Cedros-Alpamayo–Santa Cruz guided trek, 12 days

I will pick up you at your hotel with our private vehicle to drive along the Callejón de Huaylas valley, admiring picturesque villages and the magnificent scenery of the Cordillera Blanca. Once we reach Old Yungay, we will visit the Camposanto. It is an area completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1970. Then we continue driving until reaching the Andean quechua settlements of Hualcayan, where we’ll set up our camp.

This day we will meet our mountain crew (donkeys and donkey drivers) and after breakfast, we will start walking on a steep trail across the lands of Hualcayan. In the afternoon we’ll arrive to the camping spot in Wishcash.

From Wishcash we will continue our trek ascending until the spectacular crystal blue Cullicocha Lake. After resting and taking pictures we will keep climbing up in direction to our first high pass Punta Cullicocha. After that we’ll descend to our campsite in Osoruri.

After our breakfast we start walking up towards the Vientunan Pass with excellent views of the Milluacocha iced peak. Then we’ll descend to the Jancarurish campsite, enjoying the great views of the ancient’s pre Inca terraces. Overnight camp at Jancarurish.

Optional hike to Laguna Jancarurish or visit the Alpamayo Base Camp at 4500m. From there we can admire the views of other mountains like Santa Cruz, Quitaraju, Jancarurish, Tayapampa and some high Andean lakes. Then we return down to our campsite at Jancarurish.

This day we will ascend to the Cara Cara pass, where we can capture the most awesome panoramic views of the Alpamayo and the lakes around. After that, we’ll descend along the Moyobamba valley until we reach the Mesapata Pass. Finally we will descent to the Tayapampa valley enjoying the views of the Safuna Lake. Overnight camp at Huillca.

We will walk up to Paso Pucajirca, also known as Yanacon pass. After a rest we’ll descend to our next camp across a green valley surrounded by lush vegetation. At Jancapampa some Quechua families may come to offer beverages or their Andean products. Overnight camp at Jancapampa.

Today we will pass through several Andean communities, where we will be able to watch some people grazing their livestock. Then we’ll climb up to Tupa Tupa Pass and descend to our next camp: Huacrucocha.

This day we will ascend to Alto de Pucaraju Pass from where we will enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the majestic Taulliraju mountain as well as Chopicalqui (6,354m), Huascarán (6,768m – highest in Perú) and Huandoy (6,160m). Finally, we will descend across the wide plateau of the Tuctu valley where we’ll set up our camp.

After breakfast we will start walking up to the Tzaquicocha lagoon. Then, we’ll keep climbing up to the pass. We will descend across the Pre-Inca trail until we are in our campsite in Taullipampa.

After breakfast we will walk down towards the Alpamayo viewpoint, where we will enjoy the beautiful scenery and the snow-capped peaks around, including the Alpamayo East face. Then we will continue to the base camp, where we will enjoy taking some great pictures. After that we will walk down along the Santa Cruz valley towards the Llamacoral camping spot.

After breakfast, we will start walking down along the Santa Cruz valley in direction to the Cashapampa village, where our private transfer awaits to drive back Huaraz. End of the program.