The Provincial Park Aconcagua closed the 2025-2026 season with historic figures: more than 106,000 visitors toured the Horcones Valley, established as the main gateway to the high mountains. Between November 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, the sector recorded 106,575 people at the Visitor Center, the Short Circuit, and the Horcones Lagoon.
This growth reflects a change in the way the mountain is experienced: more and more tourists are opting for accessible activities, of low difficulty, and in direct contact with nature, without the need for technical mountaineering experience.
Key factors of the season
One of the drivers of the record was the authorization of access to the Valley and the Horcones Lagoon throughout the year, established by Decree 2322-25 and subject to weather conditions. This measure allowed the destationalization of tourist activity, extending the flow of visitors beyond the summer and strengthening the park’s positioning as an accessible destination.
The provincial government of Mendoza highlighted that this policy contributed to diversifying the profile of visitors, with a greater presence of national and regional tourists who chose the high mountains as a proximity tourism option.
Other attractions of the high mountains
In parallel, the Puente del Inca also had an outstanding season, with more than 130,000 visitors touring this emblematic site.
Official indicators thus show a season marked by the combination of international tourism, sports activities, and strong growth in recreational and family tourism.
Importance of tourism in Aconcagua
Aconcagua, with its 6,962 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in America and part of the “Seven Summits” circuit, attracting mountaineers from all over the world. Its impact is reflected in several aspects:
- Economic impact and employment: generates income through guides, porters, accommodation, transportation, and logistics.
- Recreational and adventure tourism: trekking, hiking, and landscape observation, driven by the Horcones Valley.
- High-profile destination: attracts elite mountaineers and global tourists.
- Conservation and sustainability: promotes the preservation of flora, fauna, and glaciers.
- Cultural heritage: part of the Andean road system Qhapac Ñan, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The 2025-2026 season marked a historic milestone for the Provincial Park Aconcagua, consolidating the Horcones Valley as the epicenter of recreational and accessible tourism.
With more than 106,000 visitors, the park reaffirms its role as a socioeconomic engine of Mendoza and as a key destination for sustainable tourism in the high mountains.
