Climbing Quitaraju (6,040m) in the Cordillera Blanca, 6 days

Let one of our experienced and IFMGA certified guides lead you on a 6-day climb of the Quitaraju peak in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru.

Private

Cordillera Blanca

6 Days

May - Aug

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Enjoy a 6-day climbing expedition to the summit of Quitaraju in Peru.
Enjoy great views of the Cordillera Blanca from the summit.
Spend your nights in various camps further and further up the peak.

Description

Considered a classic mountain the Cordillera Blanca, Quitaraju (6,040m) is absolutely gorgeous. As a result, it is very popular with mountaineers visiting from around the world. And, for 6 unforgettable days, we would like to guide you to the summit of this great peak.

Our journey will begin in Huaraz. From there, we will go to Caraz and then Cashapampa, before going to Llamacorral (3,760m), where we will spend the night. On the next day, we will make our way to the Quitaraju base camp (4,300m), which you will get to explore before resting for the night. After that, we will climb up to the high camp of the mountain, which rests at an altitude of 5,400 meters. The day after that, we will climb up to the peak’s majestic summit. For the following two days we will proceed back down the mountain before returning to Huaraz.

While not an exceedingly difficult climb, it is important that participants on this trip have some prior climbing experience, due to the potential difficulties that arise with scaling a mountain of this size. Furthermore, you should be in good physical condition as well.

If you want to climb an amazing, classic peak in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru, you can’t go wrong with Quitaraju. To join us on this 6-day adventure, please send a request. We have no doubt you’ll have a great time.

We also offer a 4-day ascent of Tocllaraju, which you can enjoy here.

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Porters
Mules and horses

Price details

Price Includes
Certified Mountain Guide IFMGA / IVBV / UIAGM (english, spanish)
Certified chef during Quitaraju expedition
Private transportation: Huaraz – Vaqueria village
Private transportation: Cashapampa village – Huaraz
Porters for the transfer of logistic equipment from base camp to high camp.
Mountaineering equipment (helmet, harness, and crampons)
Donkey drivers and donkeys for the transfer of the logistic camping equipment (15 Kg per participant)
5 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, box lunch, tea time and dinner)
4 seasons tent with double occupancy
Tent kitchen, dining room and bathroom.
Kitchen sets and fullyequipped dining room
First aid kit and oxygen bottle
Permanent radio communication between the Andean Raju Expeditions team.
Satellite phone for emergencies
Boiled water to fill up your bottle every day (1 Lt.)
Warm water for your personal higiene
Tips to get to Huaraz
Advice before the Expedition
Last day: lunch and farewell toast with regional food and typical Peruvian drinks.
Price Excludes
Airline ticket to Lima and back to the country of origin
Bus transportation Lima / Huaraz / Lima
Entrance ticket to Huascaran National Park: S/. 150.00 nuevos soles
Personal porters
Mountain boots and technical ice axes
Personal tent (if you want a personal tent, the rent is S/. 30 soles per day)
Extra costs for premature abandonment of the expedition
International Medical Insurance
Accident and rescue insurance (you can ask us about the agreement we have with Global Rescue for a preferential price)
Travel luggage and trip cancellation insurance
Transfer to Huaraz out of schedule, in case of premature abandonment of the expedition
First breakfast at the beginning of the itinerary is not included
Sleeping bag 25° / -30º
Personal expenses
Hotel during your stay in Huaraz
Tips for guide / staff

Itinerary

Day 1: Huaraz (3,100 m) – Vaquería Village (3,700 m) – Tucto Camp (4,250 m)

Our expedition starts in Huaraz, we will pick you up at your hotel with private transportation. We will go north through the Huaylas valley to Yungay then continue to Huascaran National Park to check in and pass through Llanganuco canyon while visualizing the turquoise lakes Orconcocha and Chinancocha. Then we will go up the road until we reach the beautiful viewpoint Portachuelo Pass, where we will stop to enjoy the visual domain of Huascaran, Chopicalqui, Huandoys, Pisco, and all the turquoise lakes that compose the far Llanganuco valley. Finally, we will continue to Vaquería village, this is the place where we will begin the approach to the Alpamayo mountain. Vaqueria village is where the donkey drivers and donkeys are waiting to assist us with the transfer of logistical equipment to the camp. After about 5 hours of walking, we will arrive at Tucto camp.

Lodging: Mountain tents. Meals: Box lunch, lunch, tea time and dinner. Transfer by car: 3 hours Estimated hiking time: 4 to 5 hours Elevation: +550 m (3700 masl to 4250 masl) Distance: 13.5 km

Day 2: Tucto Camp (4,250 m) - Punta Union Pass (4,750 m) - Alpamayo Base Camp (4,300 m)

On the second day of the approach hike to Alpamayo mountain, we will go up to Punta Union Pass (4750 m). From this pass we will have an awesome viewpoint of the snowy mountains: Taulliraju (known as the Cathedral of the World), Artesonraju (known as the mountain of the Paramount Picture), Rinrijirca, Paria and Quitaraju. We will go down to the Santa Cruz valley, passing by the Taullipampa camp. We will continue our hike to the Quebrada Arhuay to finally reach our Alpamayo base camp.

