In researching my costs to climb Acon. during Feb 09, I see two different costs, one for residents=$330 and one for foreigners=$1000. This is a big difference and I really need to know for sure..this a big dif in the budget and maybe a budget buster.

Yikes! I dunno. When I was down there a couple years ago, it was $330 or so a person.

Last time I looked it up, it was 1000 Argentine dollars, which was about $300USD. Are you sure what you are looking at is USD?

This year it was ~$330 US for January and February.

Woodie

rcclimbhigher wrote:In researching my costs to climb Acon. during Feb 09, I see two different costs, one for residents=$330 and one for foreigners=$1000. This is a big difference and I really need to know for sure..this a big dif in the budget and maybe a budget buster.

That rates have increased this year. To the best of my knowledge February is the month in which the climbing season switches from MIDDLE to LOW. Middle season is from Dec 1-14 and Feb 1-20 and climbing permits for foreign climbers are 1.000 Pesos or about $300 US depending on exchange rates. Climbing after Feb 20th is considered the Low season and permit costs are reduced to 500 Pesos for foreign climbers.

See: http://www.aconcagua.mendoza.gov.ar/tarifas.htm

This was posted on another thread. I would guess that the amounts indicated are in Argentinian currency.

Gosh, you're lucky to be going in middle level season. We're hitting it in high season and the permits are ~$454/person. Joy!

Is this mountain really worth the time and expense, crowds etc. to climb?There are alot of mountains in SA, just curious to hear from some folks as to if you could only afford to climb one mountain in SA would this be the one you would pick? I have never really had a interest in climbing it but maybe I have been overlooking something. Is there something other than its the highest that puts in above the others?

Faster wrote:Is this mountain really worth the time and expense, crowds etc. to climb?There are alot of mountains in SA, just curious to hear from some folks as to if you could only afford to climb one mountain in SA would this be the one you would pick? I have never really had a interest in climbing it but maybe I have been overlooking something. Is there something other than its the highest that puts in above the others?

It's the highest and it's a walk-up for the routes most people use. It allows people the ability to test themselves at high altitude without the commitment to a technical climb.

Is there something other than its the highest that puts in above the others?

According to Messner, the South Face of Aconcagua is the greatest (biggest) mountain wall in the world outside the Himalaya. I guess that's debatable, but it is probably the biggest mountain wall in the Andes.

Faster wrote:Is this mountain really worth the time and expense, crowds etc. to climb?There are alot of mountains in SA, just curious to hear from some folks as to if you could only afford to climb one mountain in SA would this be the one you would pick? I have never really had a interest in climbing it but maybe I have been overlooking something. Is there something other than its the highest that puts in above the others?

I'm pretty much climbing it to stay away from the foaming penguins with razor claws and machetes. They don't go that high and I like to keep a far distance from those bastards.