CORDILLERA BLANCA - TREK - PERU  

Cedros Valley - Alpamayo

Rating: Difficult ( 7 high altitude passes )

Duration: 16 days.

Difficulty: Low Difficult

Trekking season: May to September

Description:

The trek includes 2 acclimatization days, and 10 trekking days. We trek for about 7-8 hours per day, and for the second day we will have porters. This trek offers panoramic views of the world's most beautiful mountain, Alpamayo. At the same time it offers the opportunity to spend time in solitude of the mountain, as this route is not so frequented. The route requires considerable physical effort. We'll start with an 8-hr bus ride from Lima to Huaraz (3,100m), where we will spend a few days to acclimate before the trek. During the acclimatization period we'll do a visit to the archeological ruins of Wilcawain, with excellent views Cordillera Blanca, and then soak in the thermal pool at Monterrey. To start the trek, we travel by bus to the village of Cashapampa, from where we continue to the archeological ruins of Hualcayán (3,140 m.)/ There, the donkeys and porters will wait to help carry the gear further on the circuit.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Lima.

Day 2: Lima to Huaraz by bus (8 hours)

Day 3: Acclimatization walk to Willkawain ruins and Monterrey; return to Huaraz

Day 4: Acclimatization trek to Churup Lake

Day 5: Transportation to Cashapampa and start the trek. From the archeological ruins of Hualcayán, we ascend the zigzag trail to reach the Huishcash camp at 4,200 m., where we will experience a beautiful sunset over the Cordillera Negra as well as enjoy a view of the north part of the Cordillera Blanca.

Day 6: Huishcash (4200m) - Toropishtanan Pass (4850m) - Osoruri (4300m). We'll cross the highest pass of all trek, but the required effort is worthed for the views of two beautiful turquoise lakes, Yanacocha y Azulcocha, both at the base of the snow-capped Santa Cruz (6,259 m.). We then start the descend to  Cullicocha Lake, an excellent look-out point towards Santa Cruz and Milluacocha (5480m ). This will be our second camp.

Day 7: Osoruri (4300m) - Alpamayo Pass (4750m) - Jancarurish (4200m). On this day, after climbing the pass, we'll continue in the direction of Alpamayo Valley, from where we can enjoy views of Milluacocha Lake and Nevado Pilanco (5,373 m.). After about 5 hours we reach Jancarurish Lake, where the pyramid of ALPAMAYO (5,947 m) is visible. This is the point for photographing Alpamayo, as well as Nevados Jancarurish (5,578 m), Tayapampa (5,657 m) and Quitaraju (6,036 m). We camp next to the lake.   

Day 8: Relaxation day. Due to the beauty of the place, we'll take one day at this camp, to take in the views or to climb to Jancarurish Lake to have a better view of Nevados Alpamayo and Tayapampa (5,657m).

Day 9:Jancarurish (4,200m) - Cara Cara Pass (4,830m) - Huillca (4,000m)

On this day we cross 2 high altitude passes, characterized by high winds, due to their exposure on the ridge. Before crossing the passes, we'll cross a strong river formed from glacier melt. During the descent there are excellent views of Jancarurisch (5,578m), Quitaraju (6,036m), Rinrihirca (5,810 m), Pucahirca (6,050 m) and Santa Cruz (6259m), all massive snow-capped peaks. Afdter a small section we'll descend to Moyobamba Valley and then climb to the second pass, Mesapampa (4,500m). From here, Safuna Lake (4,000 m) is visible. We continue the descent towards the lake for the next camp.

 Day 10: Safuna - Huillca (4,000m) - Yanacon Pass (4600m) - Jancapampa (3,600m). During this trajectory it's possible to see condors. We can also enjoy the view of Nevado Pucajirca (6,050m). Passing Lake Sactaycocha we'll get to the next camp,

Day 11 Jancapampa - Tupa Tupa (4,400m) - Quisuar (3,950m). On this route we'll go through traditional villages and we can meet some local people. In the village of Pingoshpampa we'll get a better impression on traditional Andean life of the indigenous communities. After meeting some local people, we'll start the ascent to the pass, lower than the previous passes, but however offering beautiful views. Finally we descend to Huecrucocha Lake where we camp for the night.  

