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Mountain Travel Sobek "Cordillera Blanca" Itinerary
- August 19
- Day 1-Fly to Lima, Peru.
- August 20
- Arrive in Lima. Day in Lima.
- August 21
- Day 2-Lima - Huaraz. Drive to Huaraz (10,200 feet) via Conococha Pass (13,120').
Hotel Andino
- August 22
- Day 3-Huaraz. Morning hike from the pass at Punta Cayan on the Cordillera Negra back to Huaraz. On a clear day this hike provides some stunning scenery, with a profile of the main peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. Alternatively, we may do a half-day walk to Willcawain, site of some pre-Columbian ruins on the outskirts of Huaraz.
Hotel Andino
- August 23
- Day 4-Begin trek - To Vaqueria. Morning departure by bus for the drive to the roadhead at Quebrada Vaqueria. We cross the Portachuelo de Llanganuco, a pass of about 15,580 feet from which there is a great panorama of the northern Cordillera Blanca, including Huascaran (22,205'), Huandoy (21,204'), Pisco (17,900'), and Chopicalqui (20,100'). Box lunch en route. From the top of the pass, we hike downhill to camp at Vaqueria (12,136').
Camp
- August 24
- Day 5-Paria. Hike down Quebrada Vaqueria, passing near Colcabamba (10,824'), then up the Huaripampa Valley, passing small settlements and farmland. Camp above Paria, with views of Taulliraju (19,120') looming at the head of the valley.
Camp
- August 25
- Day 6-Huecrococha. Continue up the Huaripampa Valley, with views of Contrahierbas (19,798') behind us. Cross Pucaraju Pass (15,252'), with beautiful views (if it's clear) of Piramide, Paron, Chacraraju and Huascaran. Continue on to Laguna Huecrococha, a lake situated at about 13,000'. Camp nearby.
Camp
- August 26
- Day 7-Jancapampa. Hike up to Tingopampa (14,380'), crossing over a grassy pass, then continue to Jancapampa and camp below the Pucajirca massif.
Camp
- August 27
- Day 8-Huilca. From Jancapampa, we climb with ever-changing views of the immense glaciers of the east face of Pucajirca. Continue climbing steeply through woods, grassy meadows, and over glacially polished cliffs. We make a steep ascent to the narrow Yanajanca pass (15,088'), then head downhill toward the small settlement of Huilca at about 13,400' (we camp about an hour above Huilca).
Camp
- August 28
- Day 9-Moyobamba. Continue up Quebrada Tayapampa with beautiful views of the northeast face of Alpamayo (19,511') in the distance. Ascend over a grassy pass, crossing a ridge (about 14,720'). Camp at Moyobamba at around 14,000', below the next day's pass.
Camp
- August 29
- Day 10-Jancarurish. Hike over Caracara Pass (15,800'), enjoying fantastic views of Alpamayo's cirque and the Cordillera Blanca stretching southwards. Camp at Jancarurish Valley about an hour below Alpamayo Base Camp. We'll have a chance to wander around our campsite and take a two-hour hike up to the base camp at 14,760'. Alpamayo is famed for its classic pyramid shape.
Camp
- August 30
- Day 11-Osoruri. Begin a long ascent to Jatun Viento Pass (15,252'). Descend to camp at 14,800 feet, our highest campsite.
Camp
- August 31
- Day 12-Huischca. Hike 11/2 hours to our last and highest pass, Toro Pishtanan (15,908'). Descend to Cuillicocha Lake (15,252'), one of the most beautiful lakes in this area of the Andes, with its blue-green waters. Continue to Huischca (13,100') and camp near a modern aqueduct that has replaced an old Inca one.
Camp
- Sept 1
- Day 13-Hualacayan - Huaraz. Continue downhill past farmers' fields to the ruins of Hualacayan where a van will pick us up for the ride back to Huaraz. As we leave the mountains behind, we'll see farmers working small plots of land overlooking the Huaylas Valley and the Cordillera Negra, having completed the loop. Lunch en route. Farewell dinner and overnight at hotel in Huaraz.
Hotel Andino
- Sept 2
- Day 14-Lima - Departure. Return drive to Lima, with a box lunch en route. (Alternately, we will fly if possible.) Transfer to airport for departure on homeward-bound flights.
- Sept 3
- Arrive home in San Francisco
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