Olleros To Carhuascancha & Chavin De Huantar Trek - Trekking & Climbing In Huaraz, Peru

Olleros to Carhuascancha & Chavin de Huantar Trek Remote Trek

Duration:

6 days

Grade:

Moderate

Highest Point:

4850m / 15912ft

Our Olleros Carhuascansha trek is a magical journey into a remote and beautiful unspoilt area of the Cordillera Blanca not known to many other trekking groups. We follow an ancient pre Inca route and are treated to fantastic mountain views, waterfalls many small crystal blue mountain lakes where there are no roads and very little contact with foreign tourists and trekkers.

On the return to Huaraz from the finish of the trek we stop first to visit the new and modern museum where we will have an insight into the technologically and culturally advanced Chavin Culture the oldest major culture in Peru existing from around 1000 to 300 BC. Then we go on to the archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar which was the administration and religious centre of the Chavín culture. The site of Chavín de Huántar is an incredible feat of engineering, with most of the construction being built underground in an extensive labyrinth of interconnecting chambers, tunnels, ventilation ducts and water canals.

Underground at Chavin

This trek offers an exciting mix of trekking through beautiful remote countryside with local culture and ancient history. If you would like to escape away from the busier more well-known tourist trails into a remote area with hidden delights, then you will enjoy this trek.

Note 1: Grading

Although we grade the trek as moderate, the high altitude makes the hiking harder than a similar trek at lower altitude. You do need to be well acclimatised to the altitude and have a good fitness level, and be comfortable hiking on large hills to enjoy this trek. There are some long days hiking but these are mixed with shorter easier days for recovery.

Most trekking options in the Cordillera Blanca should be considered to be physically demanding owing to the altitude (you are above 4000m) and the mountainous nature of the terrain. The trail on this trek is steep and uneven in places (both ascending and descending) – it is not a formed & graded footpath. This trek is also a remote trek – away from easy access to roads, villages or phones in the middle portion of the trek. If you do not think you can enjoy this type of trekking, let us know and we can suggest some easier options.

Itinerary

Day A: Arrive Huaraz 3090m / 10138ft
Day B & C: Huaraz. Day Hikes for acclimatisation. We recommend that two full days are best for acclimatisation (3 nights in Huaraz)

Huaraz to Olleros Village & Sacracancha

We drive 45 minutes south from Huaraz, past the village of Olleros to the start of the trail at Quisuar (3686m / 12093ft). Here our gear is loaded onto donkeys and horses and we start trekking along a pre-Inca pathway. The walking today is fairly easy and sees us gently gaining altitude as we follow the wide Quebrada Uquian valley. Almost immediately we start to see traditional local homes made from thatched grass and, after an hour or so, we get views of the beautiful Shaqsha (5632m) and Cashan (5716m) snow peaks. Our first camp is at the head of the valley at Sacracancha (4080m / 13386ft).

Sacracansha over Pass Punta Yanashallash to Shongo Valley

We make a long but not steep ascent to our first pass Punta Yanashallash 4700m / 15420ft. During the climb up to the pass we may meet some local families with their small flocks of sheep & a few cows and we see for the first time the ancient Quenual trees that only grow in high altitude. We are treated to close views of the glacier coming from Uruashraju 5722m and many small lakes in the valley below. We pass a lake Laguna Huamanpinta just before reaching the top of the pass, and then we descend on a good path for around 2 to 2½ hours to our camp Jato in the valley at Shongo 3850m / 12631ft. In the Shongo valley we may meet local people and children caring for their animals, and often we see young women wearing hats beautifully decorated with flowers.

Shongo Valley to Castillo

We continue our trek heading down for about an hour and a half through the Shongo Valley. On the way we will be greeted by many local kids and families. We then cross into the valley Quebrada Alhuina with it’s cascading waterfalls and beautiful small lakes and enjoy relaxed undulating hiking. We pass by small plots of farmland and typical Andean mountain homes and then the massive snow covered peak of Huantsan 6395m / 20981ft comes into view dominating the skyline before making a steep hike for one hour up to our next campsite. We camp at Castillo 4350m / 14272ft. (Note: If you want to bring some pens, pencils, note books, maybe some small children’s warm jackets to give to the families we meet, they would be gratefully appreciated)

Castillo over Portachuelo Pass to Rimarima

A shorter easier day today. We start with a slow climb on a good path for 2½ hours to the pass of Portachuelo 4850m / 15912ft from where we are treated of splendid views of the mountains of Huantsan and Pamparaju and several small lakes. We descend easily through a lovely valley surrounded by granite rock mountains and arrive at our next camp at Rimarima 4300m / 14108ft. During the hike today we have the opportunity to see many of the intriguing beautiful Rima Rima plants and often many of them are in flower.

Note If you arrive at camp early, there may be time to hike to visit a lake Llanganuco (about 3 or 4 hours return) or enjoy a restful afternoon in the sun at the camp.

Optional Extra Day

We can stay at beautiful Rimarima Campsite an extra night and take a relaxing hike for the day up to the spectacular lake Laguna Llanganuco where we can enjoy a picnic lunch. Often we can find some of the rare Rima Rima flowers in this area.

Rimarima to Caruascancha via Mesapata Pass

From our camp we climb up an Ichu grass covered hillside on an undefined path for about 1½ hours to the pass Mesapata 4600m / 15092ft. This is a spectacular day with awe inspiring views of many snow covered mountains such as Huatzan Grande and Chico, Rimarima, Maparaju and Cayesh, beautiful plants and a variety of animals and from the top of the pass we take in the view of many glacier mountain lakes like Tumarina and Tumagarañon Lakes.

Mesapata Pass

From the pass we have a long descent into the Carhuascancha Valley to camp at 3930m / 12894ft where again we find local sheep farming families living. If you have plenty of energy, there is time on the way to take a diversion to visit a high mountain lake Maparaju.

To Chavin De Huantar & Return to Huaraz

We descend down the long valley Carhuascancha on a wide path to the mountain village of Yuracyacu at 2964m / 9724ft where our private vehicle will be waiting.

We drive on a dusty route for an hour down to San Marcos & then to Chavin de Huantar where we will spend about two hours visiting the recently built Museum and then the archeological site and ruins of Chavin before we take the 3 ½ hour 109kms drive back to Huaraz, arriving around 7.00pm

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.

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