Trekking
Santa Cruz to Vaqueria to Huayhuash Circuit
- Duration: 16 days
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Maximum Height: 5,200 meters.
- Season: May to September
Day 1: Arrive in Lima from your country of origin. Travel to Huaraz and to your hotel.
Day 2: Travel from Huaraz (3,100 m) in private transport to Cashapampa (2,930 m.) We will then meet the muleteer and the mules to carry the trekking equipment and begin our hike. After paying the 10 soles/person entrance fee, which the Cashapampa village charges for maintaining the road, we will begin walking the Santa Cruz ravine by the Yuracmayu river bank. We will camp at Llamacoral, 3,760 m. The total hike takes 4-5 hours.
Day 3: Llamacoral, 3,760 m. to Taullipampa, 4,250 m. We continue the route along the Santa Cruz ravine. We climb an elevation of 490 m. from camp. Along the way we will visit the Lagoons Jatuncocha and Ichiccocha. After visiting the Lagoons, we will divert toward the Alpamayo lookout where we will see the following snowcapped mountains: Alpamayo, Quitaraju, Potaca, Aguya, Caraz, Artezonraju, Piramide and Paria. After looking at these beautiful snowcapped mountains we will continue onto camp. The hike takes 5-6 hours.
Day 4: Taullipampa, 4,250 m. to Cachinanpampa, 3,600 m. On this day we go over the Punta Union Pass, 4,750 m. The elevation climb from camp to the Pass is 500 m. At the Pass we will see the entire valley and Santa Cruz ravine and the snowcapped mountains previously mentioned. After the pass we descend 1,150 m. through the Huaripampa Ravine toward camp. the hike takes 7-8 hours.
Day 5: Cachinanpampa, 3,600 m. to Vaqueria, 3,900 m. At Vaqueria we will wait for transportation to take us to Huaraz and to your hotel.
Day 6: Rest in Huaraz in order to take advantage of the Chancos thermal baths which are 22 km. north of Huaraz and/or the Monterrey baths which are 7 km. from Huaraz.
Day 7: Travel from Huaraz to Chiquian Llamac, 3,300 m. We will then begin our hike to Maracancha, 4,180 m. The elevation climb from Llamac is 880 m. The hike takes 5-6 hours. We will also meet the muleteer and donkeys to carry the trekking equipment.
Day 8: Matacancha, 4,180 m. to Mitucocha, 4,230 m. On this day we will pass over the first Cordillera Huayuash pass called Cacanan Punta, 4,700 m. From camp we will climb 520 m. to reach the Pass. After the Pass we will see the Lagoons Pucacocha and Yanacocha. The hike takes 4-5 hours until we reach camp. The camp is next to the Lagoon Mitucocha where we will see the following snowcapped mountains (5,607 m.), Rondoy (5,870 m.), and Jirishanca (6,094 m.)
Day 9: Mitucocha 4,240 m., to Carhuacocha, 4,280 m. On this day we pass over the 2nd Pass called Carhuac, 4,650 m. From camp we will climb 420m. At the Pass we will see the north face of the snowcapped Carnicero, 5,960 m., Suila, 6,344 m., Yerpuaja, 6,634 m. and the Toro. The hike will take 5-6 hours until we reach the Carhuacocha camp with a view of the snowcapped mountains.
Day 10: Carhuacocha, 4280 m. to Huayhuash, 4,300 m. This is the hardest day of the trek and we will hike 7-8 hours. The road takes us between the four different colored Lagoons, such as Siulacocha, Small Quesillococha, Large Quesillococha, and Asulcocha. From the lookout we will travel 1.5 hours to the Siula Pass, 4,800 m.. As we descend from the pass we will see the snowcapped Carnicero, 5,960 m., Jurao, 5,600 m., and Trapecio, 5,644 m.
Day 11: Huayuash, 4,300 m. to Viconga, 4,430 m. On this day we will arrive at the Portachuelo Pass, 4,750 m. We climb 450 m. and the hike takes 5-6 hours to arrive at the Viconga Thermal Baths. We can take advantage of the baths in the afternoon and enjoy some “mate de coca” (tea).
Day 12: Viconga 4,430 m. to Cuyocpampa, 4,600 m. On this day we go over the Cuyoc Pass, 5,00 m. We climb 570 m. from camp to this pass. From the Pass we will see the entirety of the Cordillera Raura and the Cordillera Huayhuash,. The hike takes 5-6 hours to reach camp.
Day 13: Cuyoc Pampa, 4,600 m. to Huayllapa, 3,630 m. On this day we go over the San Antonio Pass, 5,200 m. We climb 600 m. to the Pass. At the Pass we will see the south face of the already mentioned snowcapped mountains. The hike takes 6-7 hours.
Day 14: Huayllapa, 3,630 m. to Angushcancha, 4,320 m. On this day we will climb the Tapush Pass, 4,800 m. The elevation climb from Huayllapa to the Pass is 1,170 m.. Ten minutes after crossing the Pass we will see the famous snowcapped Diablo Mudo, 5,350 m. The hike takes 6-7 hours to arrive at camp.
Day 15: Angushcancha, 4,320 m. to Lagoon Jahuacocha, 4,100 m. We will go over the Yaucha Pass, 4,800 m. The elevation climb is 480. m. The hike takes 4-5 hours until we reach the Lagoon Jahuacocha, where we will see the snowcapped mountains mentioned from the 1st day.
Day 16: Jahuacocha, 4,100 m. to Llamac, 3,300 m. We will go over the last pass, Llamac, 4,300 m. We climb 200 m to the Pass and descend 1000 m to Llamac. At Llamac we wait for transportation to return us to Huaraz and your hotel. When you wish to retun to Lima, we will transport you from your hotel to the bus station, at which point our services end.
Service Include
Pick up from the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima Transportation from the airport to the bus terminal, for transportation to Huaraz Bus ticket from Lima to Huaraz to Lima Transportation from the Huaraz bus station to your chosen tourist hotel in Huaraz Information about expeditions in Huaraz 4 nights hotel in Huaraz Food during the expedition Official trekking guide who will bring detailed information about the trek A helper for the guide for groups larger than 10 persons Specialized and authorized chef by P.H.N. A helper for the chef for groups larger than 6 persons General expedition equipment: such as kitchen tent, dining tent, personal tent, bathroom tent, and a tent for the guide and cook General equipment for dining: such as table, chairs, lamp, etc. Donkeys to transport the expedition equipment Muleteer to guide the donkeys First aid kit Emergency horse for more than 6 people Entrance ticket for the Huascaran National Park Transportation on your last day from your hotel in Huaraz to the bus station for return to Lima
Service Not Include
International flights Personal trekking equipment Sleeping bag Extra hotels Food in the cities Tips Your personal expenses
Sleeping bag Trekking shoesRain proof pants, Gore-TexRain proof coat, Gore-TexDown feather coatChange of clothesA pair of hiking sticksCanteen for waterHeadlight with batteriesCap for the coldHat for the sunInsect repellentSuntan lotionSunglasses, 100% UVWater purifierYour personal medicine kitIn case you do not have any of the above, it’s possible to rent them in Huaraz
