08 Days/07 Nights May to November Moderate
Highlights of the Cordillera Blanca. The highest tropical mountain range in the world, the Cordillera Blanca is part of the spectacular Andes that form the spine of South America. A mecca for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, the region boasts over 50 peaks that exceed 15,000 feet, 700 glaciers and 300 lakes.
Trekking the Trans Cordillera Blanca: The Cordillera Blanca (White Range) is the largest and most popular mountain range in Peru, with 31 peaks more than 6,000 meters high, and more than half of the 6000 meter peaks in all of Peru. Here you’ll find the highest and most beautiful mountain in the tropics - snowcapped Huascaran (6,768 m) - as well as the popular and spectacular Alpamayo (5,947 m) - the stand outs in a region of superlatives!
This trekking circuit, which winds around the peaks of Huascarán and Alpamayo, is a dream destination for avid high mountain trekkers. It’s a formidable trek due to the altitude and the many passes along the way. This excursion is nine days of fascinating landscapes, including turquoise mountain lakes, high passes between extraordinary ice capped peaks, and endemic plants interspersed with high plateaus.
The Cordillera Blanca (Spanish for white range) is a mountain range in Peru that is part of the larger Andes range and extends for 200 kilometres (124 mi) between 8°08' and 9°58'S and 77°00' and 77°52'W, in a northwesterly direction. It includes several peaks over 6,000 metres (19,690 ft) high and 722 individual glaciers. The highest mountain in Peru, Huascarán, at 6,768 metres (22,205 ft) high, is located there.
The Cordillera Blanca lies in the Ancash region and runs parallel to the Santa River valley (also called Callejón de Huaylas in its upper and midsections) on the west. Huascarán National Park, established in 1975, encompasses almost the entire range of the Cordillera Blanca.
Snowmelt from the Cordillera Blanca provides part of northern Peru with its year-round water supply, while 5% of Peru's power comes from a hydro-electrical plant located in the Santa River valley. The area of permanent ice cover shrank by about a third between the 1970s and 2006.
Day 1: First stage of trekking: Hualcayan (3150 m) - Trekking to Wishcash Camp (4520 m)
Day 2: Wishcash - Trekking to Ruina Pampa (Pampa Ruins) (4000 m)
Day 3: Ruina Pampa - Trekking to Cruze Alpamayo (4250 m)
Day 4: Cruze Alpamayo - Trekking to Caracara Pass (4830 m) and Tayapama Valley (4150 m)
Day 5: Tayapama - Trekking over Pucajircas Pass (4615 m) to Jancapampa (3600 m)
Day 6: Jancapampa - Trekking via Tupatupa Pass (4400 m) - Laguna Huecrucocha (4050 m)
Day 7: Laguna Huecrucocha - Trekking over Yanagrahirca Pass (4,300 m) to Colcabamba (3300 m)
Day 8: Colcabamba - Transfer to Huaraz: Over Portachuelo Pass (4650 m) - via to the Llanganuco Valley and Huaraz
Day 1: First stage of trekking: Hualcayan (3150 m) - Trekking to Wishcash Camp (4520 m)
The first of a total of 8 days of trekking on the Cordillera Blanca tour begins by climbing the winding steep trail to Wishcash Camp. In the afternoon we can watch the beautiful sunset over the Cordillera Negra. Overnight Camp (-/L/D)
Day 2: Wishcash - Trekking to Ruina Pampa (Pampa Ruins) (4000 m)
This will be a long and difficult day. We pass by the large nearby lake, Cullicocha, with fantastic views of the Santa Cruz peaks and glaciers, and continue to Osoruri Pass (4,860 m.) After a descent of 400 meters, we climb over Vientunan Pass (4,770 m) and finally drop sharply into the valley of Cedros Alpamayo (Alpamayo Cedars.) After this 8-9 hour day we reach Ruina Pampa Camp (4000 m.) Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
Day 3: Ruina Pampa - Trekking to Cruze Alpamayo (4250 m)
A short, scenic stage, amazing because of what is ahead - a beautiful view of Cruze Alpamayo, 4,250 m. Those who wish can climb to Alpamayo Base Camp North (4,500 m) and do an optional summit hike to Jatunjirca Peak (5030 m) allowing you to get above 5000 meters. Fantastic views of Alpamayo (5,947 m) and Quitaraju (6,036 m.) Alternative: Spend a half day resting in the Cruze Alpamayo Camp, with a beautiful view of Alpamayo. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
Day 4: Cruze Alpamayo - Trekking to Caracara Pass (4830 m) and Tayapama Valley (4150)
Today we hike over two passes, Caracara (4,830 m) and Mesapata (4,460 m), with spectacular views of the northern part of Alpamayo and the Pucachircas peaks, the northernmost of the 6000 meter peaks in the Cordillera Blanca. Set up camp in the vast flatness of the Tayapampa Valley and then continue to Laguna Safuna (4,200 m) for an afternoon visit. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
Day 5: Tayapama - Trekking over Pucajircas Pass (4615 m) to Jancapampa (3600 m)
As we continue our trek, a few kilometers from the valley in a wide open grassland we pass two houses of local farmers, and continue up a steep slope to Pucahirca Pass (4,610 m) followed by a long descent to a lake on the far side of the densely-vegetated Yanajanca Valley. Camp at Jancapampa, directly below the ice walls of the peaks of Pucahirca and Taulliraju. In the area around the camp area there are many local rural folks. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
Day 6: Jancapampa via Tupatupa Pass (4400m) - Trekking to Laguna Huecrucocha (4050 m)
We set out on the right side of the Jancapampa valley, continuing to Tupatupa Pass and a long descent to the forested Tuctubamba Valley. We stay in large tents with a view of Laguna Huercrucocha (4,050 m). Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
Day 7: Laguna Huecrucocha - Trekking over Yanagrahirca Pass (4300 m) to Colcabamba (3,300 m)
Although a long day, our hike is a bit easier up to Yanagrahirca Pass (4,300 m) with more panoramic views of the mountains of Chopicalqui, Taulliraju, Huascarán, and Tocllaraju. Then we have a long downhill through increasingly populated areas and indigenous villages to the city of Colcabamba (3,300 m.) Camp at Colcabamba. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
Day 8: Colcabamba - Transfer to Huaraz: Over Portachuelo Pass (4650 m) - to the Llanganuco Valley and Huaraz
Last (8th) day of the trekking portion of our tour. From the town of Colcabamba we leave our team of burros very early and via private vehicle set off for Portachuelo Pass (4,650 m) with impressive views of the peaks of Chopicalqui, Huascarán Sur-Norte, Huandoy‘s 4 summits, Nevado Pisco, Chacraraju, and Yanapaccha among others.. We’ll stop the vehicle to get out for photos in several places. It’s all downhill from here. Farther along we can see Chinancocha and Orconcocha lakes in the Llanganuco Valley, where the bus is waiting. End of the Trans Cordillera Blanca Grande Trek. Overnight in the hotel in Huaraz. Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)
Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner
Season: May to November
Difficulty: Moderate
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