Do not hesitage to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you.
1.8445.3356.33
Help@goodlayers.com
Without a doubt, the Cordillera Blanca range provides some of the world’s most spectacular and varied trekking and climbing landscapes. The range boasts more than 50 peaks over 5,700 m (18,700 ft), of which some 20 peaks surpass 6,000 m (19,685 ft). At 6,768 m (22,205 ft), Huascarán is Peru’s highest mountain, and yet it’s the pyramid peak of Alpamayo that is said by many to be the country’s most spectacular. Seasoned trekkers and climbers from around the world agree—Alpamayo is a peak of overwhelming beauty. Within this 170 km‐long mountain range we find the greatest concentration of tropical‐zone glaciers on earth. Turquoise glacial lakes abound and vertical granite walls rise thousands of metres into the sky.
Our Alpamayo Circuit trek weaves a route through the heart of the mountains, crossing a number of high passes that lead us into valleys with remarkably varied mountain landscapes. The focal point of the trek, the famous Alpamayo pyramid was once voted the most beautiful mountain in the world. Our expedition sees us cross the continental divide and, after a succession of stunning views, finds us camping at the amazing Avalancha Campsite (4,650 m / 15,256 ft) where we look down as avalanches crash from immense fissured glaciers on the flanks of the Conrahierbas massif.
As we trek we pass through remote farming communities that greet us with warm hospitality and allows us to gain insights into traditional Quechua Indian ways of life. The trek ends after our final breathtaking pass at 4,850 m and descent to the Ulta valley. This adventure has been designed with acclimatisation in mind and to ensure that the ‘work’ of trekking is properly rewarded by the satisfaction of being in an incredibly beautiful place!
Non-exclusive trips:
On selected departures, this trip is not exclusive to Rogue Adventures, and you will be joining a group of 2 – 8 adventurers from around the world.
Day 1 ARRIVE HUARAZ
Day 2-3 IN HUARAZ, DAY HIKES
Day 4 DRIVE TO HUALCAYAN VIA YUNGAY AND CARAZ
Day 5 TREK TO WISHCASH
Day 6 TREK TO RUINAPAMPA VIA LAGUNA CULLICOCHA AND THE OSORURI PASS TREK TO CRUZE
Day 7 ALPAMAYO PASS
Day 8 TO SAFUNA VIA CARA CARA PASS AND MESAPATA PASS
Day 9 TREK TO JANCAPAMPA VIA PACAJIRCA PASS
Day 10 TREK TO LAGUNA HUECROCOCHA VIA TUPATUPA PASS
Day 11 TREK TO TUCTUBAMBA VIA ALTO DE PACARAJU PASS
Day 12 REST DAY AT TUCTUBAMBA; (OPTIONAL DAY WALK TO BEAUTIFUL PUNTA UNION PASS)
Day 13 TREK TO MOLINO PAMPA VIA COLCABAMBA VILLAGE
Day 14 TREK TO AVALANCHA
Day 15 TREK TO ULTA RAVINE VIA PUNTA YANAYACU PASS, DRIVE TO HUARAZ
Day 16 TRIP CONCLUDES IN HUARAZ
If you have trekked with us in South America before, the routine will be similar for our program in the Huayhuash. We will take some staff and equipment from our base in Cusco, managed by Andreas Holland, to complement the staff and a majority of food supplies which we will obtain from the local area. This works well in maintaining trip quality, ensures freshness of food, and also provides employ and income to local people in the area, many of which have coexisted in the mountains for hundreds of years.
Trekking days usually begin at around 6.30am with a cup of tea and washing water brought to our tent. Before breakfast we prepare for the day ahead, including packing our daypack and kitbag for porterage by the animals. Whilst we have breakfast, camp is broken and loads prepared for the donkeys to carry directly to the next camp. We would aim for trekkers to get underway by 8.30am with the donkeys leaving independently of us, around the same time or shortly afterward.
