Alpamayo Base Camp Trek

Duration:

10 days or 9 days trekking

Grade:

Hard Trek – some long days

Highest Point:

4860m

Vaqueria (Llanganuco Lakes) to Hualcayan

Without doubt, the Cordillera Blanca range provides some of the most spectacular and varied trekking and climbing landscapes in the world. The range boasts more than 50 peaks of 5700m or higher of which some 20 surpass the 6000 metre mark. Huascarán is, at 6768m, the highest mountain in Peru while the pyramid of Alpamayo is arguably its most beautiful peak. We find, within this 170km-long range, the greatest concentration of tropical-zone glaciers on earth. Turquoise glacial lakes abound and vertical granite walls rise thousands of metres into the sky.

Our Alpamayo Base Camp trek: Vaqueria to Hualcayan weaves a route through the heart of the Cordillera Blanca, crossing a number of high passes which lead us into valleys with hugely varied mountain landscapes. The trek starts with a scenic drive past the famous twin lakes of Llanganuco to the road end at Vaqueria. The focal point of the trek is the famous Alpamayo pyramid (North Face), once voted the most beautiful mountain in the world. We have the opportunity to see a close view of it from the lake Laguna Jancarurish.

We have designed this trek to be an exciting shorter version of our classic 11 to 13 day Complete Circuit of Alpamayo for those people who want to enjoy the majesty of the Cordillera Blanca mountains and Alpamayo, but do not have time for the longer trek.

Note 1: Grading

We grade the trek as HARD because you cross several high passes and there are some long hard days after starting with two easier days at the beginning of the trek. The effects of altitude make the trek demanding and harder than a similar trek at lower altitudes. You need to be well acclimatised to the altitude before starting this trek and need to have good fitness levels, be able to hike for a long day up to 7 to 9 hours, and manage the steep climbs up to the top of the passes and descents back down to enjoy this trek. Trails are not formed paths and are not maintained, they are dirt trails also used by animals and are uneven underfoot.

Most trekking options in the Cordillera Blanca should be considered to be physically demanding owing to the altitude (you are above 4000m for the duration of the treks) and the mountainous nature of the terrain. Trails on this trek are often steep – both ascending and descending and can be slippery & rocky in places. If you do not think you can enjoy this type of trekking, let us know and we can suggest some easier options

Hiking Hours & Kms Hiked:
Hiking hours are estimated times including rest breaks and lunch stop. Times are for our average groups based on past experience. Some people may be much faster than the indicated times and others can be slower and find the going more difficult.
Kms hiked are estimated.

Note 2: 9 or 10 days

The 10 day trek is a more relaxing option with an extra day being spent at the camp near Alpamayo to admire the views of Alpamayo & surrounding mountains, maybe hike up towards Alpamayo Base Camp or just relax in camp, enjoy good food and recover energy levels.

Note 3: Special Interest

If you choose to do this trek, you will be helping and contributing to improving the economic situation for the local people of the villages of Colcabamba and Vaqueria at the start of the trek.

The work as donkey drivers is a vital source of cash income for the people who live in these villages, and without this work they have very little cash with which to improve their lives and educate their children.

Classic examples are two of our favourite donkey drivers, the brothers Victor and Cirillo Mendez from Vaqueria. These two men are extremely hardworking, honest and loyal. They have both used income from trekking to help pay for their childrens high school education and accommodation in Huaraz

Donkey driver. - We´ll take Victor anytime!. He´s great!

Matt & Jolene

from Canada

Itinerary

Day A: Arrive Huaraz
Day B & C: Huaraz / Acclimatisation days with day hikes

Drive Huaraz to Vaquería via Llanganuco pass. Hike to Paria Camp

Drive from Huaraz (3070m) down the broad Callejón de Huaylas valley to Yungay(2500m), then up towards the Cordillera Blanca peaks, into the Huascarán National Park and past the famous turquoise Llanganuco Lakes. We continue onwards and upwards to the Portachuelo de Llanganuco road pass (4767m). Here we stop to enjoy views of a number of spectacular high Andean peaks, including Huascarán, Huandoy (6395m) and Chopicalqui (6,345m), as well as the Llanganuco lakes a kilometre below us.

We descend to Vaqueria (3600m), arriving after 4 to 5 hours 135kms drive.

At Vaqueria our equipment is loaded onto donkeys and we have a relaxing hike on a gradually rising path to a secluded campsite in the Quebrada Paria Valley (3900m)

During the walk up the Quebrada Huaripampa valley to Paria, we pass by many farm houses and see a lot of local people, children, sheep, goats and donkeys along the trail.

Note We may decide to camp at an alternative earlier campsite near the river at Cachina 3700m about one hour before Paria.

Short Walk to Tuctubamba, with optional side trip to Punta Union Pass

Options today of either a short day, with 3 hours’ hiking on up the Quebrada Huaripampa valley to camp at Tuctubamba (4200m), OR we can take a side trip en route and climb up to the top of the Punta Union pass (4750m) to have fantastic views down into the Santa Cruz Valley, before returning to our camp at Tuctubamba. Allow 3 to 4 hours extra for this round trip.

