza’s classic excursion: Route 7 toward Chile through painted canyons, up to a view of the roof of the Americas — Aconcagua, 6,961 m (22,838 ft).
The High Mountain circuit follows the international corridor linking Mendoza city with the Chilean border. In one day you string together the Uspallata valley, the mountain village of Penitentes, the Puente del Inca natural monument and the gateway of Aconcagua Provincial Park with its Laguna de Horcones viewpoint. It runs year-round — with opposite scenery in summer and winter — but in winter the road rules: this is the international pass, and storms close it.
Aconcagua Park and circuit fees
✓ Data verified: Aug 7, 2026| Laguna de Horcones day circuit (viewpoint) Flat fee per person/day, 2025/26 season (decree 2322/2025). Free: under-12s, visitors with disabilities, Argentine retirees | ARS 10,000 |
| Day trekking (Nov 15 – Apr 10) By residence: Mendoza / Argentina / Latin America / rest of world | ARS 15,000 – 55,000 |
| Short trek to Confluencia (3 days) Argentines ARS 35,000–90,000 | US$160 – 270 (foreigners) |
| Long trek to Plaza de Mulas / Plaza Francia (7 days) Argentines ARS 55,000–160,000 | US$380 – 540 (foreigners) |
| Aconcagua ascent (up to 20 days) Guided / unguided; Argentines ARS 190,000–270,000. Rescue insurance mandatory | US$1,170 – 1,640 (foreigners) |
| High Mountain full-day tour (agencies) ~12 h, transport and guide; lunch and entry fees not included. Aug 2026 | ARS 80,500 – 95,000 |
Park summer season: November 1 to April 30. Ascent and overnight-trek permits are NOT sold at the gate — only online through licensed outfitters (the ACONPASS system) listed on the park’s official site (mendoza.gob.ar/energiayambiente/aconcagua). 2026/27 fees had not been published as of Aug 7, 2026.
How to do the circuit
By car (Route 7) · 2 h 50 to Puente del Inca
Fill up in Uspallata — the last town with full services. In winter, carrying snow chains is MANDATORY in the high mountain zone; checkpoints ask for them even if you are only going to Puente del Inca.
Full-day tour · 10–12 h
Every Mendoza agency sells the guided circuit for ARS 80,500–95,000 (Aug 2026), lunch and entry fees not included. The comfortable option if you’d rather not drive 360 km of mountain road.
By bus (limited) · ≈ 2 h to Uspallata
Buttini links Mendoza and Uspallata several times a day. From Uspallata toward Puente del Inca/Las Cuevas service is limited and seasonal (Andesmar) — check Plataforma 10 before planning the trip by bus.
Distances from Mendoza city (Route 7)
| Stop | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Potrerillos (dam wall) | ≈ 35 km | 40 min |
| Uspallata Last town with full services (fuel, ATM, food) | ≈ 110–120 km | ≈ 2 h |
| Penitentes | ≈ 175 km | ≈ 2 h 40 |
| Puente del Inca | ≈ 178–190 km | ≈ 2 h 50 |
| Horcones (Aconcagua Park) Gate open 8:00–18:00 in season | ≈ 185–195 km | ≈ 3 h |
| Las Cuevas + 8.4 km gravel road to Cristo Redentor, summer only | ≈ 200 km | ≈ 3 h 15 |
Pass status in winter 2026
Key context if you are travelling these weeks: the 2026 winter has been exceptionally harsh. The Cristo Redentor border pass was closed for some 20 straight days by storms (until early August), and Route 7 was open only as far as Puente del Inca, with chains mandatory. The tourist circuit to Puente del Inca usually reopens before the border pass itself, but always check same-day conditions: Vialidad Mendoza and the provincial press office publish daily updates, and the border system has its official channel at argentina.gob.ar/seguridad/pasosinternacionales (winter pass hours: 9:00–21:00).
The stops along the circuit
- Potrerillos: first postcard of the day — the turquoise lake against the Cordón del Plata.
- Uspallata: a historic valley and Andean crossroads since Inca times. Last fuel, ATM and food before the border.
