Did anybody out there notice the new costs for climbing permits on Aconcagua for this season? They seem to be getting awfully proud of their mountain. At the current conversion rate of 3.95 Argentine pesos (ARS) to the dollar:

High season: 3000 ARS = $758.00
Mid season: 2200 ARS = $556.00
Low season: 1200 ARS = $303.00

Pretty ridiculous if you ask me.

Given that you see the doctor nearly every day at the two BCs, I thought it was pretty reasonable.

sjarelkwint wrote:price for us citizens? or for everybody?

For everybody except Argentine citizens.

ropejunkie wrote:Did anybody out there notice the new costs for climbing permits on Aconcagua for this season? They seem to be getting awfully proud of their mountain. At the current conversion rate of 3.95 Argentine pesos (ARS) to the dollar:

High season: 3000 ARS = $758.00
Mid season: 2200 ARS = $556.00
Low season: 1200 ARS = $303.00

Pretty ridiculous if you ask me.

It certainly is much higher than the $300 US we paid in the 2005/2006 season but weren't the prices above what they charged last year? I don't know if the fees are ridiculous relatively speaking. Their helicopter flies continuously most days ferrying rangers and all their supplies in and out, helping out injured climbers and hauling a lot of human waste off the mountain. Besides, some climbers pay that much for a good pair of boots.

Brad Marshall wrote:

ropejunkie wrote:Did anybody out there notice the new costs for climbing permits on Aconcagua for this season? They seem to be getting awfully proud of their mountain. At the current conversion rate of 3.95 Argentine pesos (ARS) to the dollar:

High season: 3000 ARS = $758.00
Mid season: 2200 ARS = $556.00
Low season: 1200 ARS = $303.00

Pretty ridiculous if you ask me.

It certainly is much higher than the $300 US we paid in the 2005/2006 season but weren't the prices above what they charged last year? I don't know if the fees are ridiculous relatively speaking. Their helicopter flies continuously most days ferrying rangers and all their supplies in and out, helping out injured climbers and hauling a lot of human waste off the mountain. Besides, some climbers pay that much for a good pair of boots.

They've been inching up a little each year. High season last year was 1800 pesos for high season, which when converted was about $470 with the exchange rate at the time. Now mid season is 400 pesos higher than high season was last year. It's 1200 pesos higher than last year's high season permit fee. This is a pretty big jump. This is the biggest jump in cost I can remember in recent years.

That helicopter makes a lot of flights. It seems like they come in and out almost daily. I don't think the permit fees pay for that whether there was an increase in cost or not.

I guess when permits are free in so many places this looks like a lot of money but I guess we'll see if the market will bear it.

Hey Kurt, you're right. I got my info off Rudy Parra's Aconcagua Trek site and his permit page stated the fees were for the 2009/2010 season but now I see they had been updated with this year's fee increase.

I paid 75$ in 1987. 500$ last year. But I will say the money goes back to the mountain. Used to be a hell hole back in the 80s and 90s. Now they even have flush toilets at Pampa Lena and Latrines at all the camps till you get on the mountain itself. That plus the doctor is well worth it.
If your enter the park before Dec 1 (low season) it is usually 1/2 price or something close to that. Cheers William

Does anybody know if you can pay by credit card or USA dollars? Or is it only in AR pesos? Thanks, pitney

I think it's kind of expensive, but hopefully they'll improve some services. I had to evacuate a polish with Cerebral Edema from "La Canaleta" last year. I called the rescue guys on the radio, they told me they couldn't do anything. I had to take him down to the nearest refuge (Berlin) on my own. Hope this won't happen again.They said rescue was included with the fees we paid.

pitney wrote:Does anybody know if you can pay by credit card or USA dollars? Or is it only in AR pesos? Thanks, pitney

I've always paid in Pesos at the little phone business around the corner from the permit office on Av. Catamarca who I believe also accepts $US. That was two years ago so perhaps someone else can confirm this.

sjarelkwint wrote:Do you expect your ass to be dragged down for 470 dollar?

They should do it for free, I guess, at least that's what we do here when somebody gets in trouble.