Closer to lunch time, camp staff will trek ahead to set up a picnic lunch and boil water for hot drinks on a small fuel stove they have carried with them. In the cooler, dry climate we are able to carry more fresh food including bread rolls, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and ham or tinned fish. The pickled gerkins, onions and peppers are also tasty. There are usually some sweet biscuits to go with your hot drink or fresh fruit.
In the afternoon we continue on for several hours until camp, which we would aim to reach by mid‐afternoon for practical reasons, as well as the chance to relax and/or explore the area. Throughout the day the weather can vary from pleasant ‘t‐shirt and shorts’ weather through to snow or hailstorms which may occur on one of the passes. We are at altitude, in the winter period, with a close proximity to the Amazon and these factors mean that we must be prepared for all seasons in one day. A good waterproof, warm jacket, hat, gloves, glasses and thermals should be carried with you on most days, as well as water bottle/s and camera etc, however your guide will advise you on this in daily briefings.
A larger rucksack not only gives ample space to pack everything in, but also provides better support on your hips and shoulders with a superior harness ‐ a worthy consideration. Sturdy, well worn in boots are also important for a trek over rough terrain and the numerous passes that this trek encompasses. Their durability and comfort are obviously paramount to your performance and enjoyment of the trip and should be reviewed closely in your trip preparations. Other clothing and equipment is straightforward for a trekking adventure to a cool climate, and is detailed in our pre‐departure booklet issued on making a booking with us. A sleeping bag, insulated mat, fibre‐filled jacket and kit bag is provided to you for the trek duration within the trip cost. Please check with one of the Rogue Adventures consultants if you have any questions about your clothing and equipment requirements for the trip.
On arrival in Huaraz you will be transferred from the bus station to your hotel. The rest of the day and evening are at leisure. We plan to have a group briefing before dinner, however this will be subject to all group members arriving during the day – otherwise we will have the briefing tomorrow.
Overnight in Huaraz.
We now have two days in Huaraz to explore this stunning region with some day walks—and at an elevation of 3,052 m (10,013 ft), our time spent in Huaraz is crucial to our safe acclimatization. Huaraz is a scenic town set at the foot of the Cordillera Blanca with views directly up to the highest peak in Peru, Huascarán (6,768 m / 22,205 ft). There is a range of different walking excursions we can make from our base here for a couple of days, and these hikes will be invaluable acclimatization for our trekking program ahead. As the gateway to the Cordillera Blanca, Huaraz is a bustling tourism hub and also serves as a pick up point for our crew and all supplies and equipment for the trek. On Day 2, we walk to the pre-Inca ruins of Willcahuaín (3,400 m / 11,155 ft) and back to the hotel in a loop walk that will last 4–5 hours, finishing the day with a relaxing soak in the Monterrey hot springs. On Day 3, we make a day trip to Laguna Churup (4,485 m / 14,715 ft), a beautiful glacial lake set at the base of Nevado Churup (5,493 m / 18,022 ft). This is one of the most popular day treks in the Cordillera Blanca and takes around 4–5 hours to complete. The trek to Churup Lake is an excellent training and acclimatization hike for our upcoming Huayhuash Circuit, and our efforts will be rewarded when we arrive at this stunning turquoise glacial lake.
Overnight in Huaraz.
Today we will drive from Huaraz to Hualcayan via Caraz, a trip of around 5 hours including stops. We head north from Huaraz, descending into the vast Callejón de Huaylas valley. We visit the memorial for Yungay, a town that was completely destroyed by the giant avalanche of ice, rock and mud that came down from the flanks of Huascarán during the 1970 earthquake. From here we stop to visit the busy local market in Caraz, before driving along an unpaved road up into the mountains to our first night’s campsite at Hualcayan village (2,900 m / 9,514 ft).
Overnight at campsite.
