Guide advice for Aconcagua

Trekking gear is not enough. Temperatures at the summit can easily get down below -20 so you need a good sleeping bag, down jacket, plastic boots, crampons, gloves, hat, walking poles, goggles etc.

I previously climbed with Patagonian Brothers expeditions. Willy Benegas held the speed record for Aconcagua for a while (still?) There are heaps of other companies who provide good service (Mountain Madness, Alpine Ascents, etc).
Price will depend on the reputation of the guide, quality of the food, base camp conditions, if you use porters, etc. An experienced guide will be able to pick the summit day with greater accuracy, so your chance of getting to the top is much better.

Hire gear is easy to come by in mendoza, prices are a little steep, and the quality of some gear can be questionable, but sufficient..

The number of outfitters leading trips to Aconcagua has increased dramatically over the past few years, look for a company that has a proven history on the mountain, and a decent price, you dont need to spend $4000 + on a guide for Aconcagua (non-tech routes).

For about US$2500 you can expect;

a couple nights accom in mendoza,
transport to and from mendoza to PDI / PDV
accomodation in PDI / PDV
transfer to the trail head
mules (20 - 30kg per person) to and from base camp
a mess tent in base camp with table, chairs, and a decent gas cooker
base camp tents (3-4 season) usually 2 person to a tent
quality HA tents (north face ? / salewa / fairydown / artiach / etc) normally 2 to a tent
good quality stove & cooking pot
all the white gaz / butane you'd need
an experienced guide - (doesnt necassarily need to have climbed everest, nor hold UIAA credentials etc,)
a leader on the mountain, one that can understand the groups' dynamics, and make decisions when they count.
food - dont expect to be eating the same quality meals as you'd have at home, for the above price, dont even expect freeze dried meals for each member of the team, take your own. you should expect food stuffs such as , soups, crackers, pastas, rices, chocolate bars, muslei bars, breakfast stuff, cheeses, dried meats, dehydrated foods (smash, peas, beans etc etc)

there's no doubt a few other things i've forgotten to include, but the above is a good guideline.

Keep in mind the quality of the expedition also depends upon the other people on your team, and yourself, by that i mean your collective attitude upon the mountain.. its easy to blame every little thing that goes wrong upon the guide or the guiding company, yet a lot of things are out of their control, e.g bad weather, unforseen circumstances etc..

As per the above post, you will need to hire a good quality sleeping bag, plastic boots, crampons, trekking poles, down jacket for starters.

Hope this helps

try to make contact with Martin Bobbio- he is a local guide and he can help u with all your questions-
martinadventure@yahoo.com.ar

I used Daniel Alesso for my trip to Aconcagua, and the services were excellent, even including wine with some meals on the mountain!!! Highly recommend him and his company, guides good and organization also very good.