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Los Cedros – Alpamayo – Ulta Trek, 12-day Trek in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru
Join Juventino, an IFMGA-certified mountain guide, for a stunningly scenic and incredibly fun 12-day trek through the Cordillera Blanca in northern Peru.
Highlights
Enjoy the stunning scenery of Peru's Cordillera Blanca.
Meet local people and experience some of the local culture.
Camp in a different but equally beautiful spot each night.
Description
Come and discover the sublime beauty of Peru’s Cordillera Blanca!
Over the course of 12 days we will hike through this diverse and incredibly scenic mountain range, exploring various mountain passes, valleys and villages along the way.
We will see so much as we go that it is hard to describe in only one post. As we head over these mountain passes, crossing from one valley to the next, we will enjoy stunning views of some of the range’s most iconic mountain peaks, including Alpamayo, Contrahierbas, Ulta, Chopicalqui and Huascarán, which is Peru’s tallest mountain.
We will also have the privilege of camping next to several beautiful lakes and lagoons as well as in a number of other breathtakingly beautiful spots. There’s nothing like waking up in the morning and heading out to sit by the lake before a long but rewarding day of hiking.
We will also have the chance to learn a bit about the area’s history and culture as we explore some of its rural and indigenous villages as well. Meeting the people will give you the opportunity to see how they can make a living in this sometimes harsh, but always incredibly beautiful environment.
A moderate level of physical condition is required for this trip as we will be hiking between 6 and 9 hours most days with frequent ascents and descents. The altitude will also play a factor. Be sure to acclimatize a bit before you come and do some cardiovascular exercises as well.
So what are you waiting for? Book now for this once in a lifetime opportunity to hike through the beautiful Cordillera Blanca in northern Peru!
If you like the look of this trip, but are looking for something a bit shorter, then I think you will enjoy my 8-day trek through Los Cedros and Alpamayo in the stunning Cordillera Blanca!
Details
Meeting point To be determined upon completion of booking. |
Photos
Itinerary
Day 1: Huaraz to Hualcayán (2.900 m)
We will drive from Huaraz to Hualcayán, where we will meet our guides and camp for the night.
Day 2: Hualcayán to Wishcash (3.700 m)
We spend the day hiking up switchbacks until we reach Wishcash, where we will camp. We spend about 5 hours hiking this day.
Day 3: Wishcash to Cullicocha Pass (4.850 m), Vientunan Pass (4.600 m) and Ruinapampa (4.100 m)
We will start off the day with an ascent to Lake Cullicocha and then head a bit farther up over a pass with the same name, from which we will enjoy stunning views out over the valley and Santa Cruz peaks. We will then descend before heading up our second pass of the day, Vientunan, before finally descending into the Alpamayo Valley and camping at Ruinapampa. We’ll hike for about 9 hours this day.
Day 4: Ruinapampa to Jancarurish (4.200 m)
We will spend the first couple of hours today hiking through the Alpamayo Valley, passing old stone-made dwelling. As we go we will enjoy more excellent views and make camp at the Cruce de Alpamayo. We will hike for about 4 hours this day.
Day 5: Rest day
We will take this day easy, with the option to spend the day resting at camp. We will also have the opportunity for a short hike to the Alpamayo base camp.
Day 6: Jancarurish to Cara Cara Pass (4.700 m) and Safuna (4.250 m)
We will ascend to Cara Cara Bass before descending back into the Moyobamba Valley and making camp at Wilka. We will hike for about 7 hours this day.
Day 7: Safuna to Wilka Pass (4.500 m) and Jancapampa (3.400 m)
We will start our day with an ascent of Wilka Pass, from which we will enjoy great views of Pukajirka, before hiking down to Jancapampa where we will camp for the night and visit some local communities. We will hike for about 7 hours this day.
Day 8: Jancapampa to Tupa Tupa Pass (4.300 m) to Lake Huecrococha (4.050 m)
We start our day hiking through the grassy valley toward Tupa Tupa Pass before we descend down to our campsite at Lake Huecrococha. We will hike for about 7 hours this day.
Day 9: Huecrococha to Pukaraju Pass (4.650 m) and Tuctupampa
We will hike past an impressive glacial lake on our way up to Pukaraju Pass and continue ascending until we reach out campsite. We will hike for about 7 hours this day.