Today we set off on a steady, continuous climb, swiftly gaining altitude as we zigzag up to our next camp at Wishcash (4,300 m / 14,108 ft), perched high up the mountainside. From here we have terrific views west across the Callejón de Huaylas to the Cordillera Negra, and at night we can see the twinkling lights of the villages high up in the Cordillera Negra.
Overnight at campsite.
Today will be a tough day (8-9 hours’ trekking) and our pre trek training will be put to good use as we climb on a generally good zigzagging path to the crystal blue Laguna Cullicocha (4,650 m / 15,256 ft). From here we enjoy a magnificent panorama with the summits of Santa Cruz (6,259 m / 20,535 ft)—Santa Cruz Norte and Santa Cruz Chico—rising steeply at the opposite end of the lake. As we continue our ascent towards our first mountain pass, Osoruri (4,850 m / 15,912 ft; joint-highest point on our trek), our views of the surrounding lakes and peaks get better and better. We descend and climb again to the Vientunan Pass (4,770 m / 15,650 ft) before embarking on a long switch-back descent to the depths of the Quebrada los Cedros valley. We pass the terraced fields surrounding the thatch-roofed crofter’s hamlet of Alpamayo and soon after reach our camp at Ruinapampa (4,050 m / 13,287 ft).
Overnight at campsite.
This morning we will trek for a few hours on almost flat terrain up the beautiful Cedros valley. On the way we’ll see some ruined structures and ancient standing stones. Eventually, the spectacular pyramid form of Alpamayo (5,947 m / 19,515 ft) comes into view to the southeast. We then climb up the nearby moraine overlooking the stunning glacial lake of Laguna Jancarurish for close-up views of the Alpamayo and Jancarurish (5,601 m / 18,376 ft) peaks. Alternatively, we may venture to Alpamayo basecamp. Tonight we will camp at Cruze Alpamayo (4,150 m / 13,615 ft).
Overnight at campsite.
Today we have a trekking day of around 7 hours, first crossing the Los Cedros River and climb steadily to our next pass, the sometimes-windy Cara Cara (4830 m / 15,846 ft). This is the continental divide; all rivers running west head for the Pacific and those running east eventually reach the Atlantic, via the Amazon. From here, there are great views back to the peaks of Alpamayo, Jancarurish, Quitaraju (6,036 m / 19,803 ft) and the Laguna Jancarurish. We descend to a plateau and spend two hours on an easy traverse to a second, lower pass (Mesapata; 4,500m / 14,764 ft), before dropping to our camp at Safuna in the Quebrada Tayapampa (4,200 m / 13,780 ft).
Overnight at campsite.
Again, today’s trek will be around 7 hours long, and we start by crossing the Huillca plateau, one of few locations in the Cordillera Blanca where alpacas are found in abundance. We ascend a narrow valley to a rocky pass, Pucajirca (4,600 m / 15,092 ft), from which—weather permitting—we are treated to awesome views of the snowcapped peak of Pucajirca Norte (6,046 m / 19,836 ft). From here we have a short descent on steep scree, but it soon levels out as we continue down a shrub-filled valley flanked by quenual (polylepis) forest. We pass the beautiful tree-fringed Laguna Sactaycocha and continue our descent through rich vegetation to the broad Quebrada Jancapampa valley. We camp near the head of the valley (3,600 m / 11,811 ft); directly behind camp we have views of a huge hanging glacier and waterfalls cascading down a vast horseshoe of cliffs hundreds of metres high. A lot of farming families live across the valley, and it is our first opportunity since Huallapa to meet the friendly local people and the curious, happy children who call the valley home.
Overnight at campsite.
Today we’ll trek past adobe house villages and cultivated fields, climbing first gradually, and then more steeply, to the Tupatupa Pass (4,400 m / 14,436 ft), from where we’ll have views of the big peaks of the Pucajirca/Rinrijirca massif to the west. Our trail descends via a small mountain lake (tarn) into the broad Tuctubamba valley that we follow downstream before making a short half-hour climb to our campsite beside Laguna Huecrococha (3,950 m / 12,959 ft).
