Aconcagua: save on the climbing permit

Buying your Aconcagua climbing permit during the pre-sale period is always worth it, even with all the paperwork involved. In this text, we’ll talk about the complexities of obtaining the Aconcagua “permiso de ascenso” (climbing permit) and the advantages of buying it in advance!

Aconcagua Provincial Park offers pre-season permit sales, which allow climbers to purchase their entry tickets at a 30% discount compared to the regular price. In addition to the obvious benefit of the discount, this promotion also simplifies the first days of an expedition.

The pre-season entry fee is only available through licensed Aconcagua operators, such as Grajales Expeditions. This option is usually available for purchase until the last days of July.

How Aconcagua climbing permits (“permiso de ascenso”) work

The Aconcagua Provincial Park issues two types of permits for climbing and trekking. Mountaineers not purchasing any services from the Park’s licensed operators must obtain an independent climbing permit, which is substantially more expensive (the summit fee for international climbers is U$D 1,300 for the Normal Route and U$D 1,500 for the Vacas Valley routes – 2023 rates). Additionally, the Park requires these climbers to hire toilet services at base camp.

On the other hand, climbers who hire services from a local Aconcagua operator – ranging from guided expeditions to logistical support such as mule transport or meals at base camp – can pay a discounted entry fee, known as an “assisted permit”. In this case, the operator must provide toilet facilities at the camps, so there’s no need to hire that service separately.

In short, if you climb 100% independently with a “non-assisted” permit, you’ll end up paying nearly the same as you would for mule transport for your gear, for example. Park rangers created these permit categories to reduce the number of unsupported climbers (they argue it’s hard to monitor “independent climbers” on the mountain) and to support local companies operating in Aconcagua.

The advantage of buying your Aconcagua permit in the pre-season

Each season, the vast majority of permits sold fall into the “assisted” category, which in turn offers two options: regular permits, processed and paid for during the climbing season (from late November through February), and pre-season permits (also called “early bird”).