Huayhuash and Cordillera Blanca
A highly rewarding trekking trip incorporating two of the most stunning cordilleras (mountain ranges) of South America, the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Huayhuash with close-up views of many of Peru's highest peaks, including Nevados Huascar (6,768m) and Yerupaj (6,634m). There's plenty of time for acclimatisation in your base of Huaraz before striking out on the famous Santa Cruz trek which include the chance to marvel at the beauty of Alpamayo. The Huayhuash massif contains in a single cluster some of the most awesome mountain scenery in Peru as well as Siula Grande, made famous by Joe Simpson's book "Touching the Void". This trek takes in the best of the scenery as it traverses the range through pristine wilderness and over four high passes offering you stunning panoramas of glaciers, lakes and mighty ice-clad mountains.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(HK-5092-P) |
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Flights |
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Accomodation |
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14 Breakfast, 9 Lunches, 8 Dinners |
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Price Excludes |
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Local Payment 350 USD
14 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 8 evening meals (plus an extra 4 breakfasts for travellers taking our Cusco/Machu Picchu option) are included. You must pay for all other meals yourself (you can eat quite well for £10-12 per day). Approximate costs are given for guidance only, and may vary widely according to location and type of establishment. |
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Suitability / Level |
Strenous |
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Max Group Size |
14 |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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DAY 1 - FLY TO LIMA. After your flight, you transfer to your first night's accommodation and check in. Discovered in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, Lima was the principal city of Spanish South America for three hundred years until the wave of independence swept the continent. You stay in the pleasant coastal suburb of Miraflores where shady parks, bustling cafes and the South Pacific coastline all lie within easy reach. Hotel - 1 night.
DAY 2 - HUARAZ. You leave Lima by public bus for a fascinating full-day drive to the small highland city of Huaraz. You head north through the coastal desert as far as Pativilca, then climb the agricultural Fortaleza valley into the Andes, the cultivated river banks contrasting dramatically with the barren mountain sides. Cacti give way to denser vegetation and then puna grassland as you ascend to today's high point, Conococha (4,050 metres). You turn north into the Calleje Huaylas and enter a different world, the snow peaks of the Cordillera dominating the landscape. You arrive in Huaraz (3,090m) late-afternoon and check into your hotel for the next three nights. Hotel - 3 nights (B)
DAY 3 - HUARAZ. A bustling town of 80,000 inhabitants, Huaraz lies amid the imposing scenery of the Calleje Huaylas and is the ideal base from which to explore the region. Calleje Huaylas is the name given to the main Santa Valley flanked to the east by the Cordillera Blanca and west by the Cordillera Negra. The Blanca rates as one of the finest ranges in the Andes for dramatic mountain scenery, boasting the greatest concentration of 6,000+ metre peaks anywhere outside the Himalayas (29 in total). From Huaraz itself there are views of several impressive peaks, including Nevados Ranrapalca (6,162m), Huandoy (6,356m) and Huascar(6,768m), the highest mountain in Peru. Over the next two days, while acclimatising to the altitude before your first trek, you will have the opportunity to explore this fascinating region. Besides its magnificent scenery, the area boasts several traditional towns and villages, thermal springs and archaeological sites, such as the nearby pre-Inca site of Wilkawa. Today, we plan to drive to the Huari-Tiahuanaco ruins, then take a gentle (mainly downhill) walk through farming country to Monterrey, where you have the option of a dip in the thermal pool. (B)
