18-day guided program: Cedros Trek + Vallunaraju climb

Arrival in Lima. You can rest or explore the city on your own. Overnight stay in a hotel.

This bus follows the Pan American highway across the Pacific coastal desert. You will then pass through the Conococha Pass (4020 m) into the Santa Valley and finally, Huaraz (3100m.). You can also fly via LCPERU flight. Overnight stay in a hotel in Huaraz (B/-/-).

The trail to Laguna Churup is one of the classic hikes of the Cordillera Blanca and it’s perfect for an acclimatization. We’ll drive to Llupa, our trailhead. We’ll start walking uphill across an ancient Inca trail towards the Laguna Churup. Return to Huaraz for the night in a hotel (B/L/-).

Laguna 69 is the most famous lake in the Cordillera Blanca. Our trail follows a steep and daunting ridge. Immediately above the deep blue surface of the lake, we will see the ice walls of Chacraraju, one of the most beautiful and difficult peaks in the Cordillera Blanca. After resting in the lake, we will return to Huaraz. Overnight stay in a hotel of the city (B/L/-).

This is the beginning of the “Trans Cordillera Blanca Grande” trek, around Alpamayo and Huascarán. We will travel by vehicle through the Santa Valley and the villages of Carhuaz, Yungay and Caras. We will meet our support team and their donkeys. Night in a campsite of Hualcayan (B/L/D).

This is the first of 8 days of trekking tour in the Cordillera Blanca. We’ll start climbing the steep trail to Wishcash Camp. In the afternoon we can watch the beautiful sunset over the Cordillera Negra. Overnight in the campsite (B/L/D).

A long and difficult day awaits. We will pass by the lake of Cullicocha. Then, we’ll continue to Osoruri Pass (4,860 m) to descend 400 meters and climb again the Vientunan Pass (4,770 m). We’ll get to the valley of Cedros Alpamayo. After 8 or 9 hours of walking we will finally reach Ruina Pampa Camp, where we’ll spend the night in tents (B/L/D).

Today, those who wish can climb the Alpamayo North Base Camp (4,500 m) and do an optional summit hike to Jatunjirca Peak (5030 m).

An alternative is to spend a half day resting in the Cruze Alpamayo Camp, with beautiful views of the Alpamayo peak. Overnight Camp (B/L/D).

We will hike over two passes, the Caracara (4,830 m) and the Mesapata (4,460 m), with spectacular views of the northern part of Alpamayo and the Pucachircas peaks. We’ll set up our camp in the Tayapampa Valley and then, continue to Laguna Safuna (4,200 m) for an afternoon tour. Overnight Camp (B/L/D).

We continue our trek in a wide open grassland passing by two houses of local farmers and continuing up to a steep slope in direction to the Pucahirca Pass (4,610 m). Then, a long descent to a lake on the far side of the Yanajanca Valley. Camp at Jancapampa, just below the ice walls of the Pucahirca and Taulliraju. In the area around the campsite there are many local rural folks (B/L/D).

We will continue to the Tupatupa Pass and then, we’ll descend to the Tuctubamba Valley. We will stay for the night in large tents with a perfect view of the Laguna Huercrucocha (B/L/D).

Another long day. However, our hike is a bit easier up to the Yanagrahirca Pass with more panoramic views of the mountains. Then, we’ll have a long downhill trail towards the city of Colcabamba (3,300 m.), where we will set up our camp (B/L/D).

Last day of the trekking section of this program. From Colcabamba we’ll leave our team of donkeys very early. A private vehicle will drive across the Portachuelo Pass with impressive views of the peaks of Chopicalqui, Huascarán, Huandoy, Nevado Pisco, Chacraraju and Yanapaccha. We’ll get to the Llanganuco Valley, where the bus is waiting. End of the Cedros Trek. Overnight stay in the hotel in Huaraz (B/L/-).

Optional: Rock climbing in Chancas. A classic location for those who like rock climbing. This area is 40 minutes north of Huaraz. This is also a good place to spend a quiet day or take a bath in the hot springs to relax the muscles. Overnight stay in a hotel (B/-/-)

We’ll leave from Huaraz in a private transfer to the Llaca Valley (3850 m.) From here we’ll begin our ascent on foot to Moraine Camp, spending about two hours on the trail. This climb is relatively long and steep. We’ll proceed very slowly so we don’t get tired and can adapt the bodies to the altitude before our summit day tomorrow. Overnight stay in the campsite (B/L/D).

We’ll leave the Moraine Camp at 2 or 3 AM in order to reach the summit at 8 AM. After arriving at the summit, we will return to our starting point in the Llaca Valley, where the bus awaits to take us back to Huaraz. Overnight stay in a hotel (B/L/-).

Transfer to the Anta Airport and 50-minute flight to Lima, or transfer to the bus terminal for the 8-hour ride. Transfer to the hotel in Lima.

Transfer to the airport so that you can fly back home (B/-/-).

End of the program.