12 Days/11 Nights Season: May to November Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights of the Cordillera Blanca. The highest tropical mountain range in the world, the Cordillera Blanca is part of the spectacular Andes that form the spine of South America. A mecca for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, the region boasts over 50 peaks that exceed 15,000 feet, 700 glaciers and 300 lakes.
The Cedros-Alpamayo-Ulta trekking circuit is one of the most classic multi-day hiking expeditions in the Cordillera Blanca, offering spectacular, up-close views of the snow-capped peaks of Peru’s most impressive mountain range. Winding through pristine valleys and up passes reaching altitudes of 5,000 masl, the trail is challenging, but highly rewarding and recommended for trekkers of all levels.
The premier attraction of the Cedros-Alpamayo-Ulta route is the glaciated peak of Alpamayo (5,947 masl), considered to be the most beautiful mountain in the world. Additionally, we’ll have opportunities to see turquoise glacial lakes and be accompanied by the towering mountains of the Cordillera Blanca along the entire route. There will also be several chances to learn about Andean culture as we pass through remote highland communities and visit with the people who call these mountains home.
Day 1: Huaraz - Hualcayán (2,900 masl)
Day 2: Hualcayán - Wishcash (3,700 masl)
Day 3: Wishcash - Cullicocha Pass (4,850 masl) - Vientunan Pass (4,600 masl) – Ruinapampa (4,100 masl)
Day 4: Ruinapampa - Jancarurish (4,200 masl)
Day 5: Rest day and hike to Alpamayo Basecamp
Day 6: Jancarurish - Cara Cara Pass (4,700 masl) - Safuna (4,250 masl)
Day 7: Safuna - Wilka Pass (4,500 masl) - Jancapampa (3,400 masl)
Day 8: Jancapampa - Tupa Tupa Pass (4,300 masl) - Lake Huecrococha (4,050 masl)
Day 9: Huecrococha - Pukaraju Pass (4,650 masl) - Tuctupampa
Day 10: Tuctupampa - Molinopampa (3,600 masl)
Day 11: Molinopampa - Avalancha Camp (4,600 masl)
Day 12: Avalancha - Yanayaku Pass (4,950 masl) - Ulta Valley – Huaraz
Day 1: Huaraz - Hualcayán (2,900 masl)
Depart from Huaraz in the morning with your guide and head to the rural community of Hualcayán where we’ll meet a team of donkey drivers that will assist with the group’s logistics. We’ll camp in Hualcayán and begin trekking the following day.
Day 2: Hualcayán - Wishcash (3,700 masl)
We begin our day hiking up switchbacks until reaching our campsite in Wishcash. Hiking time: ~ 5 hours
Day 3: Wishcash - Cullicocha Pass (4,850 masl) - Vientunan Pass (4,600 masl) – Ruinapampa (4,100 masl)
Start off the day making an ascent to Lake Cullicocha (4,400 masl) and then on to the pass of the same name at approximately 4,850 masl. From the pass we will enjoy stunning views of the valleys and lakes below and the snow-capped peaks that surround us, such as Santa Cruz. We’ll then descend before tackling our second pass of the day, Vientunan (4,600 masl). We then begin a descent into Alpamayo Valley and make camp at Ruinapampa (4,100 masl). Hiking time: ~9 hours
Day 4: Ruinapampa - Jancarurish (4,200 masl)
Today we begin walking a few hours through the nearly flat Alpamayo Valley where we’ll pass old, dilapidated stone dwellings and sacred standing stones, placed by pastoralist cultures that have inhabited the Cordillera Blanca for thousands of years. During our hike we’ll have excellent views of Alpamayo (5,947 masl) and make camp at the Cruce de Alpamayo (4,150 masl) Hike time: ~ 4 hours
Day 5: Rest day and hike to Alpamayo Basecamp
Enjoy a relaxing morning and easy breakfast. Today you have the option to rest at camp or take a day hike to the basecamp of Alpamayo.
Day 6: Jancarurish - Cara Cara Pass (4,700 masl) - Safuna (4,250 masl)
After breakfast we’ll begin an ascent to Cara Cara Pass (4,800 masl) before descending into Moyobamba Valley and making camp at Wilka. Hike time: ~7 hours
Day 7: Safuna - Wilka Pass (4,500 masl) - Jancapampa (3,400 masl)
We begin our day with an ascent to Wilka Pass (4,500 masl), allowing for stunning views of Pukajirka before hiking down to Jancapampa where we’ll camp for the night and visit local highland communities. Hike time: ~7 hours
Day 8: Jancapampa - Tupa Tupa Pass (4,300 masl) - Lake Huecrococha (4,050 masl)
We begin hiking through a long grassy valley towards Tupa Tupa Pass (4,300 masl), followed by a long descent until we reach our campsite at Lake Huecrococha (4,050 masl). Hike time: ~7 hours
Day 9: Huecrococha - Pukaraju Pass (4,650 masl) - Tuctupampa
Today we’ll hike by an impressive turquoise glacial lake as we make our way to the Pukaraju Pass (4,650 masl), giving us a great vista of Taulliraju (5,830 masl). We then begin a steep, rocky descent until reaching the campsite. Hike time: ~ 7 hours
Day 10: Tuctupampa - Molinopampa (3,600 masl)
We continue on the Punta Union trail as we make our way down the Huaripampa valley before changing directions as we reach the rural villages of Huaripampa and Colcabamba (3,300 masl), where we’ll pass traditional adobe houses and meet farmers on the route as they carry out their daily activities in the fields. We’ll then reach the village of Challua just before arriving at our campsite in Molinopampa in the Keushu Valley. Hike time: ~ 6 hours.
Day 11: Molinopampa - Avalancha Camp (4,600 masl)
After breakfast, begin an ascent through the Keushu Valley before arriving at our campsite, “Avalanchas”. The name is attributed to the constant avalanches that fall from the peak of Contrahierbas on the opposite side of the valley. Hike time: ~ 4 hours.
Day 12: Avalancha - Yanayaku Pass (4,950 masl) - Ulta Valley – Huaraz
Our final day on the trail, we’ll make our way to the last and most dramatic pass at Yanayaku (4,950 masl) before completing a steep descent along switchbacks into the Ulta Valley. From the pass, we’ll have breathtaking views of peaks such as Contrahierbas, Ulta, Chopicalqui and Huascarán, Peru’s tallest mountain. Transportation will be waiting for us at the designated pick-up point and we will then make our way back to Huaraz.
Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner
Season: May to November
Difficulty: Moderate
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