Itinerary
- Day 1
Huaraz
You'll arrive in Huaraz at 9,843 feet/3,000 meters above sea level. After checking into your hotel, the focus today is taking it easy and letting your body adjust to the thin air. This first day is all about rest and acclimation before you start any real hiking.
- Day 2
Huaraz
Head out for an easy half-day hike to Laguna Willkacocha in the Cordillera Negra, reaching 11,811 feet/3,600 meters. You'll get panoramic views of the snow-capped Cordillera Blanca peaks from here, and you'll have chances to meet local Quechua people along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike to Laguna Willkacocha
- Panoramic views of Cordillera Blanca peaks
- Interaction with indigenous Quechua locals
Landmarks/POIs Laguna Willkacocha Cordillera Negra - Day 3
Huaraz
Walk through Valle Llaca and hike close to Ranrapalca's glacier to see ice formations from a distance few people get to experience. After a picnic lunch, you'll descend through Laguna Llaca, then ride back to Huaraz by car, passing through the villages of Llupa and Unchus on the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike to Valle Llaca
- Close approach to Ranrapalca glacier
- Visit to Laguna Llaca
- Picnic lunch during hike
Landmarks/POIs Valle Llaca Ranrapalca Laguna Llaca - Day 4
Huaraz
Drive from Huaraz to Pitec, then trek steadily up a mountain ridge to Laguna Churup at 14,600 feet/4,450 meters. The turquoise lake sits surrounded by high Andean peaks, and the views from here are something you won't forget.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive to Pitec
- Trek up mountain ridge to Laguna Churup
- Panoramic views of turquoise lake
Landmarks/POIs Laguna Churup - Day 5
Valle Llaca to Vallunaraju Moraine Camp
Drive east from Huaraz to Valle Llaca and climb a steep ridge for 3 to 4 hours to reach Vallunaraju Moraine Camp at 16,404 feet/5,000 meters. The first two hours are tough and steep, but the path levels out as you get closer to camp. You'll see views of Nevado Ocshapalca and Huaraz's lights below. In the afternoon, you can practice ropes and knots, or if you prefer, stay in Valle Llaca and climb up to camp early the next morning.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Valle Llaca
- Climb to Vallunaraju Moraine Camp
- Rope and knot practice
Optional Activities
- Stay in Valle Llaca and climb to camp early morning instead
Landmarks/POIs Valle Llaca Vallunaraju Moraine Camp Nevado Ocshapalca - Days 6 - 7
Vallunaraju
Spend two days at Vallunaraju Moraine Camp learning and practicing climbing skills on different rock types, ice forms, slopes, ice walls, and crevasses. You'll work on knot practice, roping up, using crampons and ice axes, self-arrests, glacier travel, crevasse awareness, rappelling, belaying, snow stakes, and ice screws. This is a training ground for Peruvian mountain guides, so you'll get plenty of hands-on experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Climbing up and over moraine rock slabs
- Glacier climbing techniques
- Knot practice
- Crampon and ice axe training
- Self-arrest practice
- Glacier travel instruction
- Crevasse awareness training
- Rappelling instruction
- Belaying techniques
- Snow stake and ice screw use
Landmarks/POIs Vallunaraju - Day 8
Vallunaraju to Vaquerías
Drive north down the inter-Andean valley through Callejon de Huaylas toward the Cordillera Blanca, passing through Yungay. Enter Parque Nacional Huascaran and drive past the turquoise Llanganuco Lakes. Continue up to Portachuelo de Paso Llanganuco at 15,640 feet/4,767 meters for views of Huascaran, Huandoy, Chopicalqui, and the lakes far below. From there, descend to Vaquerias, load equipment onto donkeys, and hike through Huaripampa Ravine Valley to your secluded campsite.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive through Callejón de Huaylas
- View Llanganuco Lakes
- Stop at Portachuelo de Paso Llanganuco
- Views of Huascarán, Huandoy, and Chopicalqui peaks
- Hike through Huaripampa Ravine Valley
Landmarks/POIs Llanganuco Lakes Portachuelo de Paso Llanganuco Huascarán Huandoy Chopicalqui Parque Nacional Huascarán - Day 9
Valle Quebrada Paria to Tuctubamba
Hike up Quebrada Huaripampa Valley at whatever pace works for your energy level. You've got two choices: head directly to camp at Tuctubamba, or take a detour and climb to Paso Punta Union at 15,584 feet/4,750 meters to catch views of Valle Santa Cruz before moving on to Tuctubamba.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike up Quebrada Huaripampa Valley to Tuctubamba
Optional Activities
- Detour climb to Paso Punta Union for views of Valle Santa Cruz
Landmarks/POIs Quebrada Huaripampa Valley Paso Punta Union Valle Santa Cruz - Day 10
Tuctubamba to Laguna Huecrococha
Follow rocky trails on a steep climb to Paso Alto de Pacaraju at 15,255 feet/4,650 meters. From the pass, you'll see views of Nevado Taulliraju, Chacraraju, and Paria. Then comes a long descent starting with switchbacks and moving into sweeping paths down through hillsides covered in lupin flowers and quenual forests, ending at camp by a small lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Steep climb to Paso Alto de Pacaraju
- Views of Nevado Taulliraju, Chacraraju, and Paria peaks
- Descent through lupin flower-covered hillsides and quenual forests
Landmarks/POIs Paso Alto de Pacaraju Nevado Taulliraju Chacraraju Paria Laguna Huecrococha - Day 11
Laguna Huecrococha to Jancapampa