Tuctubamba to Laguna Huecrococha, via Pass Alto de Pucaraju

We climb steeply on a rocky trail to the top of the Alto de Pacaraju Pass (4650m). At the pass there are magnificent views of many peaks, and at 5830m the Nevado Taulliraju, Chacraraju (6112m), Paria(5540m) mountains tower over us. We then have a long descent – initially on switchbacks, then on a sweeping path – down through lupin covered hillside and quenual (polylepis sp.) forest to camp at a small lake, Laguna Huecrococha, at 3950m.

Huecrococha to Jancapampa, via Tupatupa Pass

After a short initial descent, there is a stream that we need to jump across or we can get on the horse – then we climb gradually, then more steeply to the Tupatupa pass (4400m), with views back to several big snow capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca, including Pucajirca Norte (6050m), and then descend to camp at the top of a wide valley at Jancapampa (3600m). Directly behind camp we have views of a huge hanging glacier releasing waterfalls down a broad, horseshoe-shaped wall of granite hundreds of metres high. A lot of farming families live in the valley, and we will be visited at camp by some of the friendly local people and curious, happy children.

Jancapampa to Safuna via Pucajirca pass

A hard day – We start with a long climb – gradual in parts, steeper in others – up a forested valley with occasional clearings, to the beautiful Laguna Sactaycocha. From here, now amid grassy shrubland, we climb steeply to the top of the rocky Paso Pucajirca (Yanacon Pass) (4600m). On a clear day, the awesome Pucajirca Norte can be seen rising steeply to the southwest.

We descend to Willcapampa (4000m) where we will find local traditional farm houses and passing by a large Alpaca flock – then we continue to walk up a gentle climb in the Quebrada Tayapampa to Safuna camp (4200m).

Safuna to Cruce Alpamayo via Mesapata and Cara Cara Passes

We cross two passes today. The first is via a gradual, grassy ascent to the Mesapata Pass (4500m). We then enjoy a long traverse, skirting around swamplands, and continue with a steep climb to the high and sometimes windy Cara Cara Pass (4830m). From here we get our first amazing views of triple summits of Santa Cruz (6259m) then after 20 minutes descending down the pass we see the beautiful pyramid of Alpamayo (5947m), its neighbouring peaks Jancarurish and Quitaraju (6036m), and also Laguna Jancarurish lake directly below us. We continue descending to camp below the majestic Alpamayo at the camp named Cruce Alpamayo (4150m). From the camp there is a view of the Northwest face of Alpamayo

Extra day Cruce Alpamayo for Rest or Side Trips and to Enjoy Panoramas

10 day trek option only

We spend another night at Cruce Alpamayo camp to greater appreciate the beauty of Alpamayo. Climb up the nearby moraine overlooking the Laguna Jancarurish glacial lake for close-up views of the Alpamayo and Jancarurish (5601m) peaks (3 hour return trip from camp).

If you feel energised, you can continue upwards and hike up past Alpamayo Base Camp (4500m). 5 to 6 hours return. If you prefer, you can simply rest in camp.

(10 day version) or Day 7 (9 day version)

Cruce Alpamayo to Osoruri Camp

An easier start in the morning with a relaxing hike, initially flat or slightly descending down the valley Quebrada Dos Cedros for 2 ½ hours to Ruinapampa (4050m). During the hike down the valley we see more local farm houses and also some pre-Inca terraces. We then have a long endless zig zag climb towards the south on a well-used trail to the Paso Vientunan (4770m). Descend from the pass for 40 minutes to our campsite nestled between two passes at Osoruri (4511m). From our camp we have a view of the mountain Milluacocha.

(10 day version) or Day 8 (9 day version)

Osoruri to Laguna Cullicocha and Huiscash

We start the day with a climb again for 1.5 to 2 hours to the top of Paso Osoruri (also called Cullicocha) at 4860m. The last half hour to the pass the trail is undulating up and down. From the pass as we begin our descent, there are fabulous views of the surrounding mountains, especially the magnificent triple summit of Santa Cruz and below us is crystal blue Laguna Cullicocha (4650m). After spending some time at the lake to appreciate the views we continue hiking up and down for one hour, then mostly descending now to our final campsite at Huishcash (4300m), perched high up the mountainside. We have terrific views across the Callejón de Huaylas west to the Cordillera Negra. At night we can see the sparkling lights of the villages high up in the Cordillera Negra.

Or Day 9

Descent to Hualcayan village. Vehicle to Huaraz

It’s a long descent following a zig-zag track down to the village of Hualcayan (2900m).

Our private van will be waiting for us at Hualcayan to drive us about 4 hours 116kms back to Huaraz.

Hiking Hours & Kms Hiked

Hiking hours are estimated times including rest breaks and lunch stop. Times are for our average groups based on past experience. Some people may be much faster and others slower.

Kms hiked are estimated.

Trek Roads

Access roads to and from treks are generally dirt mountain roads (not paved) and in some places can be bumpy. Road travel times are slower than you may expect for the kms travelled.

Print Copy / PDF trek description & more photos