Overnight at campsite.
We flank the north shore of Laguna Huecrococha then begin a long, gentle traverse of the steep, forested Huecrococha valley. At the valley head, the ascent steepens and zigzags to the Alto de Pacaraju Pass (4,650 m / 15,256 ft). At certain times of the year the lupins that cover the hillsides are in flower, and the scent can be intoxicating. From the pass we will have magnificent views of many peaks including the jagged Taulliraju (5,830 m / 19,127 ft), which towers over the pass. A rocky descent brings us to the open Quebrada Huaripampa valley and our camp at Tuctubamba (3,950 m / 12,959 ft).
Overnight at campsite.
Return to Camp Torres. Transfer to Estancia Tercera Barranca , typicall Magellan estancia. Here we have our Goodbye dinner with a typical Patagonian barbecue.
What you carry: Day pack.
Overnight Estancia Tercera Barranca.
We spend another night at the same camp to make the most of our incredible mountain surroundings. Today we have the option to take a day walk (5 hour round trip) to the beautiful Punta Union pass (4,760 m / 15,617 ft), from where we look directly down the Santa Cruz valley (the route of the famous Santa Cruz trek), across to the awesome sight of the Pucajirca massif. Directly above us looms the intimidating west face of Taulliraju and, with good weather, we might also see Artesonraju (6,025 m / 19,767 ft) to the west. Alternatively, you may prefer to spend the day resting around camp.
Overnight at campsite.
Today we follow the main Santa Cruz trail down the Huaripampa valley. After 3 hours, we pass through the intensive farmlands of the villages of Huaripampa and then Colcabamba. As we approach Huaripampa, Chacraraju’s east summit rises sharply before us to the west. Today we pass many farmhouses and small settlements, and many curious children will come running out to see us. We then climb steadily for another hour to the village of Challhua, before traversing easily to our campsite at Molino Pampa in the Quebrada Keshu (3,600 m / 11,811 ft).
Overnight at campsite.
Today’s trek is not long, but it offers dramatic scenery and swift elevation gain. We begin with a steady ascent of the Keshu valley, passing through some beautiful ancient quenual (polylepis) forest until we reach a mass of moraine enclosing a glacial lake. At this point the climb steepens as we head up the valley’s north side on a zigzag path to the plateau where our high campsite, Avalancha (4,650 m / 15,256 ft) is located. Across the valley from our spectacular campsite there are almost continual avalanches from the glaciers of Contrahierbas (6,037 m / 19,806 ft) crashing into the lake below. After lunch at our camp we’ll spend an exciting afternoon avalanche watching!
Overnight at campsite.
This morning we ascend for a few hours to a high narrow ledge and on to a dramatic knife-edge mountain pass. This is the last and most spectacular pass of our trek, Punta Yanayacu (4,850 m / 15,912 ft), where Andean Condors nest and are sometimes spotted in flight. From here we also have close views of the dramatic snowcapped peaks of Chopicalqui and Contahierbas. We then have a
short zigzag descent into the Cancahua valley below. As we trek past glacial lakes, we are surrounded by towering snowcapped peaks including Contahierbas, the pyramidal Nevado Ulta to the south, and the highest—Huascarán (6,768 m / 22,205 ft) — to the northwest. We complete our trek with a long descent through quenual forest to the beautiful Quebrada Ulta valley, where our private bus will be waiting to take us back to Huaraz. The drive will take around 4 hours, 2 hours of which are on a bumpy dirt road. This evening we will enjoy a farewell meal with our fellow trekkers.
Overnight in Huaraz.
After breakfast, our trip concludes. If you are flying home today, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your departure.
