Drive to the ruins of Chavin; located on the eastern slope of the Andes.  It is the oldest pre Inca site of the Chavin – Kotosh culture which has interesting structures and stone carvings, dinner on your own and hotel overnight at Hotel in Chavin (2,960 m / 9,711 ft).

A five hour drive on a paved road leaving San Marcos to Antamina mine brings you over a paved road to Huansala and to the detour to La Union in the department of Huanuco, picnic lunch on the way.  From here a half hour drive to Huanuco Pampa, situated on a grand plateau enables us to visit this Inca city, one of the major Inca settlements outside of Cusco on the main Inca Road that leads from Quito, Ecuador to Bolivia and beyond.   Camp nearby, at 4,000 m.a.s.l,

After a three hour drive through Rondos and Baños, we arrive to the road head at Queropalca.  A half – day hike will bring us to the foot of Lake Carhuacocha, a beautiful location.  On a calm day the snow-capped peaks of Jirishanca and Yerupajá are reflected in the water. Camp on the shores of the Lake at 4,200m.a.s.l.  (Distance: 12km   Time: 5-6 hours).

Leaving our campsite behind we hike over a Pass at 4,620m (15,157ft) with great views of the surrounding area.  Once over the Punta Carhuacocha Pass we come into view of Lake Mitucocha and again in the background Mt. Yerupajá, Rondoy and Ninashanca from the backdrop of our day’s hike.  Lunch on route or in the camp.  We arrive in the early afternoon with a chance to walk around the lake and get closer views of the mountain.  Overnight and camp at Mitucocha.  4,100m.a.s.l. (Distance: 12km, Time: 5 hours).

Leaving our camp we head towards Cacanampunta Pass at 4, 700m (15,420ft). The trail winds up to the pass, the aquarium divortium and after that we start our descent on the other side, to Cuartelwain where we have lunch.  Continue over to Rondoy, camp below tomorrow’s pass, at 4,200m.a.s.l.  (Distance: 14Km   Time: 6-7 hours).

We ascend through the Rondoy valley towards Sambuya pass at 4750 m (15,583ft) from where we can see the snow-capped peaks of Ninashanca, Rondoy, Jirishanca, Yerupajá, Rasac and Solteracocha.  Then we descend towards to Lake Jahuacocha, camp 4000 m (13,120ft) near the lake, below a beautiful cirque. (Distance: 11km   Time: 7 hours).

We head out the valley leaving this snow – capped range behind, a unique view into the prickly peaks of this granitic and basaltic intrusion.  The valley narrows and we head over a ridge to the west to the Llamac Pass, descending on a winding trail to the village of the same name where we will be met by a vehicle and driven to Huaraz.  An alternative option is to stay in Chiquian and connect by public bus to Lima. Transfer to your hotel, dinner on your own. (Distance: 14km, Time: 5-6 hours).