Day 12: Quisuar - Pucaraju Pass(4650m) - Tuctu (4200m).

A zigzag trail leads to Pucaraju Pass, from where we'll admire some of the most impressing peaks of the Cordillera Blanca: Chopicalqui (6,354m), Huascarán (6,768m, the highest summit of Peru), Huandoy (6,160m) and Taulliraju (5,830m). This region was used by the quechua shepherds before the colonization, and even for transportation until the end of the last century. We'll camp at a lookout point that offers views of Union Pass, which we'll cross the following day.

Day 13:Tuctu (4200m) - Unión Pass(4750m) - Taullipampa (4200m). From the camo, we ascenf to one of the most beautiful passes of the Cordillera Blanca, from where we see the whole Santa Cruz Valley as well as Nevados Paria (5,510 m) and Artesonraju (6,034 m.). In addition, we'll see southern faces of Quitaraju and Rinrijirca, whose northern faces we've seen during the fifth day of the trek. We camp on a meadow from where we have the best view of the whole route, according to many trekkers.

Day 14: Taullipampa - Cashapampa (2,980m) – Huaraz. We'll cross the Santa Cruz Valley, while enjoying a different view of Alpamayo. It's possible to get closer to the base camp and even see some climbers preparing the climb or desdending. A little lower down passing two beautiful lakes at the head of the valley, we reach a small wooden gate that indicates the entrance to the village of Cashapampa. Our bus will wait at this point to take us back to the town of Huaraz

Day 15: Return to Lima, hotel accommodation.

Day 16: Transfer to airport, return flight.

EXPEDITION COSTS INCLUDE:
- 2 nights lodging in Lima (double bed, breakfast included)
- 3 nights lodging in Huaraz (double bed, breakfast included)
- When you arrive to huaraz we pick up you to the hotel by taxi.
- Bus transportation Lima - Huaraz and private local transportation Huaraz - Cashapmpa - Huaraz.
- Mountain Guide.
- Donkeys to carry the common gear (tents, food and fuel) as well as donkeys to carry personal gear (up to 20 kg per person)
- More than 4 pax include an emergency horse.
- Kitchen gear and cooking facilities at base camp (including dining tent, chairs, cooking tent)
. Food for the whole duration of the climb (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is included.
-The meals include: omelets, sups, fresh fruits, ahuacate, spaghettis meats, rice all them rich in carbohydrates, excellent to recover all the energy you lose during the trek, also include drinks as: tea, coffee, milk breads, popcorn and coco tea good for altitude sickness.
- Camping gear: 4 season tent
- First aid kit
- Check-up for oxygen to assess acclimatization level of each client.
- Entry to National Park Huascarán.

Not included:
- Food costs outside the climb (Lima and Huaraz)
- Flight from country of origin to Lima
- Extra days of lodging due to delays of the trip
- Personal trekking and climbing gear (sleeping bag, sleeping mattress etc..)
- Personal expenses.
- The prices can change according to the date and number of persons, please catch up us on the web for more information.

Recommended gear:
Lightweight walking shoes/sandals/socks/pants/short pants/T-shirts (long sleeve and short sleeve)/sunglasses/sunscreen/plastic bags/warm sleeping bag /light weight trekking boots/wool socks/light weight treeking pants/waterproof pants and jacket/fleece/Goretex/hat/mits or warm gloves/thermal liners/camera/bandana or hat against sun/headlamp with extra batteries.
Safety Individual gear:
Glacier glasses 100% UV with rigid case (2 pair recommended)/ goggles/ sunscreen with maximum protection/lipbalm/4 season sleeping bag/ sleeping pad or thermarest/hat/thermal underwear/fleece jacket/fleece pants/down jacket/Goretex jacket or similar material/2 pairs of gloves or mittens/ pair of thermal glove liners/2 pairs of thermal sock liners/plastic boots/gaiters.