Plaza Francia (South Face Viewpoint)
✓ Verified against the agency · MendozaThe essential acclimatization day trip from Confluencia. A 4-5 hour round trip to the base of Aconcagua's south face — a nearly 3,000m wall of rock and ice that dwarfs anything in the Alps. Most guided expeditions include this as a mandatory acclimatization day before the push to Plaza de Mulas. The view alone justifies the entire trip.
Distance
9.6 km
Max elevation
4,100m
Duration
1 day (from Confluencia)
Safety classification
DifficultyMulti-day trek
GuideGuide recommended
GearTraction / poles
OfficialYes
MaintainedNo
Season
Park summer season 1 Nov-30 Apr; day-trekking window 15 Nov-10 Apr; rangers, medical service and helicopter fully operative only 1 Dec-6 Mar. Outside the season the park is closed and unserviced (Andean winter). CRITICAL: for the 2025-26 season, as in 2024-25, Plaza Francia itself is NOT authorized - all Horcones-valley trekking permits end at Confluencia camp.
Hazards
- ▲Altitude illness: Confluencia camp ~3,300m, Plaza Francia ~4,250m; park regulations cap all trekking at 4,300m with sanctions for exceeding it
View on the 3D map →GPX pending verification