Trek Alpamayo Circuit

Day 01: Lima. Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel.

Day 02: Lima - Huaraz (3090 m) by bus.
We head north through the coastal desert as far as Pativilca, then turn inland and begin our climb northeastward into the Andes. We then follow the Santa Valley up to Huaraz.

Day 03: Huaraz. Acclimatization. (Free day). We suggest you take a bus to Monterrey. After visiting Wilcawain ruins you can walk down to the hot springs (3 to 4 h), enjoying beautiful vistas of the Cordillera Blanca. We can organise this day tour on demand.

Day 04: Huaraz - Cashapampa (2900 m) in 5 h (Private vehicle).
We leave the Santa valley a few kilometres after Caraz (2290 m), and continue to Cashapampa .

Day 05: Cashapampa - Laguna Ichiccocha (3800 m) in 5 h.
After a steep climb through an eucalyptus forest, the ascent becomes gradual up the narrow Santa Cruz valley. We follow the the river along a narrow path. Camp near the lake.

Day 06: Laguna Ichiccocha - Taullipampa ( 4200 m) in 4 h. After 1 hour we walk along the emerald waters of Laguna Jatuncocha (3900 m). The path climbs gently as we get stunnend views on the surrounding glaciated peaks, among which Quiteraju (6036 m) and Alpamayo (5947 m) to the west and Artesonraju to the south. It's possible to add a side trip to Alpamayo base camp (3 h). We camp benath the impressive peak of Taulliraju (5830 m).

Day 07: Taullipampa - Punta Union (4750 ) - Quebrada Huaripampa (4150 m) in 5 h. We continue the ascent with a steep climb across moranic screes, fringing the shores of the turquoise lake of Taullicocha. The panorama that unfolds as we approach the pass at Punta Union provides one of the finest views of Peru: the nearby peaks of Chacraraju (6112 m), Artesonraju (6025 m) and Piramide (5885 m) as well as Alpamayo (5947 m), Santa Cruz (6259 m) and Huandoy (6395 m) fill the view. After a steep descent, passing the Laguna Morococha, we reach Quebrada Huaripampa, a lovely valley of meadows and small lakes.

Day 08: Quebrada Huaripampa - Alto de Pucaraju (4640 m) - Quebrada Tuctubamba (3800 m) in 6 h. We leave the Huandoy circuit itinerary to head north off the beaten tracks, with the glaciers of Artesonraju providing a spectacular backdrop. After a steep climb to the pass we enjoy a magnificent mountain scenery: the Taulliraju, the Chacraraju peaks and, in the distance, Chopicalqui (6354 m) and Huascaran (6768) peaks. We descend to a lovely blue lake and we follow further down the Tuctubamba valley.

Day 09: Quebrada Tuctubamba - Tatupata (4360 m) - Jancapampa (3500 m) in 7 h. We head northwards, towards the Tatupata pass, one of the most stunning viewpoints on the Taulliraju massif. On the other side, we pass by ishgopampa, one of the few villages we will see during the trek and we follow a complicated itinerary through marshy meadows, along the large Jancapampa valley. From the camping spot we savour the impressive view of the Pucajirca glacier.

Day 10: Jancapampa - Yanacon (4600 m) - Quebrada Tayapampa (4120 m) in 7 h. We start with a long but beautiful climb to the windy Yanacon pass where we most probably will get the chance to see condors. During our descent to the small village of Huilca we will often catch sight of lamas and alpagas. It's then a long way up, along the Tayapampa valley.

Day 11: Quebrada Tayapampa - Mesapata pass (4450 m) - Gara Gara pass (4830 m) - Jancarurish (4200 m) in 6 h. Short climb to the first pass. We follow then an impressive panoramic path to the second pass, first along the Quebrada Mayobamba, a beautiful canyon, then on the top of a ridge. The high mountain scenery is breathtaking with Alpamayo and Quitaraju peaks, Jancarurish lake and Santa Cruz massif. We descent to Laguna Jancarurish and camp near the lake, enjoying the sunset on Alpamayo. This is the right spot to spend an extra day to rest and enjoy the superb views of the snow-capped Alpamayo.

Day 12: Jancarurish - Los Cedros pass (4750 m) - Osoruri pass (4850 m) - Laguna Cullicocha (4650 m) in 7 h. An easy descent along the Quebrada Alpamayo is followed by a hard climb. We will then walk through scree and rocks, crossing two passes, Los Cedros and Osoruri, before descending to Rajucocha and Cullicocha lakes.

Day 13: Laguna Cullicocha - Hualcayan (3150 m) in 3 h and transfer to Huaraz (Private vehicle). During a gradual descent we can savour superb views on Azulcocha and Yanacocha lakes hidden in a deep gorge. After a steep and dusty descent we reach Hualcayan and drive to Huaraz.

Day 14: Huaraz - Lima by bus.

Day 15: Lima. Transfer to the airport.

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