Day 10: Tuctupampa to Molinopampa (3.600 m)
We will hike along the Punta Union trail as we head down into the Huaripampa valley. We will then pass through the rural villages of Huaripampa, Colcabamba and Challua, before reaching our campsite in the Molinopampa. We will hike for about 6 hours this day.
Day 11: Molinopampa to Avalancha Camp (4,600 m)
We will begin our day with an ascent through the Keusha Valley before arriving at our campsite. We will hike for about 4 hours this day.
Day 12: Avalancha to Yanayaku Pass (4.950 m), Ulta Valley and Huaraz
We will make our last and most dramatic ascent at Tanayaku before descending down a series of switchbacks into the Ulta Valley. We will then transfer back to Huaraz.
About the guide
IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide from Peru.
He was born in 1960 in Huaraz / Peru. With his 15th Age he learned the world of trekking and mountaineering know by he accompanied his father on trips with his clients.
To this day he is still working as a mountain guide and tour operator. For many years he was able to acquire a lot of knowledge about the mountains, making it one of the most experienced certified mountain guides.
He runs a family travel agency based in Huaraz, which was founded by his father, and is now managed by Juventino and his son, Eric.
What people are saying about Juventino Martin Albino Caldua
Tony Hoffman
5.00
September 2020
Mrs Erin Leigh Hardy
5.00
August 2019
We are a group of friends and a mountain club, we have made trips with Eric since 2007, we have done the most classic tours in Cusco: Ausangate trek, Choquequirao trek, Salkantay trek, all tours always with Machu Picchu ending, the Inca culture is very interesting and if you travel to Peru you must visit it - and not missing Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. In Huaraz we have running out the tours: Santa Cruz trek, Alpamayo trek, Huayhuash trek, and the climbs, and Nevado Pisco trek, Nev. Vallunaraju, Tocllaraju, Alpamayo and Huascaran. Every year our club members go from 15 to 20 people to Huaraz, and in Cusco culture we have groups from 18 to 30 people, and all these trips are made by our partner Eric and Juventino in Peru. And friends always return very happy with the services they perform on the tours we sell. We recommend them to make a quality and safe trip, they have about 30 certified guides working for them, Juventino is the head of the company and is a member of UIAGM - IFMGA. They also have a family Hotel called \"Alpamayo Guest House\" this is in Huaraz, and every time our group ends their trek, climbing or expedition trip, the Juventino family invite us to a special dinner called (Pachamanca) as a very Inca Traditional food, this meal is prepared by JUVENTINOS wife Dina, she is a typical person of the area and they live in the Unchus village, this is an unforgettable dinner for all group participants. Next year we will extend our trip with mountain bike MTB around the Huascaran and the Huayhuash mountain range, and we will also have new trips from Lima: Nazca Lines, Arequipa Cañon del Colca, Cusco Inca Trail, Puno Floating Islands Lake Titicaca and the Tiawanaco culture peace.
Mrs Erin Leigh Hardy
5.00
August 2019
We are a group of friends and a mountain club, we have made trips with Eric since 2007, we have done the most classic tours in Cusco: Ausangate trek, Choquequirao trek, Salkantay trek, all tours always with Machu Picchu ending, the Inca culture is very interesting and if you travel to Peru you must visit it - and not missing Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. In Huaraz we have running out the tours: Santa Cruz trek, Alpamayo trek, Huayhuash trek, and the climbs, and Nevado Pisco trek, Nev. Vallunaraju, Tocllaraju, Alpamayo and Huascaran. Every year our club members go from 15 to 20 people to Huaraz, and in Cusco culture we have groups from 18 to 30 people, and all these trips are made by our partner Eric and Juventino in Peru. And friends always return very happy with the services they perform on the tours we sell. We recommend them to make a quality and safe trip, they have about 30 certified guides working for them, Juventino is the head of the company and is a member of UIAGM - IFMGA. They also have a family Hotel called \"Alpamayo Guest House\" this is in Huaraz, and every time our group ends their trek, climbing or expedition trip, the Juventino family invite us to a special dinner called (Pachamanca) as a very Inca Traditional food, this meal is prepared by JUVENTINOS wife Dina, she is a typical person of the area and they live in the Unchus village, this is an unforgettable dinner for all group participants. Next year we will extend our trip with mountain bike MTB around the Huascaran and the Huayhuash mountain range, and we will also have new trips from Lima: Nazca Lines, Arequipa Cañon del Colca, Cusco Inca Trail, Puno Floating Islands Lake Titicaca and the Tiawanaco culture peace.
