Join a local certified guide from Peru Expedition's team on a combination of hiking around the Alpamayo and Huascaran peaks and a challenging climb up to Vallunaraju summit.
Cordillera Blanca
18 Days
May - Nov
The Cordillera Blanca (or White Range) is the most important mountain range of Peru. It has 31 peaks exceeding 6.000 meters high. And its trekking circuits among those summits are also great.
That’s why I have planned a 18-day trip that combines hiking and mountaineering across the highlights of the Cordillera Blanca. In a first stage, we will enjoy some hiking days around the Cedros Trek. After that, we’ll venture into a climbing stage up to the top of Nevado Vallunaraju.
Therefore, during the Cedros Trek you will have the opportunity of hiking through a great and high plateau. The trail will take us around the snow-capped Huascaran as well as the famous Alpamayo. They’re two of the most amazing and popular mountains of Peru.
In addition, and in order to complete a real mountaineering trip, you will also climb the Nevado Vallunaraju. This is a 5686-meter peak near Huaraz. Its perfect location will allow us to do a summit attack through a moderate climbing route.
Once you are at Vallunaraju summit you won’t believe such an amazing viewpoint. The scenery includes Oxshapalca (5.881 m) and Ranrapalca (6.262 m.), the entire town of Huaraz and the central valley between Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra: the “Callejón de Huaylas“.
If you want more details about the day-by-day itinerary, please find the complete program at the bottom of this description. Take into account that, to enjoy this experience without problems, you’ll need a moderate to advanced fitness.
As a local guide with a vast knowledge of the region, I am sure you won’t forget this trip in your life. To book your place or discuss some items of the program, please feel free to contact me now. I am waiting your message!
Arrival in Lima. You can rest or explore the city on your own. Overnight staying in a hotel.
We’ll move to Huaraz city by bus. On the way you’ll pass through the Cordillera Negra at Conococha Pass You can also fly to there by LCPERU. Night in a hotel in Huaraz w/ breakfast included.
The trail to Laguna Churup is a great acclimatization route and one of the classic hikes of the Cordillera Blanca. We’ll drive to the village of Llupa, and from there we start the hike on an ancient Inca trail to Laguna Churup. At night, we sleep in the hotel in Huaraz.
Laguna 69 is the most famous lake in the Cordillera Blanca. Our trail winds through picturesque forests and a marshy area, always alongside a steep and daunting ridge. Behind us, the peak of the ice giant Huascarán accompanies. After rest and pictures, we return to Huaraz.
On this day we’ll start the Cedros trek around Alpamayo and Huascarán. We’ll be transferred to the ruins of Hualcayan. We meet our support team and their mules. Night in a campsite.
It’s the first of a total of 8 days of trekking on the Cordillera Blanca. The hiking tour begins by climbing the steep trail to Wishcash Camp. Overnight Camp (B/L/D).
This will be a long and difficult day. We pass by the Cullicocha Lake and continue to Osoruri Pass. After a 400-meter ascent, we climb over Vientunan Pass and finally drop sharply into the valley of Cedros Alpamayo. After this 8-9-hour hiking day we reach Ruina Pampa Camp, where we’ll spend the night.
A short crossing of Cruze Alpamayo. Those who want can climb to Alpamayo Base Camp North (4,500 m) and do an optional summit hike to Jatunjirca Peak (5030 m). Optional: spend a half day resting in the Cruze Alpamayo Camp, with a beautiful view of Alpamayo and overnight staying in the Campsite (B/L/D).
Today we hike over two passes, Caracara and Mesapata. We’ll set up camp in the vast flatness of the Tayapampa Valley and then, continue to Laguna Safuna for an afternoon visit. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
We’ll continue our trek a few kilometers from the valley in a wide open grassland. Then, we will pass two houses of local farmers, and keep hiking up a steep slope to Pucahirca Pass, followed by a long descent to a lake on the far side of the densely-vegetated Yanajanca Valley. Camp at Jancapampa.
We leave the Jancapampa valley and continue to Tupatupa Pass the forested Tuctubamba Valley. We stay in large tents with a view of Laguna Huercrucocha. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
Our hike of this day will be long but easier up to Yanagrahirca Pass with more panoramic views. Then we have a long downhill through increasingly populated areas and indigenous villages to the city of Colcabamba where we’ll set up our night camp (B/L/D).
Last day of the trekking. From the town of Colcabamba we leave our team of mules very early and via private vehicle set off for Portachuelo Pass (4,650 m) with impressive views of the peaks of Chopicalqui, Huascarán Sur-Norte, Huandoy‘s 4 summits, Nevado Pisco, Chacraraju, and Yanapaccha. Farther along we can see the Llanganuco Valley, where the bus is waiting. End of the Cedros Trek. Overnight staying in the hotel in Huaraz (B/L/-).
We can spend the day in Chancas or do some rock climbing. This is a good place to spend a quiet day in nature and at the end visit the hot springs to relax aching muscles. Lodging in the hotel (B/-/-).
We’ll leave from Huaraz in a transfer to the Llaca Valley (3850 m.). From here we begin our ascent on foot to Moraine Camp, spending about two hours on the trail. This climb is relatively long and steep. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
We’ll leave Moraine Camp at approximately 3 a.m. in order to reach the summit by about 8 a.m. Once we achieve our biggest goal, we return to our starting point in the Llaca Valley where the bus waits to take us back to Huaraz. Overnight staying in Hotel (B/L/-).
You can take a 50-minute transfer ride to the airport and then, fly to Lima (w/transfer to the hotel). Or you can be transferred to the bus terminal for the 8-hour ride to Lima.
In both cases, overnight staying in Hotel in Lima (B/-/-).
Today you’ll be taken to the airport so that you can fly back home.
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
4.6
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Guide Agency
Peru Expeditions is a Guide Agency and Tour Operator based in Huaraz, Peru.
It's a family-owned travel agency, which was founded more than 35 years ago, and is now managed by IFMGA-guide Juventino and his son, Eric.
We organize trekkings and mountain expeditions in Cordillera Blanca, and all around Peru.
Languages
| English
Certificates
AGMP | IFMGA
He was very kind, patient and helped me to reach my goal the citadel of Machupicchu. One day I wanted to quit but he encouraged me to continue and waited for my step.
We did the MTB-Huarascan-Circuit (Crossing Punta Olimpica Pass and Portachuelo de Llanganuco Pass) with Eric Albinos „Peru Expedition“. All, the transfers, the hotel stays, the acclimatization tours and the circuit itself, was well organized. Eric and his staff were flexible to our wishes and very helpful. Our Guide Joni is an excellent mountain bike-guide and good tailor too if something is torn. The cook prepared delicious meals during the circuit. The camping equipment was in very good condition. We (Karin, Franz. Wolfgang) can fully recommend „Eric´s Peru Expeditions“.
Alexey
Marcela
The agency gave me a guide Darwin, not Juventino. Climb was good, easy just walking. There is one dangerous section near the moraine area with very loose gravel. So make sure you don't slip there or you are dead. I stayed in refugio at the base camp which was much more comfy than camping. Darwin was good but give clients some breaks once in a while, not rush too much. It's a high altitude climbing after all.
5 star guide. Nothing but the best.
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