Lodging: Mountain tents. Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch, tea time and dinner. Estimated hiking time: 4 to 5 hours Elevation: +50 m (4250 masl to 4300 masl) Distance: 13 km

Day 3: Base Camp (4,300 m) – Moraine Camp (4,800 m)

This day we will prepare the personal mountain equipment to be carried by the porters. Then, we will hike uphill for about 3 hours on a rocky trail until we reach the Alpamayo moraine camp.

Lodging: Mountain tents. Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, tea time and dinner. Estimated hiking time: 6 hours Elevation: +650 m (4300 masl to 4950 masl) Distance: 2 km

Day 4: Moraine Camp (4,800) - High Camp (5,500 m)

This day we should arrive at the high camp of Alpamayo. The porters will take care of the transfer of the camping equipment.

We will continue our ascent through morainic sections until we reach the glacier. Once on the glacier, we will equip ourselves with the necessary material: harness, mountain boots, helmet, crampons and ice axe. The guides will be in charge of the safety of the team to arrive safe to our camp. After a traverse across the glacier, we will reach a small climbing wall that will take us to the high camp.

During the sunset we will be able to enjoy awesome views of the sunset and its reflection on the Alpamayo climbing wall.

Finally, we will have dinner, it will be a time to eat and rest to continue with the next day’s climbing.

Lodging: Mountain tents. Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, tea time and dinner. Estimated hiking time: 6 hours Elevation: +450 m (4950 masl to 5400 masl) Distance: 2 km

Day 5: High Camp (5,500 m) – Quitaraju Summit (6,040) - High Camp (5,500 m)

The most desired day has come: it is our summit day. We will begin the climb at midnight, after breakfast the guide will rope us up and inspect everything necessary for the climb, then we will cross to the base of the ice wall, the climb begins at 55º, the snow conditions are excellent, and the physical and psychological issues are crucial for the fulfillment of your goal. Depending on the season and the conditions of the mountain, the guide will look for the best route. After approximately 9 hours of constant climbing, we will reach the summit. From this point you will be able to appreciate almost the whole Cordillera Blanca, a 360º view of the most emblematic mountains of Peru: Huandoy, Chopicalqui, Huascaran, Quitaraju, Santa Cruz, Pucajirkas, Rinrijirca, Paron, Caraz, Aguja, Piramide.

We remain at the summit for some time to rest, hydrate and take pictures. Finally we will make the rappels of descent by the same climbing route, we will arrive to our campsite, we will eat and rest.

Depending on the physical condition of the clients and previous coordination with the guide and support team, we may go down the same day to Base Camp.

Lodging: Mountain tents. Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch and dinner. Estimated climbing time: 9 hours up and 4 hours down. Elevation: +640 (5400 masl to 6040 masl)

Day 6: High Camp (5,500 m) – Base Camp (4,300 m)

This day, after breakfast, we begin our descent to base camp. We will make a few rappels and continue with the journey until we reach the moraine and we will continue our descent until we reach the camp. Our cook will be waiting for us with a delicious lunch to replenish energy and then we will rest satisfied for the great feat done.

Lodging: Mountain tents. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time and dinner. Estimated descent time: 3 to 4 hours.

Day 7: Base Camp (4,300 m) – Cashapampa Village (2,900 m) – Huaraz (3,100 m)

This day the hike starts uphill from Huayllapa to Tapush Pass, the road is surrounded by vegetation along the way. After 5 hours of walking we will arrive at the Tapush pass, from this point we will enjoy our lunch and the view of the Diablo Mudo Mountain (5350m) and the Susococha lake. We continue downhill until we reach the Gashpapampa camp (4,600m) being this the highest camp of the entire circuit.

Meals: Breakfast. Estimated hiking time: 5 to 6 hours. Elevation: -1200 m 50 / -150 m Distance: 23.5 km Transfer by car: 3 hours

About the guide

Andean Raju

4.7

(14)

Tour Operator

We are a team of young IFMGA and UIMLA-certified mountain guides and leaders, with extensive experience. We offer hiking and mountain expeditions in the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash in Perú, our main adventure destinations. We also offer ascent expeditions to the most emblematic mountains of Argentina, Ecuador and Bolivia.

In Andean Raju Expeditions we are proud of our work. Our priority is always the satisfaction and safety of our customers, always taking care of the conservation and protection of the environment. Our mission goes beyond adventure, we offer our clients a personalized experience and our friendship, sharing our culture, knowledge and love for nature and mountains to ensure every visitor an unforgettable experience.

Languages

English

Certificates

IFMGA

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What people are saying about Andean Raju

Excellent service! Thank you for making my trip to Huaraz one of the best experiences ! !!! Highly recommended , your staff is highly professional and trustworthy , you will feel very safe and enjoy your tours to the fullest , as I did.