What to see
Aconcagua Provincial Park
In the Andes Mountain Range, you will find peaks of over 6000 metres, but the star is the Aconcagua Mountain. With 6962 MSL, it is the highest mountain in the Americas and one of the most popular destinations in the world for mountaineering.
Apart from glaciers, rivers and meadows, the park also protects archaeological remains. The Aconcagua was an Inca site for sacred ritual and it was also part of the "Qhapaq Ñan" or Inca Road, considered a World Heritage Site.
It is open throughout the year to the general public, and it is located on National Route 7. There are self-guided trails, trekking routes and viewpoints to enjoy the mountain. To see the hanging glaciers on the south face of the Aconcagua Mountain, you can hike along a 2-kilometre trail to the Horcones Lake, which is part of a small wetland with 5 lakes.
Puente del Inca
This natural bridge on the Cuevas River was carved millions of years ago by thermal waters, colouring it in orange, yellow and ochre. The bridge is part of the Andean "Qhapaq Ñan" road system or Inca Road, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located 2 km from the Aconcagua Provincial Park.
Las Cuevas
About 11 km from the entrance to the Aconcagua Park, there is a road that winds up from Las Cuevas to the Cristo Redentor, a famous panoramic viewpoint on the border with Chile.
In Las Cuevas, you will find the buildings of Casuchas del Rey, which served as post offices of the Royal Mail and as a shelter for travellers during the 18th century, and that are now considered a National Historic Monument. From there, you can access the Matienzo Gorge on the border with Chile, where you will discover glaciers, wetlands and archaeological sites.
For professional mountain climbers
Mountain climbers have several areas where they can camp, both in the Normal Route and in the Polish Glacier Route: There are approach camps (between 2800 and 3800 MSL), base camps (between 4000 and 4200 MSL), and altitude camps (between 4930 and 6050 MSL). These types of expeditions require good planning and hiring certified guides.