Laguna del Inca / Base del Tres Hermanos (english)
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The right time for this route is between November and late April or early May. When the first snow fall major route becomes more hostile and ice in the delicate steps can make something risky.
Access
By car
. From Santiago, there are 70 km paved road to the Andes. Shortly before reaching
Los Andes, one must take a by-pass, which, after Bus Station, leads the international route to Mendoza, where you should take the right. From this point, there are 59 kilometers until Portillo located to 2,840 meters, up the river Aconcagua.
Public transport and hitchhiking
You can easily reach the Portillo Hotel by public transport taking any of the many buses that go to Mendoza. Among others, van Ahumada, El Rapido, Cata, Tac, Tur Bus and Andesmar. Most of These buses depart from Terminal Los Heros. They charge about $ 12,000 per person to Mendoza (HOW TO PORTILLO?)
- Rates and schedules: Ahumada Buses
Route description
The route starts at the same Hotel. You must start to walk in heading west along a gravel road vehicle. From the base of the lifts comes a northward path. The first tranche is a short ascent that allows mounting on a hill that drops sharply to the pond, then descend rapidly. A long traverse' to an area equipped with sheet rock climbing, possibly installed there to implement a handrail. The truth is that it is completely dispensable, as the mark is sufficiently wide to walk quietly. At this point, the view of the lagoon is spectacular. Then comes another installment of crossing quiet before facing a second rocky ridge. This is the step grounds of the walk (marked "sensitive step" in the photo and the profile) and is the only reason that this trek has been rated Difficulty "Medium" and rather low.
After a brief rise
by rocky, the trail is lost in a certain slope. If there is ice or snow, the slope can walk without much difficulty, relying occasionally on the hands. After this crossing, about 40 meters, you reach a small stream. Call climbing the ravine a few feet to retrieve the path, which is visible just above. The output of the small stream is also a bit tricky, having to sing for field security avoid sliding down the steep slopes of hills. Then he turns to a area of land and small shrubs. Shortly after you cross a step small stream. Then, in an open area, the trail is lost a little, but it is easy to retrieve. You go through a second course of water (more volume but also more turbid) and then begins to descend to the sandy area north of the lagoon, leaving it behind. A Once at the north of the lake, the trail turns to lose, but thing is to stay west of the stream (which can be dry, according the time of year). He turns up a few meters to a flat area where you have a great view of Cerro Tres Hermanos (4751), King Valley, which rises with its three points in a northeasterly direction.
Expected Time
At a normal pace, this trek should take about two hours of round similar lap time.
Permits / Fees
- This route does not require permits or admission is charged.
Recommendations
- We recommend starting the walk early because the valley is very
boxed and into the afternoon sun still sheds light on the lagoon, depriving ourselves of the beautiful spectacle that is its bright turquoise waters.
Full path and waypoints in Google Earth
- Trekking Laguna del Inca. To download the file right-click and then select "Save file as" (IE) or "Save link as" (Firefox, Chrome). By trying to open it directly, some browsers will show the raw code with the coordinates.