Peru Hiking | Cordillera Blanca Trek
Hiking the Andes
•September 24 – October 4
Our Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Lima where you’ll be met by a WorldWide Trekking representative and transferred to our hotel in Miraflores. Dinner at a exciting local restaurant.
Day 2
In the morning we depart Lima and head north in a private vehicle, on the Pan-American Highway. Once we leave the coast we’ll be on some of the driest desert you will ever see, interrupted every thirty minutes or so, by a small city that blossoms around a river valley. Our highway begins a steep climb to the mountains, and once beyond Pativilca, you’ll see the scenery turn greener and wetter, and the air lighter. Snow capped peaks begin to show up in the distance as we arrive to Conococha Pass, heading north to Huaraz. Upon arrival in Huaraz we will get settled in our hotel for a well deserved rest. This will be a great day to see the changes on the environment from the coast to The Andes.
Day 3
We leave Huaraz by vehicle on a 20-minute ride which will bring us to the village of Marian. From here we’ll do a two hour hike to Willcawain – an archaeological site of the Recuay – Wari, and this is an excellent way to acclimatize for our Cordillera Blanca adventure. We will visit the complex and have lunch in the vicinity. On the trail, accompanied by llamas, we will observe the snow capped peaks of Vallunaraju, Ranrapalca, Churup and San Juan. We pass fields tended by campesinos with their adobe houses clustered in this patchwork of land, truly a unique day in the outskirts of Huaraz. After our tour we’ll head back to Huaraz and overnight at our hotel.
Day 4
With an early departure from Huaraz we head north, and travel deep into the Santa Valley, passing by the towns of Carhuaz, Yungay and Caraz. Soon we take a detour towards Cashapampa (9,479 ft), where our mules and muleteers are waiting for us.
We start our trek through the Santa Cruz creek at the side of Santa Cruz River, that washes the valley with its vigorous waters. We begin a steady ascent following the trail that will take us to our first campsite in the scenic high Andean meadow of Llamacorral (12,398 ft). (Approximate driving time 3 hours/approximate hiking time 4 hours)
Day 5
Departing from Llamacorral our route takes us along the Santa Cruz River as we pass by Ichiccocha Lake (12,464 ft) where we should see various species of waterfowl native to the Andes. As we continue along the trail we’ll reach Jatuncocha Lake (12,628 ft) with its brilliant green hue. From here we will have great views of the majestic snow capped peaks of Taulliraju, Quitaraju and Rinrijirca. We continue until we reach the detour that takes us to the Arhuay creek, known as the Alpamayo base camp (13,940 ft), then we will return to Taullipampa (13,940 ft) where we will camp with perhaps the most spectacular views you’ve ever seen. (Approximate hiking distance 8 miles)
Day 6
Our day begins with a steady ascent on our trail in which the latter parts of it date back to the Incas. The views here are stunning, and as we reach the Punta Union Pass (15,580 ft), an awesome view of the glacier covered peaks of Taulliraju, Areston, Paria, Rinjirca, Quiraraju and Pucajirca will make you wonder if you’re in the Himalayas. From the pass we’ll begin to descend until we reach Paria (12,726 ft), our campsite for this night. (Approximate hiking distance 7 miles)
Day 7
After breakfast we leave our campsite following the Huaripampa Valley, passing by the Huaripampa, Yanachaca “estancias” and the village of Colcabamba. From here we begin a moderate ascent, passing by Chalhua until we reach our campsite at Molinopampa (11,972 ft) (Approximate hiking distance 7 miles)
Day 8
Today we start ascending through the Keshu creek, passing by a Queñua tree forest until we reach Lake Contrahierbas, where we will stop for a rest, and if we are lucky we can spot an avalanche on snow capped Contrahierbas. We continue until we reach to our campsite at Avalancha (14,596 ft). This will probably be the most spectacular campsite you will ever experience as you listen to the sound of glacier breaking off, and from our safe and secure camp you can see football sized fields of ice sliding down the mountain.
Day 9
In our last day we will make our final ascent to Punta Yanayacu Pass (15,940 ft), the highest point in this adventure. From here we’ll have spectacular views of the Contrahierbas, Ulta, Chopicalqui and the famous Huascaran, at over 22,000 it towers above us. Then we start to descend through the Ulta creek passing by Yanayaku Lake, until we finally reach the end of our trek. Our transport will be waiting for us to take us back to Huaraz and on to our Hotel for a well deserved rest.
Day 10
We’ll fly from Huaraz to Lima, arriving in about an hour. Overnight in Lima.
Day 11
Depart for home.
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