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Trekking tours in the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash
Cordillera Blanca - Santa Cruz to Quebrada Los Cedros
This fascinating 10-day trek, one of the most complete and beautiful in the Cordillera Blanca, showcases some of the range’s most impressive scenery. We begin in the Quebrada Santa Cruz, the classic trekking valley of the Blanca, and continue via the Alto de Pucaraju, into a relatively little-trekked yet scenically stunning sector of the Huascaran National Park.
The trek takes us over 8 high passes (between 4,400m and 4,850 metres), with splendid views of many spectacular Cordillera Blanca peaks, including the magnificent Alpamayo, widely considered to be the world’s most beautiful mountain.
The route is technically straightforward but due to the long distance and altitude, demands good acclimatization and physical fitness.
Day 1
From Huaraz we drive 3 hrs north through contrasting landscapes and after Caraz (2,300m), we ascend NE towards the Blanca peaks. At Cashapampa village (2,900m), donkeys are loaded up & we start trekking into the Santa Cruz valley, ascending steeply then gradually. By mid-afternoon, the valley levels out. At Llamacorral (3,650m) we camp.
Day 2
We gradually ascend the U-shaped valley, passing 2 lakes. At Quisuar we can turn into the Arhuaycocha valley for views of Alpamayo’s (5,947m) less familiar south face, as well as Artesonraju (6,025m). We descend to Taullipamapa (4,000m) & our camp surrounded by spectacular peaks, including the awesome Taulliraju (5,830m).
Day 3
This rewarding day starts with steep zigzagging ascent below the glaciers of Taulliraju to Punta Union pass (4,750m). From here there are awesome panoramas of Pucajirca (6,050m) and other peaks. We drop down to the E of the Andean watershed & along the HuaripampaValley, encountering forests of red-barked quenual. We camp at 4,150m, at the foot of the ascent to the Alto de Pucaraju pass.
Day 4
It’s a steep zig-zagging ascent to the Alto de Pucaraju pass (4,650m) and great views; weather permitting, we see Taulliraju (5,830m), Chacraraju (6,112m), Piramide & several other peaks. The descent, initially steep, takes us to our camp, just beyond LakeHuecrococha, near the community of Quisuar (3,800m).
Day 5
We ascend gradually to the Tupatupa pass (4,400m), which offers stunning views of several Blanca peaks, including Taulliraju, Rinrijirca and Pucajirca. The descent to our camp on the edge of the broad Jancapampa valley (3,500m) takes us through a scattered farming community. >
Day 6
Today is one of the longest and most rewarding days of the trek. A long, steep ascent via lush grasslands and pockets of quenual (polylepis) forest lead us to the Huillca pass (4,600m). The Pucajirca snowpeak (6,050m) towers above to the S & the picturesque Laguna Sactaycocha can be seen below.A steep descent brings us to the Huillca plateau, where we camp (4,000m).
Day 7
Today, a gradual ascent of the SafunaValley is followed by a steeper traverse to the Mesapampa valley. We climb gently then negotiate a series of switchbacks to the Caracara pass (4,830m). Here – on the Andean watershed once again - we are greeted by an awesome panorama, including our first views of Alpamayo, as well as Quitaraju (6,036m), Santa Cruz (6,241m) and others. Pucajirca can be seen clearly to NE. Our long descent to the Alpamayo valley ends at Jancarurush, located near the base of Alpamayo and Quitaraju. There are impressive views from our camp (4,250m) of the impeccable pyramidal form of Alpamayo (5,947m).
Day 8
Today we have a free day, with the opportunity to explore the upper reaches of the Alpamayo valley and enjoy even more spectacular views of Alpamayo and its neighbouring snowpeaks.
Day 9
We gently descend the Alpamayo valley via corrals and ruins; waterfalls tumble off Milluacocha, the Blanca’s northernmost peak. Reaching a cluster of straw-roofed crofts, we turn south and begin a long ascent to the Osoruri pass (4,750m). We briefly descend to our camp at Osoriri (4,600m)
Day 10
We ascend to the Cullicocha pass (4,850m) then begin our final descent past Laguna Cullicocha and the 3 spectacular Santa Cruz peaks. We follow a leat then descend a path to our final camp at Huishcash (4,100m).The deep, quenual-filled Cedros gorge is below us to thewest.
Day 11
We decend to Hualcayan village (3,000m) and meet our vehicle for the drive back to Huaraz along the Callejon de Huaylas via Caraz and Yungay.