Five Argentine mountains nominated among the most famous in the world

Aconcagua (Mendoza)

Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, with an official altitude of 6,962 meters above sea level. It is located in the province of Mendoza, within the Parque Provincial Aconcagua. Its name comes from the Quechua Ackon Cahuak, which means "stone sentinel".

There are expeditions to climb to the summit that last between ten and twenty days. In the trekking option, you can hike to Laguna de los Horcones to see the face of the mountain. The official season opens from mid-November to March for ascents, depending on weather conditions.

How to get to cerro Aconcagua?

Direct flights from Buenos Aires (AEP or EZE) to Mendoza (MDZ) take about two hours. The mountain is 185 kilometers from the capital of Mendoza, along national route 7.

Champaquí (Córdoba)

Cerro Champaquí, at 2,790 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in the province of Córdoba. It is located in the Sierras Grandes and separates the Valle de Calamuchita (to the east) from the Valle de Traslasierra (to the west). Its name means "water at the summit," due to the picturesque lagoon that forms in its upper section. It functions as a large natural aquifer where numerous rivers in the region are born.

The ascent route has its starting point in the town of Villa Alpina, the most classic gateway. The classic journey takes three days and two nights and covers about 40 kilometers round trip. Good physical preparation and the accompaniment of authorized guides are required.

How to get to cerro Champaquí?

After arriving at the Córdoba International Airport (COR), you must continue by land (about two and a half hours) to base towns like Villa Alpina or Villa Yacanto.

Mercedario (San Juan)

Cerro Mercedario is an imposing mountain 6,770 meters high, located in the Ramada mountain range, within the Calingasta department in the province of San Juan. It is the eighth highest peak in the Americas. The Incas climbed this sacred mountain to worship the Sun, leaving high-altitude archaeological traces.

It serves as excellent prior physical and technical training for attempting to climb Aconcagua. The ascent via the north face is the most popular route and the original one used by the Incas, through the Glaciar de la Ollada, requiring high physical exertion but offering low technical difficulty. The ideal season is from November to March.

How to get to cerro Mercedario?

There are flights to San Juan (UAQ). From there, it is a three-hour journey by land to the town of Barreal (Calingasta), which is the base point for the expedition.

Copahue (Neuquén)

The Copahue volcano is an imposing active stratovolcano located in the extreme northwest of the province of Neuquén, in the Andes mountain range, on the border between Argentina and Chile.

The Termas de Copahue, located at the foot of the active volcano, are a unique attraction worldwide due to the quality and variety of their mineral-medicinal waters, vapors, muds, and algae used for health and wellness treatments.

How to get to the Copahue volcano?

There are no airports with direct commercial flights to Copahue or the neighboring town of Caviahue. There are flights from Buenos Aires (AEP) to the Neuquén International Airport (NQN), lasting about two hours. From there, the remaining leg must be completed by land, covering a distance of just over 350 kilometers.

Famatina (La Rioja)

The Nevado de Famatina (also called cerro General Belgrano) is an imposing mountain of approximately 6,100 to 6,200 meters above sea level, located in the center of the province of La Rioja, near the towns of Chilecito and Famatina. It is considered the highest extra-Andean summit in the Americas. Its name means "mother of metals".

It is a highly sought-after destination for high-mountain trekking and acclimatization, with sites such as the Cueva de Pérez and the La Mejicana gold and silver mine, featuring the stations of its famous cableway (cable carril). To climb to the summit, excellent physical condition, prior experience on mountains over 5,500 meters, and a professional guide are required.

How to get to Famatina?

After arriving in the city of La Rioja (IRJ), you must continue by land to the base of the mountain, a journey of about two and a half hours.

El Fitz Roy, awarded in the previous edition

Cerro Fitz Roy was crowned "World Famous Tourist Mountain" in the Natural category in the latest edition of the contest.

Located in El Chaltén, province of Santa Cruz, it is considered one of the most attractive and technically difficult summits for mountaineering globally.

An iconic landscape of Patagonia, it is also frequently awarded in international panoramic photography competitions.