Alpamayo Circuit Trek in the Huascaran National Park (13 days)

Depart from Huaraz to the north side passing several towns as Carhuaz, Yungay Caraz then drive up to Cashapampa village, meet donkey drivers and donkeys, start hiking for about 4 hours, setting up the campsite at Llamacorral at 3800 masl. Distance approx Huaraz to Cashapampa 96km, 2hs 33min by car, from Cashapampa to Llamacorral 3hs 30min hiking.

Morning breakfast in the campsite, hike to south base camp Alpamayo with first spectacular views of the white mountains, visiting Arhueycocha lake and camp in Taullipampa at 4200masl. Hiking distance 6hs, 10km approx.

Start hiking a moderate first couple of hours then hike up to the highest pass of Punta Union 4800 masl, point of view, wonderful views of the snowy peaks around, then continue walking down until Tuctupampa 4350 masl, walking distance approx 9km, 7 hours.

Zig-zag up for about 3 hours to Alto Pucahirca pass 4700 masl, then down to Huecroncocha, and set up the campsite at Quisuar at 3900 masl, walking distance 12km about 8 hours.

After breakfast, start hiking for about two hours, then hike up to Tupatupa pass 4450masl, then continue down to Jancapampa and set up the campsite at the beautiful scenery with mountains views of Pucajirca, a camp site at 3800masl. Walking distance about 12km, 8 hours.

Hiking up for a quite long until Yanacon pass 4850masl, considered the most difficult hiking pass in this circuit, then walk down to Huilca campsite at 4300masl, walking distance 14km, 8 hours.

Start hiking to lake Safuna, then up to mesapata pass 4500masl and walk down for about a couple of hours, total distance hiking about 10km 7 hours.

Early hike-up to caracara windy pass at 4850masl, then walk down deep, from the pass so beautiful views of the Santa Cruz massif and the pyramidal Alpamayo the nicest mountains in the world, get the campsite fixed at the North Base Camp Alpamayo called Jancarurish at 4250masl. Dinner and overnight, hiking distance about 10km, 8 hours.

Free day, rest day and explore at your own, hiking to base camp Alpamayo to Santa Cruz, or just relaxing at the campsite, eat and sleep in the base of Alpamayo north face, dinner and overnight at 4250masl, walking distance according to your need.

Morning walk down along the Cedros valley for about a couple of hours to get ruinapampa, little rest to start zigzag trail for about another 3 hours, the highest pass is ichicvientona 4750masl, then from the pass to the campsite is approx one hour and overnight at Osoruri 4625masl approx observe the nice sunset over the black mountain, walking time around 9 hours.

Today easy walk up to the pass of hatunvientona 4850masl, from the campsite get to the pass in an hour, then you will be impressed by a nice blue lake of cullicocha, a place to have lunch, then walk down to Calamina campsite at about 3800masl, walking distance approx 8 hours.

The last day of the trek, easy walk down for about 3 hours to the last village of Hualcayan at 2800masl approx, the trail end where we meet our transfer to take back us to Huaraz, from Hualcayan to Huaraz is about 4 hours drive, arriving in Huaraz around 4 pm.