Start with a brief descent and stream crossing (you can jump or ride horseback), then gradually climb before ascending steeply to Paso Tupatupa at 14,436 feet/4,400 meters. From here, you'll see large snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca, including Pucajirca Norte. Continue to camp at Jancapampa at the head of a wide valley, where a massive hanging glacier streams down a broad, horseshoe-shaped granite wall.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Descent and stream crossing
- Ascent to Paso Tupatupa
- Views of Pucajirca Norte and Cordillera Blanca peaks
- Hike to camp at Jancapampa with hanging glacier views
Landmarks/POIs Paso Tupatupa Pucajirca Norte Jancapampa - Day 12
Jancapampa to Safuna
Climb through a forested valley with occasional clearings to reach Laguna Sactaycocha. From there, amid grassy shrubland, make a steep climb to the rocky Paso Pucajirca at 15,092 feet/4,600 meters. On a clear day, Pucajirca Norte looks spectacular to the southwest. Descend to Willcapampa where you'll see traditional farmhouses and herds of alpacas, then gently climb through Quebrada Tayapampa to rest at Safuna camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Long climb through forested valley to Laguna Sactaycocha
- Steep climb to Paso Pucajirca
- Views of Pucajirca Norte on clear days
- Pass through Willcapampa with alpaca herds
- Gentle climb through Quebrada Tayapampa
Landmarks/POIs Laguna Sactaycocha Paso Pucajirca Willcapampa Quebrada Tayapampa - Day 13
Safuna to Cruce Alpamayo Base Camp
Cross two passes today. Start with a gradual, grassy ascent to Paso Mesapata at 14,764 feet/4,500 meters, then trek around swamplands before tackling a challenging climb to the high and windy Paso Cara Cara at 15,846 feet/4,831 meters. You'll get your first look at the triple summits of Santa Cruz and spot Alpamayo with neighboring peaks and Laguna Jancarurish below. Descend to Cruce Alpamayo Base Camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Gradual ascent to Paso Mesapata
- Trek around swamplands
- Challenging climb to Paso Cara Cara
- First views of Santa Cruz triple summits
- Views of Alpamayo and neighboring peaks
- View of Laguna Jancarurish
Landmarks/POIs Paso Mesapata Paso Cara Cara Santa Cruz Alpamayo Jancarurish Quitaraju Laguna Jancarurish - Day 14
Cruce Alpamayo Base Camp to Moraine Camp
Trek over a moraine ridge on sandy slopes and rock slabs to reach a small area of tent platforms at Moraine Camp at 16,010 feet/4,880 meters. After setting up camp, you'll rest for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek over moraine ridge
- Hike across sandy slopes and rock slabs to Moraine Camp
Landmarks/POIs Moraine Camp - Day 15
Moraine Camp to High Camp
Wake early and follow the rocky route above Moraine Camp for a couple hours up to ice and moraine. Make your way through a snowy couloir leading to the col between Alpamayo and Quitaraju. This section can be the most technical and difficult part of the route. After reaching the col, climb to High Camp at 17,388 feet/5,300 meters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early start from Moraine Camp
- Rocky route to ice and moraine
- Navigation through snowy couloir
- Technical climb to col between Alpamayo and Quitaraju
- Climb to High Camp
Landmarks/POIs High Camp Alpamayo Quitaraju - Day 16
High Camp
You've got two options here. Enjoy views of Alpamayo and the surrounding peaks from High Camp, take photos, then descend back to Alpamayo Base Camp. Or start very early and begin climbing soft snowy slopes for about an hour to a bergschrund at the bottom of the southwest face. The climb to the summit is steep and technical with mixed snow and hard ice, taking 7 to 8 pitches over about 5 hours. You'll descend via the same route using 7 to 8 rappels, returning to High Camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Views of Alpamayo from High Camp
- Photography time
- Option to climb Alpamayo southwest face
- Learn pitching and rappelling techniques
Optional Activities
- Descend to Alpamayo Base Camp instead of climbing
- Alpamayo summit climb on southwest face (technical mixed climbing, 8-9 hours total)
Landmarks/POIs Alpamayo - Day 17
High Camp to Alpamayo Base Camp
Return to Alpamayo Base Camp by rappelling 492 to 656 feet/150 to 200 meters down an ice cliff, with the last hour and a half on steep and slippery rock. After you reach base camp, relax your tired muscles and enjoy a celebration dinner waiting for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Celebration dinner)
Included Activities
- Rappel down ice cliff
- Descent to Base Camp
- Celebration dinner at Base Camp
Landmarks/POIs Alpamayo Base Camp - Day 18
Alpamayo Base Camp to Huaraz
Trek down the long but easy Quebrada Santa Cruz to reach Cashapampa. A private van will be waiting there to drive you back to your hotel in Huaraz.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Long trek down Quebrada Santa Cruz
- Hike to Cashapampa
Landmarks/POIs Quebrada Santa Cruz Cashapampa - Day 19
Huaraz Departure
This is an optional extra day. You can choose to climb Quitaraju or use it as a reserve day in case of bad weather. If you're not doing either, spend time exploring Huaraz at your own pace before heading to the airport for your return journey home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Climb Quitaraju
- Explore Huaraz
- Reserve day for bad weather on previous days
