Peruvian Andes Adventures
Circuit of Alpamayo - Cordillera Blanca
13 days trekking
Grade – Medium / Hard
The Cordillera Blanca must provide one of the most varied landscapes for trekking and climbing in the world. There are more than 50 peaks of 5700m of higher, including Huascarán at 6768m - the highest mountain in Peru and also the beautiful pyramid of Alpamayo. There are blue lakes, high passes, glaciers, awesome vertical walls and spectacular campsites.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Huaraz
Day 2 & 3: Acclimatisation walks.
We suggest 2 or even 3 days of day hikes for acclimatization for this program. Our second camp on trek is high – 4300m, followed by a tough day where we cross 2 high passes. 2 or 3 days of day hikes to altitudes of up to 4440m will help to ensure that you are well acclimatized and fit and will have maximum enjoyment from your trek.
Day 4:We drive west, first stopping to visit the memorial to Yungay, the town completely destroyed by a rock and mud slide from the slopes of Huascarán in the 1970 earthquake. We then take a road into the mountains to our first camp at Hualcayan. (2900m) 5 hours drive.
Day 5:A steady climb up a zig zag track to our camp at Wishcash, perched high on the mountain. (4300m) 5 hours.
Day 6:A tough day. We climb on a good path to the high lake Laguna Cullicocha (4650m) from where we have a great view of Santa Cruz (6259m). We then continue upwards to our first pass Paso Cullicocha (4850m) with fabulous views of lakes and peaks. We then descend and then climb again to Paso Osoruri (4750m). A long descent to the valley Quebrada los Cedros and our camp at Ruinapampa (3800m) 8 hours.
Day 7:An easy day – almost flat walking up the valley. On the way, the beautiful pyramid shape of Alpamayo comes into view. Camp at Cruze Alpamayo (4150m) 3-4 hours.
Day 8:We stay another night at Cruze Alpamayo Camp. Climb up the moraine to Laguna Jancarurish for close up views of Alpamayo and Jancarurish - 3 hour return trip to camp. Or continue upwards and visit Alpamayo Base Camp (4500m). 5 - 6 hours return. Or rest in camp.
Day 9:Climb steadily to our next pass Cara Cara (4830m) from where there are great views back to the peaks of Alpamayo, Jancarurish, Quitaraju and Laguna Jancarurish. Then we make an easy traverse to a second low pass Mesapata (4500m) before dropping down to camp at Safuna in the Quebrada Tayapampa (4200m). 7 hours
Day 10:From Safuna we climb a narrow valley to a rocky pass Paso Pucajirca (4600m). For a short time the descent is steep, but then levels out and we continue down a forested valley past Laguna Sactaycocha to camp at the top of a wide valley at Jancapampa (3600m). Directly behind camp we have views of a huge hanging, glacier. 7 - 8 hours.
Day 11:We pass by adobe village houses and through fields, then climb easily to the pass Tupatupa (4400m), with views back to the big peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. Descend into another valley before making a short ˝ hour climb to our campsite beside Laguna Huecrococha (3950m). 7 hours.
Day 12:We walk beside Laguna Huecrococha then begin a long steady climb to a pass Alto de Pacaraju (4650m). At the top there are magnificent views of many peaks, and at 5830m Taulliraju towers over the pass. A rocky descent, then we camp in an open valley Quebrada Huaripampa at Tuctubamba (3950m). 7 hours
Day 13:From the same camp we can make a day trip to the pass Punta Union (4750m) from where we look directly down the Santa Cruz valley and have close views of the surrounding peaks. 5 hours Or take a rest day.
Day 14:We follow the main Punta Union trail down the valley passing through intensive farmland to the village of Colcabamba. Then climb steadily for about 1 hour to another village before traversing easily to our campsite at Molino Pampa in the Quebrada Keshu. 7 hours.
Day 15:A steady climb up the Quebrada Keshu to a high campsite called Avalanche Campsite at 4650m. Across the valley from our camp there are almost continual avalanches from the glaciers of Contrahierbas (6037m) crashing into the lake below. 4 - 5 hours.
Day 16:Our last and most spectacular pass Punta Yanayacu (4850m) - a climb to a narrow ledge from where we have close views of Nevada Chopicalqui, then a zig zag down to the valley below. We walk past lakes and again are surrounded by snowcapped peaks, the highest being Huascarán. We finish the trek in the beautiful valley Quebrada Ulta, where the bus will be waiting to take us back to Huaraz.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Our Service Includes:
- Qualified Guide
- Cook
- Donkeys and donkey drivers
- Meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, large dinner) during the trek
- Tents (personal tent, dining tent with table and chairs, kitchen tent and toilet tent)
- All cooking equipment, plates, cups, utensils etc.
- Private transfer during the trek.
Not Included:
- Accommodation(Lima and Huaraz)
- Meals and drinks in the city
- Sleeping bags & mattresses (available for hire)
- Entrance to the National Park and community fees
- Transfer from Lima - Huaraz – Lima
- Guide & transport for acclimatization walks extra.
- English speaking guides available.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Peru
Hiking & Trekking
Mountain/Rock Climbing
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