Mrs Erin Leigh Hardy
5.00
August 2019
We are a group of friends and a mountain club, we have made trips with Eric since 2007, we have done the most classic tours in Cusco: Ausangate trek, Choquequirao trek, Salkantay trek, all tours always with Machu Picchu ending, the Inca culture is very interesting and if you travel to Peru you must visit it - and not missing Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. In Huaraz we have running out the tours: Santa Cruz trek, Alpamayo trek, Huayhuash trek, and the climbs, and Nevado Pisco trek, Nev. Vallunaraju, Tocllaraju, Alpamayo and Huascaran. Every year our club members go from 15 to 20 people to Huaraz, and in Cusco culture we have groups from 18 to 30 people, and all these trips are made by our partner Eric and Juventino in Peru. And friends always return very happy with the services they perform on the tours we sell. We recommend them to make a quality and safe trip, they have about 30 certified guides working for them, Juventino is the head of the company and is a member of UIAGM - IFMGA. They also have a family Hotel called \"Alpamayo Guest House\" this is in Huaraz, and every time our group ends their trek, climbing or expedition trip, the Juventino family invite us to a special dinner called (Pachamanca) as a very Inca Traditional food, this meal is prepared by JUVENTINOS wife Dina, she is a typical person of the area and they live in the Unchus village, this is an unforgettable dinner for all group participants. Next year we will extend our trip with mountain bike MTB around the Huascaran and the Huayhuash mountain range, and we will also have new trips from Lima: Nazca Lines, Arequipa Cañon del Colca, Cusco Inca Trail, Puno Floating Islands Lake Titicaca and the Tiawanaco culture peace.
Norbert from Austria
5.00
June 2019
There were bad conditions for the first mountain we wanted to climb, so we had to search for other mountain, which was possible to climb with the bad conditions. NO PROBLEM for Eric and his team. Eric made within 1 day another program for the following 2 weeks. I really want to say \"thank you for this expedition\". I enjoyed the whole trip/expedition, because of his professional competence. Hope we see us soon!
Emmet
5.00
June 2019
Eric and Juventino are family and they treat each one of their clients as family. It\'s truly a fun time being out in the mountains with them! I did with them many tours throughout Cordillera Blanca, Including Pisco, Chopicalqui and all of the lakes.
Veronika
5.00
June 2018
I can warmly recommend Eric and his company Peru Expeditions Tours. Eric and his team are very professional. They speak fluent English and Eric speaks German. They answered very quickly to questions before the trip. Eric helped me to organize an excursion to the high camp of Alpamayo. He also helped me to rent the right equipment. I also enjoyed ten fantastic days trekking Cordillera Huayhuash and climbing Nevado Pumarinri (5465 m) and Nevado Diablo Mudo (5350 m) with Eric and his team. The organization and the equipment (tents etc.) of the trekking were perfect and the team surprised me with a birthday cake at the Cashpapampau Camp (at 4500 meters) and they also prepared delicious vegetarian food for me on the hike. After Huayhuash we climbed Mount Tocllaraju (6034 HM), organized by Eric and Peru Expeditions Tours. All the guides who work for Eric are local people with a lot of experience and education in the mountains, they speak perfect English and try to do everything to make the clients happy! Thanks to Peru Expeditions Tours I really enjoyed the time in the mountains around Huaraz. I am looking forward to more treks and climbing with you in the future!
John Farris
5.00
May 2018
5 star guide. Nothing but the best.
Nicole et Catherine
5.00
April 2017
A very, very sympathic guide, who knows all the secrets of the places and itinerarys the most beautiful ; organization top ; food excellent too ; marvellous souvenirs.
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The hike was canceled. We didn’t go anywhere. Didn’t even get into the country.