10-day Alpamayo Basecamp trek

I’ll pick you up at your accommodation and begin the journey with a spectacular scenic drive along the Callejon de Huaylas Valley and then into the Huascaran National Park, past the turquoise Llanganuco Lakes and over the Paso Portachuelo de Llanganuco Pass (4785 m) and then down to Vaqueria (3700 m) which is the starting point of the trek 4 hours drive.  From Vaqueria our equipment is loaded onto the donkeys and we have a 5 hours hike on a gradually rising path to our campsite in the Paria Valley 3890m.

A short hike today. We walk up the valley for 2 hours to camp at Tuctubamba (4100 m). We can do a side trip on the way and climb up to the top of Punta Union Pass (4750 m) to have fantastic views down into the Santa Cruz Valley. 5 hours walk extra.

We ascend steeply on a rocky path to the top of Paso Alto de Pucaraju Pass (4640 m). From the top of the pass there are lovely views of many mountains such as Taulliraju, Chacraraju, Paria and many others. We then walk down through lupin covered hillside to camp at Laguna Huecrococha Lake (4000 m). 7 to 8 hours walk.

We ascend towards Paso Tupatupa Pass (4360 m) with views of the massive snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca and then we have a long descent to camp at the head of the Jancapampa Valley (3700 m). 7 to 8 hours hike. We will see many local people and kids wondering around the campsite.

We ascend a long gradual valley for 3 hours and then we climb steeply to reach the rocky Pass Paso Yanacon (4610 m) for another 2 hours. We go down to our camp at Huillca (4100 m). 7 to 8 hours hike.

We have to cross two passes today. The first pass is a gradual climb to the lower pass of Mesapata (4460 m), we then traverse and continue climbing to the higher pass Paso Gara Gara (4830 m) from where we have great views of the big mountains Jancarurish, Quitaraju, Alpamayo and Laguna Jancarurish lake. We descend to camp at Jancarurish (4250 m) at the foot of the majestic Alpamayo. 7 to 8 hours hike.

We have another night at Jancarurish Camp to marvel the beauty of Alpamayo. Walk up the moraine to Laguna Jancarurish Lake for close up views of Alpamayo. 3 hours round trip or continue climbing towards Alpamayo Base Camp (4500 m). 5 hours return hike or rest in camp and enjoy the sun.

A short walk today. We descend a flat valley for about 2 hours and then hike up for one hour to our camp at Plataforma (4250 m).

Today is a long and demanding day. First, we start climbing up on a well-used trail towards Paso Vientunan Pass (4770 m) and then we descend and ascend again to the second pass Paso Cullicocha (4860 m) from where we have lovely views of the surrounding mountains. We then descend to the fabulous lake Laguna Cullicocha (4650 m) from where we can admire the majestic peaks of Nevados Santa Cruz before descending to our last camp at Wishcash (4350 m). 8 hours walk.

We descend a long zigzag trail to the village of Hualcayan (2900 m) and then drive back to Huaraz. 4 hours walk and 3 hours drive.