Huaraz & the Best of Huayhuash

Arrive Huaraz. Transfer from airport or bus station is provided at no cost if you request it in advance to your hotel in Huaraz, lunch and dinner on your own. To check the hotel options click here. (No Meals included).

We drive to Huillcacocha Lake for about one hour. We will have a great view of the Cordillera Blanca which will accompay us today. Here we begin the hike, ascending gradually to Huaca Punta (4890masl), Special viewpoint located in a Pre Inca site. The hike is a gradual ascent up on a local trail for about 2 hours. Along the way you may expect to meet local Quechua people still wearing their traditional colorful Andean clothes. We pass close to their traditional adobe houses and see how they have lived for countless centuries surrounded by richly green farm lands where they grow their products – wheat, domesticated lupine and potatoes. Upon arriving to the Huaca Punta (Viewpoint), you will be amazed with the magnificent views of the Cordillera Blanca Mountain Range with its highest mountain Huascaran at 6768masl. We continue our hike going up gradually for approximately 40 minutes to get to another spectacular viewpoint from where we can see the city of Huaraz below the mountains. We have lunch enjoying the panoramic view, before we begin our easy descent to the same place we started (Huillcacocha Lake). Our transportation will be waiting to take us back to the Hotel in Huaraz. (B/L)

Starting in Huaraz at 3 100m, we head north, passing various towns and villages, and stopping at interesting places such as Anta, which has a spectacular view of Huascaran, Peru’s highest mountain, and Carhuaz, which is a traditional Andean town famous for its ice cream. On the way we observe the Campo Santo where the town of Yungay was once located until it was completely buried by an enormous avalanche caused by the earthquake of 1970, and which originated from Huascaran. We then continue through modern Yungay, where we turn east and drive up switchbacks to enter the Llanganuco Valley, which is situated in Huascaran National Park between the towering summits of Huascaran and Huandoy. Here we appreciate the two beautiful lakes, which are surrounded by highest growing trees, Quenuals and Quisuars. We continue driving up to Portachuelo Llanganuco which is a spectacular panoramic view point. Of the the snow-capped mountains: Huascaran, Huandoy, Pisco and Chacraraju. In the afternoon we return to Huaraz following the same road we came. (B/L)

We drive to Queropalca. On the way we pass small villages such as: Recuay, Ticapampa and Catac, a type of bromeliad, Puya Raimondi we will come across. Here we take the road traversing the Huascaran Natural Park to the easten side of the Andes. On the way the largest species of bromeliad. It can reach 3 m and can produce a flower spike 9–10 m tall, with more than three thousand flowers and six million seeds in each plant. Continuing our journey, we pass the small village of Huanzala, Huallanca and finally arrive at Huanuco Pampa Ruins, which are situated on a grand plateau that 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. Then we drive to Queropalca where we spend the night. Drving time 8 hours. Camp nearby at 3,800m.a.s.l. (B,L,D)

A half – day hike will brings us to the foot of Lake Carhuacocha, a beautiful location. On a calm day the snow-capped peaks of Jirishanca and Yerupaja are reflected in the water. Camp on the shores of the Lake at 4,200m.a.s.l. (B/L/D)

Distance: 12km

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. Yerupaja, 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 mountains. Overnight and camp at Mitucocha. 4,100m.a.s.l. B/L/D

Distance: 12km
Time: 5-6 hours

Leaving our camp we head towards Cacananpunta 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 Cuartelhuain where we have lunch. Continue over to Matacancha, camp below tomorrow’s pass, at 4,200m.a.s.l. B/L/D

Distance: 14Km

We ascend through the Rondoy valley towards Sambuya pass at 4,750m.a.s.l (15,583ft) from where we can see the snow-capped peaks of Ninashanca, Rondoy, Jirishanca, Yerupaja, Rasac and Solteracocha. Then we descend towards Lake Jahuacocha, camp 4050m.a.s.l (13,287ft) near the lake, below a beautiful cirque. B/L/D

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 (not included). (B,L)

Distance: 14km
Time: 5-6 hours
B- Breakfast / BL- Boxed Lunch / L- Lunch / D- Dinner