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Cordillera Huahyuash Trek – Itinerary
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Trip Dates:
• July 5 – July 25, 2008 (18 Days)
Land Cost:
• 8-12 Participants: $2125.00/person
• 5-7 Participants: $2375.00/person
• 4 Participants Minimum: $2450.00/person
Single supplement:
• Land Cost plus $100.00 for a private room
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Day-by-day Itinerary
General
Except where noted, continental breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided to you every day, included in your land cost.
Day 1
Depart the USA. Fly to Lima and spend the night in Lima.
Day 2
Lima - Huaraz. A 7-hr drive takes us from Lima up the coast of Peru and then inland over the Cordillera Negra Mountains to the mountain city of Huaraz, located at the base of the spectacular Cordillera Blanca Mountains. We will spend the night in Huaraz. Breakfast and lunch included with dinner on your own.
Day 3
Huaraz. Because of the importance of proper acclimatization we will spend the day around Huaraz (10,000’) seeing the sights and going for a hike to adjust to the altitude. Continental breakfast provided, lunch on your own. Welcome dinner provided. Overnight spent in Huaraz again.
Day 4
Huaraz. Another day to acclimatize. Today we travel into the heart of the Cordillera Blanca to the Llanganuco Valley. This is one of the most spectacular valleys in the range. We would be driven to about 12,000 ft. and dropped off for a day of hiking to Laguna 69, a spectacular turquoise colored lake beneath Chacraraju. We will be surrounded by the highest peaks in the range including, Huascaran (22,205’) the highest in Peru, the four Huandoy peaks all above 20,000’, Chopicalqui (20,800’) Chacraraju (20,300’). Bring lots of film! Breakfast and a picnic lunch included, dinner on your own. Overnight spent in Huaraz.
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Day 5
Huaraz. Another day to acclimatize. Again today we drive above Huaraz to the village of Pitec. From Pitec we will hike for two hours to the beautiful lake called Laguna Churup at 15,500ft, beneath the peak it is named after. This is another great day of hiking. Breakfast and a picnic lunch included, dinner on your own. Overnight in Huaraz.
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Day 6
Huaraz - Mantacancha. Departing Huaraz early in the morning we drive south up the Callejon de Huaylas valley viewing the southern half of the Cordillera Blanca mountain as we head to the Huayhuash range. After 50 miles of paved road we turn off onto a dirt road and get our first views of the Huayhuash Mountains. Another 70 miles of dirt road and we arrive at a place called Mantacancha, beneath the high peaks of Ninashanca (18,400’) and Rondoy (19,260’). We make camp at 13,450’ along the river and the local stone huts and corals of the local farmers. (7 hrs. All meals included). |
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Day 7
Matacancha - Laguna Mitacocha. Today we cross our first pass on the north side of the Huayhuash range. Gaining almost 2,000’ we cross from the west side of the range to the east side. The top of Cacananpunta pass is 15,387’ and provides a panoramic view of the valleys and mountains on both sides. While the burros and all our gear descend down the other side into the valley we take a beautiful shortcut via a high traverse directly under the sheer east faces of Ninashanca and Rondoy. Condors are frequently seen soaring along the high faces. We finish the day at the beautiful Laguna Mitacocha (13,878’) and make camp beneath the high peaks above this lake. (8 miles, 6 hrs. All meals included).
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Day 8
Laguna Mitacocha - Laguna Carhuacocha. A short days walk but very exciting. Once again while the burros take the long way we take the short cut across the grassy hills. At the top of our second pass we get our first views of the towering peaks of Jirishanca (19,944’), Yerupaja (21,760’), and Siula Grande (20,815’). Jirishanca is so close that you feel you are almost climbing it. We descend to the turquoise colored Laguna Carhuacocha (13,576’) famous for its rainbow trout and the reflections of the high peaks towering above. Time to catch fish for dinner. (7.5 miles, 6 hrs. All meals included). |
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Day 9
Laguna Carhuacocha - Rest Day. Where else could you find such a beautiful spot for a rest day? You can spend the day lying in the grass looking at the peaks, or take a hike around the lake. You will wish that didn’t have to leave. All meals provided.
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Day 10
Laguna Carhuacocha - Huayhuash. The main trail takes the long way, out away from the mountains, but we take the short cut again along a forgotten high passage. This high route provides beautiful views of a hidden valley and Laguna Siula and Laguna Quesillacocha, both lakes sitting beneath the east face of Yerupaja and Siula Grande. On a clear day the views are the most stunning you can imagine of the Huayhuash mountains. We cross our third pass called Siula Punta (15,860’). After lunch we descend to meet our burros on the main trail at Laguna Carnicero, then walk a short distance to the village of Huayhuash (14,255’). This little village is the home to farming families who mostly speak Quechua among themselves - the language handed down from the Incas. We make camp here at the village of Huayhuash. (9 miles, 6-7hrs. All meals included). |
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Day 11
Huayhuash – Punta Cuyoc. From the little village of Huayhuash we have an easy 1,300’ of elevation to gain to reach the fourth pass called Portachuelo de Huayhuash (15,700’). From the top of the pass we have an excellent view of the peak Puscanturpa (18,544’) and the small range of high peaks called the Cordillera Raura. An hour descending from the pass to Laguna Viconga, which is Limas water supply, and we have lunch near the lake. Another two hours of walking toward the next pass called Punta Cuyoc and we make camp in a picturesque spot at (15,300ft). (10 miles, 7.5 hrs. All meals provided).
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Day 12
Punta Cuyoc – Laguna Jurau. We are now at the very southern end of the Huayhuash range and it is time to cross over to the eastern side of the range. If the weather cooperates, today will be a double pass day. First we cross over the highest pass on the trek, Punta Cuyoc (16,240’). When we reach the top of this pass we can look north and see most of the big peaks in the Huayhuash. We also are right next to the peak called Puscanturpa (18,209’). Descending into the beautiful grassy valley of Huanacpatay we hike cross-country to the top of the next pass, which has stunning views of Carnicero (19,555’), Siula Grande (20,814’) and Yerupaja (21,710’),then make a steep descent to camp beneath Laguna Jurau. (9 miles, 7 hrs. All meals provided). |
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Day 13
Rest Day, Laguna Jurau. Today you have the option of resting, bathing, or hiking up a beautiful side valley to get better views of the south face of Yerupaja or the west face of Siula Grande, made famous by the book “Touching The Void”. Lots of options and totally up to you. (All meals provided).
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Day 14
Laguna Jurau - Piquicorral. We loose some of the spectacular scenery today and put on our walking shoes as we loose 2,300’ down the Huanacpatay river gorge to the village of Huayllapa (11,800’). This is the largest village in the southern end of the Huayhuash range. It is a very interesting village with a lot of Spanish architecture and you can even buy a beer here if you want. From Huayllapa we are not finished as we now have about 2,300’ to gain to our next camp at a meadow called Piquicorral. We make camp here at the same elevation as the previous camp (13,993’). (9 miles, 7 hrs. All meals provided).
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Day 15
Piquicorral – Laguna Jahuacocha. Today is another double pass day with lots of great views. From camp we have about 1,500’ to gain to reach the top of our seventh pass called Punta Tapush (15,584’). This pass has a barren almost moon like landscape and we are close to the peak called Diablo Mudo or Mute Devil (17,553’). The locals believe that sometimes the mountain spirits appear here. We descend 1,500’ to the green Laguna Susococha then walk up another valley to the pass called Yaucha Punta (15,903ft). Just when you thought that the trek was looking a little boring we save the best for last. While our burros take the low trail and the long way, we take the high trail up over a ridge crest. Once on top of this ridge we are rewarded with the spectacular panoramic views of the entire range.
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| Once again towering before us is Yerupaja (21,710’) and its massive west face. Also we see El Toro (19,571’), Jirishanca (19,994’) meaning snow hummingbird in Quechua, and the steep broad peak of Rondoy (19,259’). Below us is a broad green valley with the spectacular turquoise-colored Laguna Jahuacocha where we will camp (13,288’). The views of the peaks from camp will dazzle you. (10 miles, 8 hrs. All meals provided) |
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Day 16
Jahuacocha - Llamac - Huaraz. Our last day of the trek and we leave Laguna Jahuacocha walking down valley until the trail begins to contour up and across the right hand hillside to our last pass (14,016’). Here we will have our final views of the Cordillera Huayhuash in all their glory, then a long descent to the village of Llamac and our waiting vehicle. In all this will be a long day with 7 miles of walking and a four-hour drive back to Huaraz. Breakfast and lunch provided, Farewell dinner included.
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Day 17
Huaraz - Lima. We depart Huaraz and drive back to Lima, about a 7 hr drive where we will have dinner and head for the airport to catch our flight home. Breakfast and lunch included, dinner on your own.
 Day 18
Arrive in the USA.
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