DAY 4 - HUARAZ. Today a more demanding acclimatisation hike is planned. You drive east from Huaraz for about 1 hours to Pitec (3,900m), then hike up to the sapphire-coloured Lake Churup (4,485m), set in a beautiful amphitheatre below the snow peak Churup (5,495m). At this evening's trek briefing, you will be able to ask any last-minute trek-related questions and buy in any trekking supplies you may still require. (B)
DAY 5 - SANTA CRUZ TREK. Today you rise early to embark on the first day of the four-day Santa Cruz trek. The 3 hour drive to Cashapampa heads north along the Calleje Huaylas through some magnificent landscapes, providing tantalizing views of some of the Cordillera Blanca's most impressive peaks. Leaving the Calleje Caraz (2,290m) you continue north east on a country road to Cashapampa (2,950m). Here the trek begins with an ascent, steep in parts, through a gorge at the beginning of the Santa Cruz valley. By mid-afternoon the valley levels out and, at Llamacorral (3650m), you set up camp. About 5/6 hours moderate and easy uphill walking. Wild Camp - 1 night (BLD)
DAY 6 - SANTA CRUZ TREK. You are woken up early with a hot drink and a bowl of warm washing water. After breakfast you resume the gentle ascent of the Santa Cruz Valley. Passing Laguna Chica and Laguna Grande, you may spot herons, coots and other lake birds. Soon, the magnificent peak of Taulliraju can be seen looming large to the east at the head of the valley. After lunch, and before continuing to your camp, you can take a fascinating and worthwhile detour to the north; the path zigzags up to the hanging Arhuaycocha valley for views of Alpamayo (5,947m), Quitaraju (6,036m) and Artesonraju (6,025m). Alpamayo was voted the most beautiful mountain in the world in a 1960s poll. From here you descend to the camp at Taullipamapa (4100m), a stunning spot, surrounded by spectacular snow peaks. About 6/7 hours moderate and easy uphill walking today. Wild Camp - 1 night (BLD)
DAY 7 - SANTA CRUZ TREK. This is the toughest day's trekking to date. The day begins with a steep zig-zagging ascent of the south side of the valley beneath the glaciers of Taulliraju. An awesome panorama unfolds as you approach the continental divide at the Punta Union pass (4,750m). Weather permitting, you can take in an array of peaks, including Artesonraju (6,025m) and Pucajirca (6050m). The descent to the south, steep at first, levels out as you pass several tarns and follow the trail along the Huaripampa Valley, through sparse forest and occasional clearings, on a long approach to your camp at Cachina (3600m). About 8 hours moderate and demanding walking today. Wild Camp - 1 night (BLD)
DAY 8 - HUARAZ. Today you resume the gentle descent of the Huaripampa Valley, via the tiny village of Huaripampa itself. To the north, there is a dramatic view of Chacraraju's east ridge (6,112m). There is a final steep ascent to the road head at Vaqueria, where you rendezvous with your vehicle for the memorable 4 hour return journey to Huaraz. The mountain road re-crosses the Andean watershed at the Portachuelo de Llanganuco pass (4,767m), offering postcard views of the Llanganuco Lakes, Huascar Chopicalqui (6,354m) and a host of other peaks. About 4 hours easy downhill and moderate uphill walking today. Hotel 1 night (BL)
DAY 9 - QUEROPALCA. Today's full-day drive to Queropalca, located on the eastern side of the Cordillera Huayhuash, signals the start of the second phase of the trip. Heading south to Conococha, you can enjoy the first, distant views of the magnificent Huayhuash range to the south east. Its dramatic profile, seen from this distance, resembles that of a giant saw; with a dozen ice-clad summits lining its serrated ridge; the 6634m Yerupaj second highest peak in Peru, stands out above the rest. You continue east, via Huallanca and La Unito Huanuco Pampa, an impressive and little-visited Inca site featuring excellent stonework and some unusual carvings. You head on to the small village of Queropalca (3,831m) and a night's camp before embarking on day one of the Huayhuash trek tomorrow. Wild Camp - 1 night (BD)
