Without a doubt, it is the most famous and popular hike in the Cordillera Blanca. It is suitable for beginner hikers, but good acclimatization is essential before starting the trek. It deserves its fame because it offers varied landscapes and endless views of majestic snow-capped peaks, lakes, glaciers, and fabulous Andean valleys. Doing this circuit will give you an unforgettable experience because we will see almost all the most important Peruvian peaks in just a few days.
Itinerary
Day 1. Huaraz (3100m) - Portachuelo Pass (4750m) – Vaquería (3700m) – Paria (3800m)
After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer with our private transport to the town of Yungay. From here, we change direction and head east towards the 2 Llanganuco lagoons, then to Portachuelo Pass. During the trip, we will pass through many Andean villages of the Callejón de Huaylas. We will see many snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca such as Huascarán, which is the highest tropical mountain in the world. We make a short stop at the pass to take photos of many snow-capped peaks such as Pisco, Huandoys, Chacraraju, and others. After taking good photos, we begin descending towards the town of Vaquería, where our muleteer awaits us to start the hike through the Huaripampa Gorge until we reach our first camp called Paria (approximately 3 hours of hiking). Total driving time is approximately 5 hours.
10 km
+ 1650m / - 950
Snack – Lunch – Dinner
Day 2. Paria – Punta Unión Pass (4750m) - Taullipampa (4200m)
It is a long day. Continuing our route, on this day we will observe Morococha Lagoon and ascend towards Punta Unión Pass. From here, you can see very close the mountains Taulliraju, Artesonraju, Quitaraju, and in the distance below, Jatuncocha Lagoon. After taking good photos, we will begin descending along a zigzag path towards our camp at Taullipampa. Hiking time is approximately 8 hours.
14 km
+950m. / - 550m
Breakfast – Snack – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3. Taullipampa – Alpamayo Base Camp Viewpoint – Llamacorral (3760m)
This day does not have much climbing. After a good breakfast prepared by our cook, we will transfer to the Base Camp of the most beautiful snow-capped mountain in the world, “Alpamayo.” Then we will descend through the Santa Cruz Gorge until we reach our camp. During the descent, we will pass by the beautiful Jatuncocha Lagoon, which translated into Spanish means “Big Lagoon.”
13 km
-440m.
Breakfast – Snack – Lunch – Dinner
Day 4. Llamacorral - Cashapampa (2900m) – Huaraz
It is the last day of hiking. We continue descending through the narrow Santa Cruz Gorge until we reach the town of Cashapampa. Here our muleteers leave with the pack animals, and our private transport awaits us for the transfer to Huaraz. Hiking time is approximately 3 hours. Driving time is approximately 3 hours.
11 km
-860m.
Breakfast – Snack – Lunch
Services
INCLUDES
- Transfer from Anta Airport to the selected hotel in Huaraz
- Private transportation to Vaquería
- Private transportation for pickup from Cashapampa to Huaraz
- Certified Trekking Guide (English, Spanish)
- Cook for the entire circuit
- Full meals in the field (breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner)
- Wake-up tea before breakfast
- Entrance to Huascarán National Park
- Packers and pack animals (mules)
- 1 emergency horse in case of altitude sickness
- Two-person tents
- Kitchen tent
- Dining tent
- Tables, chairs
- Kitchen utensils
- Boiled water to fill bottles every day
- Warm water for personal hygiene
- First aid kit
- Oxygen tank
not included
- Air ticket to Lima and return
- Transfers from the Airport to the Hotel in Lima
- Hotel in Lima and Huaraz
- Does not include the first breakfast on the day the expedition starts.
- Extra costs for leaving the expedition
- Meals and drinks in the city
- Personal equipment such as sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Cold weather clothing such as hats, gloves, down jackets
- Emergency transportation in case of accidents
- International Medical Insurance
- Accident and Rescue Insurance
- Personal tents (can be rented, the cost is S/. 40 per day)
- Tips for the staff
REQUIRED GEAR TO BRING
- Trekking shoes
- Fleece or wool gloves
- Sun hat
- Cold weather hat (fleece or wool)
- UV protection sunglasses
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- 30 or 40-liter backpack
- Trekking poles
- Down jacket
- Gore-Tex windbreaker jacket
- Gore-Tex windbreaker pants
- Socks (minimum 3 pairs)
- Personal first aid kit
- Sleeping bag – 18°C
- Sleeping pad
- Headlamp
- Personal hygiene items such as towel, face soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
Optional
- 1-liter thermos
- Sandals