- Penitentes (2,580 m): the ski resort has been closed since 2018 and the lifts do not run. In winter the site opens with provincially run day services: snow play and sledding, food, restrooms and parking. It remains the historic base of Aconcagua’s muleteers.
- Puente del Inca: a natural stone bridge over the Las Cuevas River, stained ochre by sulphurous thermal waters, beside the ruins of the old spa hotel. Crossing it has been forbidden since the 2000s; you view it from the walkway. Free access, craft market on site.
- Aconcagua viewpoint: from the Horcones gate, a short marked walk (manageable for anyone) reaches Laguna de Horcones and the head-on view of the south face. Entry ARS 10,000, gate open 8:00–18:00 in season.
- Las Cuevas and Cristo Redentor: the last hamlet before the tunnel to Chile. The 8.4 km gravel road to the monument (3,832 m) opens only in summer, once Vialidad Mendoza clears it and announces the opening.
Aconcagua, up close
Aconcagua Provincial Park protects the highest mountain in the Americas (6,961 m). The day visit is the walk to the Laguna de Horcones viewpoint: a marked trail to the hanging bridge, no camping, with online registration and payment in pesos (ARS 10,000, 2025/26 season).
The long treks (Confluencia over 3 days, Plaza de Mulas or Plaza Francia over 7) and ascents (up to 20 days) are seasonal — November 1 to April 30, core Nov 15–Apr 10 — and are booked exclusively through outfitters licensed under the ACONPASS system; helicopter rescue insurance is mandatory for ascents and long treks. That is exactly what the expedition companies listed below provide.
In winter the park can close without notice after snowfalls; if your only window is winter, ask ahead whether the short trail is open.
When to go
- Summer (November–March): everything open — Cristo Redentor, park treks, the mountain in full colour. Also the climbing season.
- Winter (June–September): Mendoza’s great snow outing — Penitentes under white, Puente del Inca frosted over. Leave early, carry chains, and confirm Route 7 conditions that same day.
- The day circuit tops out at 2,900–3,200 m: hydrate, eat light and take walks slowly. For treks and ascents, acclimatisation is built into the licensed operators’ programs.
Photos
Frequently asked questions
How much does Aconcagua Park cost?
The day circuit to the Laguna de Horcones viewpoint costs ARS 10,000 per person in the 2025/26 season, with exemptions for under-12s, visitors with disabilities and Argentine retirees. Treks and ascents are priced by residence, from ARS 15,000 (day trekking, Mendoza residents) up to US$1,640 (unguided ascent, foreigners).
Can you see Aconcagua without trekking?
Yes. Route 7 itself offers views of the peak, and the short marked walk to Laguna de Horcones (entry ARS 10,000) reaches a front-row viewpoint of the south face. It is manageable for anyone with normal mobility.
Where do I buy the permits?
Not at the park gate. The day visit is registered online and paid in pesos; overnight-trek and ascent permits are arranged exclusively through licensed outfitters (the ACONPASS system), listed on the official park site: mendoza.gob.ar/energiayambiente/aconcagua.
Is the circuit doable in winter? Is there snow?
Yes — it is the classic snow outing — but the road decides: Route 7 is the international pass and storms close it (in winter 2026 the pass was shut for ~20 days, with traffic allowed only to Puente del Inca). Chains are mandatory; leave early and check Vialidad Mendoza’s daily update before setting out.
Does Penitentes operate as a ski resort?
No — it has been closed since 2018 and the lifts do not run. In winter the site opens with day services (snow play, sledding, food, restrooms, parking) run by the province. For lift-served skiing, Mendoza’s option is Las Leñas in Malargüe.
Can you reach the Cristo Redentor monument?
Only in summer (roughly January to March/April), once Vialidad Mendoza clears the 8.4 km gravel road from Las Cuevas and announces the opening. The rest of the year the monument is cut off by snow.
How much is the agency tour and how long does it take?
As of August 2026, the High Mountain full day costs ARS 80,500–95,000 per person and takes ~12 hours, with transport and guide; lunch and entry fees are extra. Tours leave the city early and return in the evening.
High-mountain expeditions and operators
Operators licensed for trekking, ascents and expeditions in Aconcagua Park, the Cordón del Plata and Uspallata: