Days Cordillera Blanca Tour


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Detailed Trip Description

This is the most beautiful trek in the world's highest tropical mountain range. The Cordillera Blanca trek passes below towering peaks with glacier-carved canyons, including Huascarán, Alpamayo, Taulliraju, Huandoy, Chacraraju, and many others. It also travels through Peru's only National Park in the mountains.


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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Peru

 
Huaraz/Vaqueria.
Sightseeing

Leave early in the morning to drive down the Santa Valley, passsing several villages before arriving at the present-day site of the village, Yungay. The road winds slowly up into a gulley between the Huascaran massif and the Huandoy three-pronged peak. At the boundary of Huascaran National Park is the overhanging Llanganuco Valley with its turquoise-colored lakes. Beyond the lakes is the small valley, Quebrada Demanda, a perfect spot for a short scenic hike before continuing on the narrow road that twists and turns its way up to Portachuelo de Llanganuco Pass (4,750m/15,580ft). From this point there is a spectacular panorama of Mts. Huascaran, Huandoy, Pisco and Chacraraju (Peru's most difficult mountain to climb). The road decends to a place where the drive ends.

Peru Sightseeing picture
Hiking

After then there is a short hike to the campsite at Vaqueria (3,700m/12,136ft). (BLD)

Peru Hiking picture

Day 2 - Peru

 
Vaqueria/Tuctu.
Hiking

The day starts with a leisurely hike down toward the villiage of Colcabamba, crossing over a small ridge into the Huaripampa Valley. Along the valley are small farmint settlements surrounded by farmland, native Andean vegetation and the snow-capped peaks of Paria and Taulliraju.

Peru Hiking picture
National Parks

The trail continues past meadows and fields on the way to the campsite near Paria (or Tuctu), in the heart of Huascarán National Park. (Time: 5-6 hours; Distance: 11 kms) (BLD)


Day 3 - Peru

 
Tuctu/Taullipampa.
Hiking

The trail begins ascending toward Punta Union Pass (4,700m/15,416ft). This old trail was heavily used during pre-Columbian and colonial times for transporting goods from the eastern side of the Andes to the main valley. On approach to the pass, Mt. Taulliraju looms from above and its glacial lake and glacier add color and contrast to the amazing view down the Santa Cruz Valley. The peaks of Santa Cruz, Quitaraju, Artesonaju come into view, as well as the two lakes of Ichicocha and Jatunconcha. (Time: 7 hours; Distance: 13 kms) (BLD)

Camping

The trail descends to the campsite at Taullipampa (or Quiswarpampa) (4,100m/13,448ft).


Day 4 - Peru

 
Taullipampa/Llamacorra.
Hiking

The decent passes the side-valley of Arhuaycocha, with a view of Mt. Alpamayo, then continues down the Santa Cruz Valley. The valley landscape changes to scree slopes along marshy meadows dotted with rock boulders and ends with a hike out of an ever-narrowing canyon into Llamacorral and the campsite 3,500m/11,480ft). (Time: 6 hours; Distance: 16.5 kms) (BLD)

Peru Hiking picture

Day 5 - Peru

 
Llamacorral /Cashapampa/Huaraz.
Bus

There is a steep descent into Cashapampa where a vehicle transports the group down the slow, winding road to the main valley and back to Huaraz.

Peru Bus picture
Hotel

Dinner on your own. Overnight at a hotel. (Time: 2:30 hours. Distance: 7 Kms.)(BL)


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