Trekking Tours: Santa Cruz - Llanganuco - Ulta 8D/7N
This trek along the great extension of the Cordillera Blanca allows us to discover one of the main mountainous regions of the world. Here we find a major concentration of peaks over 6,000m. We combine the classic trek of this impressive mountain range with an extension to the Ulta valley; rewarding us with a view of the most impressive mountain landscapes of the earth. We reach three high passes: Punta Union (4,750m), Portachuelo de LLanganuco (4,765m), Punta Yanayacu (4,900m); O8 days of trekking through the most spectacular Cordillera Blanca areas.
We start in the Santa Cruz valley, crossing the Punta Union pass and then heading down the Huaripampa valley. We continue towards Vaqueria and from the Morococha valley we ascend to Portachuelo de LLanganuco and return again to Vaqueria, to continue the trek by the Queshu valley reaching the highest point on the trek at Punta Yanayacu from there descending the Ulta Valley.
08 days and 07 nights of unforgettable adventures in the Cordillera Blanca
Day 1: Huaraz - Cashapampa (2,900 m) Bus 3h
Cashapampa - Llamacorral (3,650 m) 4h
Leaving Huaraz city heading to the north of the Callejon de Huaylas we descend by a road to Caraz (2,300m), 1h then from this place we begin to ascend towards the Cordillera Blanca to the small town of Cashapampa (2,900m), 2h, where we meet up with our mountain personnel: guides, cooks, muleteers, etc. and begin the walk having loaded up our donkeys. We begin the trek heading up the Santa Cruz valley to set up our first camp in Llamacorral (3,650m) 3 h.
Day 2: Llamacorral - Taullipampa (4,000 m) 5h
We continue the trek up Santa Cruz's wide valley, passing Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha lakes; we arrive at Quisuar where we can make a diversion towards Alpamayo base camp via the Arhuaycocha valley, with splendid views of the peaks of Quitaraju (6,040m), Alpamayo (5,947m), Artezonraju (6,025m) and others. Ton ight we camp in Taullipampa (4,000m) at the foot of the impressive Taulliraju peak (5,830m) and surrounded by snow peaks.
Day 3: Taullipampa - Huaripampa (3,600 m) 7h
This will be a long and tiring day ascending by a steep zig zag path at the foot of the impressive Taulliraju and overlooking the Taullicocha turquoise lake. We arrive at Punta Union (4,750m) 3h and see the peaks of Chacraraju (6,112m), Artezonraju (6,025m), Pyramid (5,885m), Huandoy (6,395m), Alpamayo (5,940m), Santa Cruz (6,259m), Rinrihirca (5,810m), Taulliraju (5,830m) and others; now on the east side of the Cordillera Blanca we begin to descend passing the Morococha lake and then into the long, broad Huaripampa valley, passing through red-barked quenual forests and pleasant Andean grasslands; we approach our camp in Huaripampa (3,600m) 4h.
Day 4: Huaripampa - Vaqueria (3,700 m) 4h
We continue descending to the small Andean town of Colcabamba (3,350m) 1h and then we begin to ascend towards Vaqueria (3,700 m) 3h to set up our camp.
Day 5: Vaqueria (3,700 m)
This day will be free to rest, a vehicle will pick us up to ascend to Portachuelo de LLanganuco (4,765m) 1½h, with splendid views of Huascarán Norte (6,768 m) Huascarán Sur (6,650 m), Chopicalqui (6,354 m), Huandoy (6,395 m), Pisco (5,752 m. We also have great views of the Llanganuco valley and the two lakes of Orkon-cocha and Chinan-cocha. Return to our camp in Vaqueria.
Day 6: Vaqueria - Yanayacu (4,400 m) 6h
We begin the trek ascending the Keshu valley coming closer to the impressive Contrahierbas (6,036m) peak, setting up camp (4,400m) near Punta Yanayacu.
Day 7: Yanayacu - Ocshapampa (4,400 m) 7h
This will be a tiring day, our objective will be to cross the Punta Yanayacu pass (4,900m) with impressive views of the Cordillera Blanca mountains: Huascarán (6,768 m), Chopicalqui, Ulta, Contrahierbas, Hualcan and others, also towards the north the mountain Taulliraju is in view (5,830m), as is Quitaraju (6,040m) and Rinrihirca (5,810m. Then we descend the Ulta valley to set up amp in Ocshapampa (4,400m), in front of Contrahierbas (6,036m), Ulta (5,875m), Hualcan (6,112 m), Chopicalqui (6,354m) and others.
Day 8: Ocshapampa - Broken Ulta (4,100 m) 3h
Broken Ulta - Huaraz (3,100 m) Bus 3h
This is the last day of trek descending toward the Ulta valley to take a vehicle back to Huaraz.
Our Trekking programs include:
Transportation to the beginning or the ending of the trek to Huaraz
Full Accommodation during the trek
Tent for two, dining room-kitchen tent
Trek guide, cook, muleteers, donkeys
First-aid kit
Oxygen
Communication equipment
Our Trekking programs do not include:
Entrance ticket to the Huascarán National Park: US$ 20.00
Personal equipment: Sleeping bag, warm clothes, etc