DAY 10 - HUAYHUASH TREK. Once up and breakfasted, you begin the first day's trek into the pristine heart of the Huayhuash range. The ascent of the U-shaped Carhuacocha Valley is relatively gradual and during the course of the day's walk across paramo grasslands, the altitude gained is just 300m. By late morning you should have your first views of the east faces of some giant snow peaks. By mid afternoon, as you approach the beautiful Lake Carhuacocha (4,138m), you will be able to admire a fabulous backdrop of magnificent snow peaks, including Siula Grande (6,344m) made famous by Joe Simpson's book "Touching the Void" and Yerupaj. Your camp beside Lake Carhuacocha (4100m) offers fabulous views. About 7 hrs easy to moderate walking uphill. Wild Camp - 1 night (BLD)
DAY 11 - HUAYHUASH TREK. Today is another spectacular day's walk. You begin by hiking around the shore of Lake Carhuacocha, then ascending a narrow valley to Punta Carhuac (4,650m). En route, you may spot rabbit-like viscachas among the moranic boulders. The pass offers stunning panoramas of Yerupaj Siula Grande, Yerupaj chico (6,089m) and Carnicero (5,960m). The descent north ends at the Janca Valley (good for spotting wading birds like the puna ibis). You skirt the valley to the west, cross a terminal moraine and walk into your camp beside Laguna Mitucocha (4,230m), with a stunning view of the dual summits of Jirishanca (6,094m), as well as Jirishanca Chico and Ninashanca, reflected in the beautiful lake. There may be time for a side trip over a moraine to Lake Ninacocha at the foot of Mount Ninashanca. About 7 hrs moderate walking today. Wild Camp - 1 night (BLD)
DAY 12 - HUAYHUASH TREK. A tough day's walk today; using little-used trails, you cross the continental divide at the trek?s highest point, Pariapunta (4,900m). The long, steep ascent requires plenty of puff, but the awesome views of Ninashanca and the other northern Huayhuash peaks offer ample reward. The descent takes you into the Rondoy Valley, via Laguna Garacocha (4,500m), and the camp at 4,200m. About 6 hrs moderate and strenuous walking today. Wild Camp - 1 night (BLD)
DAY 13 - HUAYHUASH TREK. Today is one of the most rewarding trekking days. The ascent out of the Rondoy Valley, steep in parts, culminates at the Sambunya Pass (4,750m). From here, you will enjoy your first stunning views of the western faces of the range's high peaks, notably Rondoy (5,870m), Jirishanca and Yerupaj and their vast, fissured glaciers. Down below you to the south is the turquoise Laguna Solterococha. Throughout your descent southwards towards Solterococha the range's glaciated flanks loom large and eventually the trail contours west towards Laguna Jahuacocha (3950m). The view from the lakeside camp is simply awesome. About 6/7 hrs moderate and strenuous walking. Wild Camp - 1 night (BLD)
DAY 14 - LIMA. After completing the trek this morning, you have a long drive back down to the Pacific coast and Lima. Breaking camp early, you descend the Achin valley for an hour or so, before picking up a trail that takes you gradually up to the Pampa Llamac pass (4,300m). There are excellent views back towards the Huayhuash, as the trail takes you in and out of small quenual (polylepis sericea) forests. The descent on the far side ends at the village of Llamac (3,200m), in a temperate agricultural valley, where you rendezvous with the vehicle for the drive to Lima via Chiqui Conococha and the Pan-American Highway, arriving at your Lima hotel at around 9 p.m. About 3-4hrs moderate walking. Hotel - 1 night (BL)
DAY 15 - FLY TO LONDON. You have most of today free in Lima for sightseeing, shopping or relaxing. You may wish to explore the bustling colonial city centre, whose main square, the Plaza de Armas, boasts much impressive colonial architecture. You may also be interested in visiting one of Lima's impressive archaeological museums. In the evening you head to the airport for the flight back home. (B)
DAY 16 - ARRIVE LONDON
(BLD = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner). |
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Accommodation
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Transport & Accommodation
Minibus, on foot Hotels (8nts), camp (8nts) 14 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 9 dinners included Flights (Schedules & airlines can change.) Indirect flights with Iberia Airlines from London Heathrow. Depart UK 07.25, Return UK 16.45. UK domestic add-on and regional flights available. |
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Holidays
Extras |
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Included
