Hiking around Alpamayo and Huascaran

The first day of this adventure starts by climbing the steep trail to the Wishcash Campsite. In the afternoon we can watch the beautiful sunset over the Cordillera Negra. Overnight Camp (-/L/D).

This will be a long and difficult day. We will pass by the large Cullicocha lake, with fantastic views of the Santa Cruz peak and the glaciers. Then, we will continue up to the Osoruri Pass (4,860 m.). After a descent of 400 meters, we will climb the Vientunan Pass (4,770 m) and finally we’ll drop sharply into the Cedros Alpamayo Valley. 8 or 9 hours later, we will be finally in the Ruina Pampa Camp (4000 m) (B/L/D).

The day starts with a short but scenic hike leading us to a beautiful view of the Cruze Alpamayo, at 4,250 m. Those who wish can climb the Alpamayo North Base Camp (4,500 m) and do an optional summit hike to the Jatunjirca Peak (5030 m). The other option is to spend a half day resting in the Cruze Alpamayo Camp, with a beautiful view of Alpamayo. Overnight Camp (B/L/D).

Today we will hike over two mountain passes: the Caracara (4,830 m) and the Mesapata (4,460 m). We’ll set up camp in the vast flatness of the Tayapampa Valley and then we’ll continue to the Laguna Safuna (4,200 m) for an afternoon visit. Overnight Camp (B/L/D).

Continuing our trek, a few kilometers from the valley in a wide open grassland we will pass by two houses of local farmers. Then, we’ll continue through a steep slope to the Pucahirca Pass (4,610 m) followed by a long descent to a lake on the far side of the Yanajanca Valley. Camp at Jancapampa, directly below the ice walls of the Pucahirca and Taulliraju peaks (B/L/D).

We will continue the trek crossing the Tupatupa Pass and descending to the forested Tuctubamba Valley. We will stay in large tents with a magnificent view of the Laguna Huercrucocha (B/L/D).

It will be a long day. However, our hike will be a bit easier up to the Yanagrahirca Pass (4,300 m) with more panoramic views of the mountains of Chopicalqui, Taulliraju, Huascarán, and Tocllaraju. Then, we will have a long downhill way through increasingly populated areas and indigenous villages to the city of Colcabamba (3,300 m) where we’ll set up our camp (B/L/D).

Last day of the trek. From the town of Colcabamba we will leave our team of donkeys and a private vehicle will pick us up. We’ll cross the Portachuelo Pass (4,650 m) with impressive views of the peaks of Chopicalqui, North and South Huascarán, Huandoy‘s 4 summits, Nevado Pisco, Chacraraju and Yanapaccha, among others. We’ll stop to take photos in several places. Farther along we can see the Chinancocha and the Orconcocha lakes in the Llanganuco Valley, where the bus is waiting to take us back Huaraz. End of the program and overnight stay in a hotel in the city (B/L/-).