Galapagos Islands
Cruise Iguazu Falls
Buenos Aires
Colca Canyon & Arequipa
Nazca and Ballestas Islands
Amazon Jungle Extension
Classic Inca Trail
Peru is a country of rich cultural and environmental diversity. In addition to the shaping forces of the environment, the ethnic tapestry of modern Peru is the result of the rise and fall of various civilizations. At its peak, the sprawling kingdom of the Inca Empire encompassed everything from southern Columbia down to the middle of present‐day Chile, imposing sophisticated structures of political, religious, cultural and technological influence. The Inca Empire was conquered by the Spanish in 1535, when Francisco Pizarro led troops to conquer the Inca royal capital of Cusco, establishing the new capital of Lima and spreading Catholicism and Spanish language and culture throughout the country.
Today, the cultural, social and architectural legacies of the Inca and the Spanish are evident throughout Peru. Peru has a population of 28 million, made up of full‐blooded indigenous Indians (biggest group are the Quechuas, whose forebears were the Incas), Mestizos, who are a mixture of Indian and European backgrounds, and those of European descent. Peru’s official languages are Spanish and Quechua. More than half the population lives in the largest cities, namely Lima, Arequipa and Trujillo. Peru’s capital, Lima, was the capital of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the early 19th century.
The old central part of the city with its impressive colonial commercial section, contrasts sharply with the city’s modern office blocks, shopping centers and suburbs—and especially the ever expanding shanty towns or “pueblos jovenes” where the poorer country cousins are usually forced to live after moving to the city in search of work. Cusco, the former royal capital of the great Inca Empire, stands at an elevation of 3,400 m (11,200 ft) in the heart of the southern sierra. Cusco is celebrated for the perfect stonework of its ancient Incan city, its many beautiful colonial churches and palaces, and its proximity to spectacular Incan ruins including the ‘lost city’ of Machu Picchu.
Peru is made up of the three distinct geographic regions. The Costa is a narrow, arid coastal strip, mainly desert and up to 60 km wide, running down the western flank of the country. This coastal area is the economic heartland of Peru, and the cold Humboldt Current that runs up the coast supplies some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. Down the centre of the country runs the Sierra (Spanish for ‘mountain range’), the alpine region of rugged snow‐capped peaks, deep valleys and highlands that comprises the Peruvian section of the Andes mountain chain that extends throughout South America from Colombia in the north all the way to Patagonia in the southern tip of Chile.
The highlands of the Sierra contain more than a third of the population—mostly the Quechua or Aymara‐speaking Indians engaged in pastoral farming. The third region is Amazonia, the jungle that reaches from the fertile Andean foothills to the pristine lowlands of the great Amazon rainforest and myriad waterways of the vast Amazon River basin. This lush and fertile land of gentle slopes and valleys is surrounded by the high peaks of the Cordilleras Vilcabamba, Vilcanota and Blanca, and is home to a huge biodiversity of plant and animal life.
The trekking season in Peru lasts from the end of April (the last month of the wet season) through to mid‐October. This is the dry but ‘cold’ period, with the best mountain views and all passes open. By mid‐October the rains have returned and hiking becomes more difficult due to muddy trails and snowed‐in passes.
Temperatures in the area around Lima?are warm during the day (20‐25°C / 68‐77°F) and cool at night (5°C / 40°F). In the highlands of Peru where our trek takes place, daytime temperatures will be in the range of 10‐20°C (50‐68°F) falling as low as ‐10°C (14°F) at night. It’s also possible that we’ll get some snow on the higher ground and some of the higher passes.
We provide a full service while on trek. An important aspect of this service are the meals that are prepared for you and we are frequently complimented by returning travelers about the food provided. Ensuring that you stay healthy is one of our highest priorities. Therefore, each of our treks is accompanied by a trained cook as well as kitchen staff who provide you with three hearty meals each day. High levels of hygiene are engaged to ensure that our travelers stay healthy and fit. Our cooking staff has mastered the preparation of a varied and balanced menu and there is always plenty of food for those who may like seconds.
