Join Daniel, a local IFMGA certified mountain guide in this 12-day trekking tour, enjoying the amazing and challenging Cedros-Alpamayo–Santa Cruz circuit.
Andes
12 Days
May - Oct
That is why I want to invite you to this 12-day trekking expedition. The Cedros-Alpamayo–Santa Cruz hiking trail represents a demanding challenge for hikers. Therefore, it will be necessary a prior acclimatization day.
Keep in mind that your body should get used to the altitude of the region. Moreover, many high passes are between 4400 m and 4850 m. But once you have overcome the acclimatization process and see the landscape from up there, you will not want to descend ever again!
In my opinion, the highlight viewpoint is at the Jancaurish Valley, from where we can admire the stunning pyramidal shape of the Alpamayo mountain. It’s so amazing that it was considered the most beautiful mountain in the world!
The best period to enjoy this Cedros-Alpamayo–Santa Cruz trek is between May and October, during the driest season of Peru. I can take with me a maximum of 5 guests. That way all the members of the group can have a nice and safe experience.
At the end of this description you will find the complete day-by-day itinerary of the program.
If you’re planning to come to the Cordillera Blanca this year, contact me now! We can plan together your perfect hiking adventure through the Cedros-Alpamayo–Santa Cruz trek!
I will pick up you at your hotel with our private vehicle to drive along the Callejón de Huaylas valley, admiring picturesque villages and the magnificent scenery of the Cordillera Blanca. Once we reach Old Yungay, we will visit the Camposanto. It is an area completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1970. Then we continue driving until reaching the Andean quechua settlements of Hualcayan, where we’ll set up our camp.
This day we will meet our mountain crew (donkeys and donkey drivers) and after breakfast, we will start walking on a steep trail across the lands of Hualcayan. In the afternoon we’ll arrive to the camping spot in Wishcash.
From Wishcash we will continue our trek ascending until the spectacular crystal blue Cullicocha Lake. After resting and taking pictures we will keep climbing up in direction to our first high pass Punta Cullicocha. After that we’ll descend to our campsite in Osoruri.
After our breakfast we start walking up towards the Vientunan Pass with excellent views of the Milluacocha iced peak. Then we’ll descend to the Jancarurish campsite, enjoying the great views of the ancient’s pre Inca terraces. Overnight camp at Jancarurish.
Optional hike to Laguna Jancarurish or visit the Alpamayo Base Camp at 4500m. From there we can admire the views of other mountains like Santa Cruz, Quitaraju, Jancarurish, Tayapampa and some high Andean lakes. Then we return down to our campsite at Jancarurish.
This day we will ascend to the Cara Cara pass, where we can capture the most awesome panoramic views of the Alpamayo and the lakes around. After that, we’ll descend along the Moyobamba valley until we reach the Mesapata Pass. Finally we will descent to the Tayapampa valley enjoying the views of the Safuna Lake. Overnight camp at Huillca.
We will walk up to Paso Pucajirca, also known as Yanacon pass. After a rest we’ll descend to our next camp across a green valley surrounded by lush vegetation. At Jancapampa some Quechua families may come to offer beverages or their Andean products. Overnight camp at Jancapampa.
Today we will pass through several Andean communities, where we will be able to watch some people grazing their livestock. Then we’ll climb up to Tupa Tupa Pass and descend to our next camp: Huacrucocha.
This day we will ascend to Alto de Pucaraju Pass from where we will enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the majestic Taulliraju mountain as well as Chopicalqui (6,354m), Huascarán (6,768m – highest in Perú) and Huandoy (6,160m). Finally, we will descend across the wide plateau of the Tuctu valley where we’ll set up our camp.
After breakfast we will start walking up to the Tzaquicocha lagoon. Then, we’ll keep climbing up to the pass. We will descend across the Pre-Inca trail until we are in our campsite in Taullipampa.
After breakfast we will walk down towards the Alpamayo viewpoint, where we will enjoy the beautiful scenery and the snow-capped peaks around, including the Alpamayo East face. Then we will continue to the base camp, where we will enjoy taking some great pictures. After that we will walk down along the Santa Cruz valley towards the Llamacoral camping spot.
After breakfast, we will start walking down along the Santa Cruz valley in direction to the Cashapampa village, where our private transfer awaits to drive back Huaraz. End of the program.
More info
What doesn’t included:
Meeting point
Mountain Guide
IFMGA/UIAGM guide from Perú.
I was born in the Huaraz city, which is located between cordillera blanca & cordillera negra neighbor of huayhuash mountain range.
My passion for the mountain was born since I was a child, because I watched my father going to the mountain. When I was 13 years old I started going on treks with my father and clients, and as soon as I finished my high school I applied to the high school mountain center studies (CEAM) in 2001 and I graduated as an official mountain guide in 2005.
I have a wide guiding experience in trekking and climbing, organizing, trekking and climbing expeditions into cordillera Blanca & huayhuash in the Peruvian mountains.
I guided successfully in Mexico, Argentina where I climbed conquering the mount Aconcagua at (6959 m).
In Peru I have climbed the most beautiful mountain in the world mount "Alpamayo", and the Peruvian highest peak "mount Huascaran south peak". In 2005 I made a speed record climbing mounts "Alpamayo" & "Quitaraju" in 32 hours 16 minutes. I also opened some new routes to climbing in cordillera Blanca.
Aside from the AGMP / IFMGA certification, I also have the WFR certification.
Languages
| English
Certificates
AGMP
Man
5
Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!
Maxine
5
Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.
Valeriya
5
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
5
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
5
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
4.8
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