Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Huaraz
Make your own way to Huaraz. You will be welcomed at the bus station and taken to your hotel. Alternatively, you can take the public bus from Lima to Huaraz to meet up with your Guide who will send you to your hotel.
Meal: nil
Stay: hotel, Huaraz
Day 2 Huaraz
Rest and relax as you acclimatise to the high altitude of Huaraz (3,052 M asl). Alternatively, you may wish to take an optional tour to Chavín de Huantar.
Chavín de Huantar Optional: Drive along the southern Huaylas Valley across the picturesque towns of Recuay, Ticapampa and Catac. Arrive to Querocoha Lake (3,980 M asl) surrounded by native quenual trees. Traverse the Cordillera Blanca to visit Chavín de Huántar (1300 to 4000 BC), South America’s oldest and most advanced culture, and one of the six independent centers of civilization in world prehistory, predating the Incas by about 2000 years.
Colossal carved stone staircases and platforms link Chavín’s monumental granite pyramids and ceremonial plazas. Subterranean chamber complexes, known as galleries, are built in a most sophisticated architectural engineering style. In the Old Temple, visit the Lanzón Gallery with its supreme deity of Chavín, a large stone idol of 4.5 M carved with human, Jaguar, Anaconda, and Harpy Eagle iconography. The New Temple, (The Castillo) built in 3 platforms, constructed between 500 and 200 B.C., is a high structure that is honey-combed with waters courses is also based on a gallery and plaza design and contained many relief sculptures.
Sophisticated carved keystone heads, horizontal and vertical ventilation wells, friezes, cylindrical columns, and astronomic representations are a puzzle for Andean archaeo-astronomers. The walls of Chavín were decorated with carved heads, set deep into stone. Chavín de Huantar has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, visit the museum, where you will appreciate Chavín ceramics and lithic sculptures like the famous “Tello Obelisk”. Lunch at a local restaurant is included.
Meal: Breakfast
Stay: hotel, Huaraz
NOTE: for the next 3 consecutive nights, hikers are required to pack their personal essentials required for 3 overnight stays in a duffel or soft material bag. Ensure the capacity of this bag is enough to contain the essentials you need. The overall weight of the bag (including your essential belongings) does not exceed 8 KG per hiker. We will leave our luggage at the hotel.
Day 3 Huaraz – Llanganuco – Vaqueria – Paria Gorge
This morning, drive along the magnificent Huaylas Valley watered by the Santa River and located between the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra mountain ranges. On the way, cross picturesque towns. Turning east, the mountain scenery becomes increasingly spectacular as you ascend the slopes of the Cordillera Blanca. Exacting peaks such as Huandoy (6,162 M) and Huascarán (6,768 M) form the granite walls of this U-shaped glacial-eroded canyon with its two turquoise Llanganuco lakes. Forests of silk-paper-barked Queñua and Quishuar trees cover the canyon floor. Colourful bromeliads, orchids and cactus, among other plant species, grace the granite boulders and cliffs, and then continue beyond them ascending up to Portachuelo de Llanganuco (4,767 M). The view of the spectacular iced amphitheatre formed by some of the highest peaks of the tropical Andes – Huandoy, Pisco (5,947 M), Chacraraju (6,112 M), Chopicallqui (6,354 M), and Huascarán is a breathtaking surprise.
From here, descend to Vaqueria. Start the hike along the Huaripampa Gorge crossing local villages such as Collo, Yanachaca and Huaripampa. Enjoy magnificent views of the towers of Chacraraju East (6,112 M), swampy meadows, small lakes, and forests, with view of Taulliraju mountain (5,850 M).
The campsite is set up at 3,780 M asl. Scenic peaks such as Paria (5,519 M) and Piramide de Garcilazo (5,885 M) provide great opportunities for photography.
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Camping
Trek Duration: 5 – 7 hours Altitude: 2,900 – 4,780 M asl
Day 4 Paria Gorge – Punta Union – Taullipampa
Today is filled with pleasant surprises and gorgeous views as you walk through grassy areas and along the Morococha Lakes. Climbing pre-Incan stone-carved steps to arrive at Punta Unión Pass (4,780 M). The panorama is dominated by the impressive, iced walls of Taulliraju (5,830 M) above Taullicocha Lake.
Camp is set up in Taullipampa at 4,250 M. Enjoy the beautiful landscape and sunset.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Camping
Trek Duration: 5 – 7 hours Altitude: 2,900 – 4,780 M asl
Day 5 Taullipampa – Alpamayo Base Camp – Llama Corral
Hike along Santa Cruz Gorge, observing various vegetation ecosystems. The iced peaks of Artesonraju (6,025m), Paria (5,510 M), and Quitaraju (6,036 M) are visible from many different sites. A glimpse of the rocky, iced and fluted south face of Alpamayo Peak (5,947 M) in all its rugged grandeur is a feast for the eyes. Climb around Arhuaycocha Lake (4,450 M) enjoying the magnificent view of Alpamayo Peak. Then, descend hiking along Jatuncocha and Ichiccocha Lakes (3,850 M) and set up camp at Llama Corral at 3,780 M.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Camping
Trek Duration: 5 – 7 hours Altitude: 2,900 – 4,780 M asl
Day 6 Llama Corral – Cashapampa – Huaraz
A trail down the left ridge of the deep Santa Cruz Canyon provides you with opportunities to appreciate various vegetation ecosystems as you pass from areas with high altitude plants to tracts with tropical species such as bromeliads and orchids covering the granite walls. The rocky silhouette of the Cordillera Negra on the horizon announces your approach to Cashapampa Village (2,900 M), from where you will be transferred back to Huaraz and your hotel. Reunite with your luggage.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: hotel, Huaraz
Trek Duration: 5 – 7 hours Altitude: 2,900 – 4,780 masl
Day 7 Depart Huaraz
Rest and relax until checkout time. Official check out time is 12 PM. You will be picked up at the hotel and taken to the bus station for your onward journey.
Meal: Breakfast