Our cooks are trained to provide excellent food for vegetarians and anyone who has a limited diet including those who are lactose or gluten intolerant. Our meal inclusion on your trek is for your benefit and takes all the hassle, expense and worry out of your holiday. Typically, you can expect breakfast to consist of muesli or cereal, eggs, local breads and pancakes and hot drinks. Lunch will generally be vegetables, salads, bread, cheese pasta style dishes, tinned fish and meats and are normally eaten picnic style. Dinner is always three courses and includes soup, seasonal vegetables, meat, rice or pasta and bread with some local specialties also in the mix. Dessert is always served after the main meal each evening followed by hot beverages.
Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food. We are unable to guarantee a peanut‐free or allergen‐free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travelers with life‐threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self‐administering these medications.
Porter welfare in Peru: The Andes
Porters are an integral part of the Rogue Adventures philosophy and style of travel. We take our travelers off‐the‐beaten track, avoiding the congested trails, to experience our often remote tent‐based adventures … this style of trekking is enabled by porters. When we trek, the entire group ‐ travelers, guides and porters alike ‐ are a team who share the same needs for safety in the mountain environment. Our Peruvian porters receive the following:
*All porters receive the same access to medical service as clients.
*We provide all food (3 meals per day based on a menu requested specifically by the porters), gas stoves for all cooking.
*We are one of the 5 companies (among almost 200 companies) that pay the highest wages to their porters.
*All our porters can also access interest free long‐term loans from us as long as they can clearly indicate how those funds will be used.
*We provide all our porters with basic life and accident insurance. In addition we provide any porter (or any member of their family) full coverage of any medical costs that they incur whether it be work related or not e.g. if they have an accident in their fields or if they get any kind of illness we fund their treatment until they are well again. We are one of the only companies in Peru to care for their staff to this extent
*We provide transport (private buses and train) to and from the trek start and finish.
We provide sleeping tents, sleeping pads, (plus sleeping bags if requested), footwear (shoes or boots), warm jackets and raingear.
Porters are not to carry more than 20 kilos camp gear and 5 kilos of personal gear
The minimum age for a Porter is 20 and the maximum age is 58 years old.
We have yearly meetings to discuss the needs of Porters.
Rogue Adventures supports the good work of a number of international organisations that operate to ensure the health and education of porters, they are:
International Porter Protection Group >> www.ippg.net
International Mountain Explorers Connection >> www.mountainexplorers.org Kilimanjaro Guide Scholarship Foundation Inc. >> www.kiliguides.org
In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing (depending on the altitude, location and weather), a rainjacket, water bottle, camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip‐eze etc. Porters and mules carry all group gear and your trek pack.
Specialist gear required include walking boots and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre‐departure information provided on booking).
During the course of your trip, we will use a variety of vehicles, all of which are fit for purpose and the conditions encountered. It should be noted that laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and on occasion some vehicles may not have seat belts fitted. While game viewing within a national park could be one example, public bus transfers or specialized transport such as ‘tuk‐tuk’s’ could be another. Where seat belts are not provided we strongly recommend that you hold tight to a fixed part of the vehicle at all times.
A visa is exempt for passport holders from the following countries visiting Peru for short term tourism purposes:
Australia
New Zealand
Canada
United States
United Kingdom
For all other nationalities and longer stays please contact the relevant embassy.
Please bear in mind that visas may be required for countries you are visiting en route or transiting through on the way to your destination. It is important that you check the requirements of all countries you will visit. Visa costs and requirements do change regularly so we suggest you check with your travel agent or Rogue Adventures reservations consultant. It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary visas.
The adventures featured in our brochures, and on our website, are just a starting point for many of our private group travelers. Working closely with our Groups Department we can organise custom designed itineraries for groups of friends, clubs, charity’s, schools or even work colleagues. Our team will assist you with all aspects of your private group adventure from itinerary design to group flights. Contact our team today.