This is the classic trekking route and the most popular in the Cordillera Blanca; walking 5 days in one of its most spectacular areas with beautiful turquoise lakes, quenual forests (polylepis), and Andean high grasslands. Here the ichu grass grows surrounded by immense and defiant mountains that reach heights up to and over 6,000 m. We cross the Punta Union pass (4,750m) and the Pass of Llanganuco (4,765m) rewarding us with the view of the most famous snow peaks in the Cordillera Blanca.
This route allows us a gentle ascent, helping acclimatization.
We go up the Santa Cruz valley crossing the Punta Union pass then head down the Huaripampa valley to Vaqueria to take a vehicle to ascend to the Portachuelo de LLanganuco, then descending by the valley of the same name visiting the Llanganuco Chinancocha and Orkococha lakes. Return to Huaraz.
05 days and 04 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. This night 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 - Pacchapampa (4,300 m) 6h
We continue descending to the small Andean town of Colcabamba (3,350m) 1h, rest and then begin to ascend toward Vaqueria (3,700 m) 2h, to reach our camp in Pacchapampa (4,300m) at the foot of the Yanapaccha (5,460m).
Day 5: Pacchapampa - Portachuelo de LLanganuco (4,765 m) 3h
Llanganuco - Huaraz (3,100 m) Bus 3h
This last day of the trek we will reach the highest point of our journey, beginning the ascent toward Portachuelo de LLanganuco (4,765m) 3h with splendid views of Huascarán Norte (6,768 m) Huascarán Sur (6,650 m), Chopicalqui (6,354 m), Huandoy (6,395 m), and Pisco (5,752 m. Then we descend the Llanganuco valley visiting the Llanganuco: Orkon-cocha and Chinan-cocha lakes. Return 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
