A group of 20 people participated in an original proposal of accessible trekking in the Aconcagua Provincial Park.
Using an adapted unicycle, they trekked the Interpretive Tourist Circuit Laguna de los Horcones. In October 2024, a similar experience took place in Vallecitos, Potrerillos.
Increased Accessibility in Protected Areas of Mendoza
Since 2022, a reorganization has been implemented in the Protected Areas of Mendoza to make trekking proposals more accessible for people with disabilities, adapting regulations to the well-being paradigm. This includes free admission and assistance during their journey by the agency’s team.
María Belén Arredondo, one of the leaders of that department, highlighted these advancements and conducted research on social equity in tourism services within the network of Protected Natural Areas.
Inspirational Stories: Adapted Trekking in Aconcagua
Thanks to this framework, it is possible to trek in Aconcagua or even reach the summit, as in the case of Chilean athlete Julio Soto Ugalde, who had a leg amputated due to cancer. This is one of the many motivating stories that highlight the importance of accessible tourism.
The unicycle tour, resembling a stretcher, was recently carried out with tourists from the company Wheel the World, a renowned American platform promoting accessible tourism for people with disabilities, seniors, and their families.
Marga Tour, a pioneering Mendocinean company in accessible and pet-friendly tourism, also participated. Natalia Acevedo, a notable influencer in limitless tourism, also tried the unicycle in Vallecitos during an event held in October 2024.
International and Local Collaboration in Accessible Tourism
“Through Marga Tour and a fan tour from another North American company, we managed to bring this group of people. One of the company’s representatives had acquired a mountain wheelchair from France, a Joelette. They sought to add value to the journey across the suspension bridge of the Quebrada del Durazno,” commented Arredondo.
The conventional tour to the South Wall viewpoint of Laguna de Horcones reaches the bridge. In this case, the group was authorized to advance a few more meters, cross the bridge, and train park rangers in the use of these technical elements. Prototypes like this are available in National Parks, and a Cordoban company has developed a local version called Champabike.
The Importance of Adapted Trekking
Belén Escudero, owner of Marga Tour, highlighted the experience in Aconcagua: “Whenever we do this type of trekking, the team is at the service of the person with a disability riding the unicycle. It’s a trekking experience for that person’s enjoyment. Empathy and cooperation are generated, fulfilling a dream for those who cannot do it on their own. It’s a beautiful cycle.”
Escudero added: “We feel grateful to be able to do it. In Mendoza, there is a unicycle from the Municipality of Luján de Cuyo, and we have gone on several outings with blind, deaf, and physically disabled people. The goal is for everyone to enjoy without barriers. In the case of Aconcagua, this American company brought their mountain wheelchair.”
What is Accessible Tourism and Who is it For
It is tourism designed for people with disabilities to enjoy and be included in trips and recreational activities typical of leisure time. It is aimed at people with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities who cannot fully participate on equal terms due to existing barriers.
Photos by Marga Tour
Have you visited our YouTube channel yet? Subscribe now!
