Trekking
Santa Cruz – Vaqueria/llamac – Cajatambo
- Duration: 13 days
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Maximum Height: 4,800 meters
- Season: May to September
Day 1: Arrive in Lima from your country of origin. Travel to Huaraz and then to your hotel.
Day 2: Travel from Huaraz, 3,100 m. in private transport to Cashapampa, 2,930 m. There we will meet the muleteer and the donkeys to transport the trekking equipment. We will then begin our hike. After paying the entrance fee of 10 soles/person, which the Chashapampa village charges to maintain the route, we will begin hiking the Santa Cruz ravine by the Yuracmayu river bank until we arrive at the Llamacoral camp, 3,760 m. The hike takes 4-5 hours.
Day 3:Llamacora, 3,760 m., to Taulipampa, 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: Taulipampa, 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 Huaraz and to your hotel.
Day 6: Rest in Huaraz. You can take advantage of going to the Chancos Thermal Baths which are 24 km. to the north of Huaraz, and relax for the following day.
Day 7: Travel from Huaraz to Chiquian Llamac, 3,300 m. From here, we will begin hiking to Matacancha, 4,180 m. The elevation increase from Llamac to Matacancha is 880 m. The hike takes 5-6 hours and we will meet the muleteer and donkeys.
Day 8: Matacancha, 4,180 m. to Mitucocha, 4,230 m. On this day we will cross over the first Cordillera Huayhuasy Pass, Cacanan Punta at 4,700 m. We will climb 520 m. from camp to the Pass. After crossing the Pass you will see the Lagoons Pucacocha and Yanacocha. The hike takes 4-5 hours until we arrive at camp where there is the Lagoon Mitucocha. At camp we will see the snowcapped Ninashanca, 5,607 m., Rondoy, 5,870 m., and Jirishanca, 6,094 m.
Day 9: Mitucocha, 4,230 m. to Carhuacocha, 4,280 m. We will cross over the second Pass, Carhuac, 4,650 m. From camp we will climb 420 m. At the Pass we will see the north face of the snowcapped Carnicero, 5,960 m., Suila, 6,344 m., and Yerupaja, 6,634 m. It will take 5-6 hours to reach Carhuacocha camp, where we will see the previously mentioned mountains.
Day 10: Carhuacocha, 4,280 m. to Huayhuash, 4,300 m. This is the hardest day of the trek. We will hike 7-8 hours. The road takes us between 4 lagoons until we reach the lookout. At the lookout we will see again the four lagoons of diverse colors: Siulacocha, Small Quesilococha, Big Quesillococha, and Asulcocha. An hour and a half beyond the lookout we will arrive at the Siula Pass, 4,800 m., where we will see all the previously mentioned snowcapped mountains. When we descend we will see the snowcapped Carnicero, 5,960 m., Jurao, 5,600 m., and Trapecio, 5,644 m.
Day 11: Huayhuash, 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. to reach the Pass. The hike takes 5-6 hours until we arrive at the Viconga thermal baths and take advantage of the bathing in the afternoon. After the bath we will enjoy some “mate de coca” (Peruvian tea).
Day 12: Viconga, 4,430 m. to Cajatambo, 3,380 m. This day will take us through the entire Pumarinri valley until we arrive at the San Cristobal Pass, 4,150 m. After the Pass we descend for an hour and 20 minutes, and we will already begin to feel the change in climate. We will arrive at Cajatambo and stay in lodging there.
Day 13: Cajatambo, 3,380 m. to Pativilca, 50 m. At 5:30 a.m. we will leave Cajatambo in public bus for Pativilca. From Pativilca we will take a taxi for Huaraz and your hotel. At the stated date and time of your departure for 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
