Date: May/June
Cordillera Blanca is a paradise for high altitude climbers as it offers a wide range of peaks and routes in all difficulties. It’s the world’s highest and most glaciated tropical mountain range!
Formed by the movement of the South American continental plate against the Pacific plate, it ‘s one long mountain chain less then 100 km off the Pacific coast. It is intersected by many formerly glaciated U-valleys which bring nearly all base camps within a day’s reach from Huaraz.
Our two weeks mountaineering trip offers you the possibility to reach four beautiful summits in the heart of the South American Andes. For those adventurers wanting to add an other great peak at the end of this trip, the spectacular 6354m high Chopicalqui is the one to go. It situated in the same valley as Nevado Pisco which we’ll do at the end of the trip and takes an extra 5 days.
Peaks that we will climb:
Urus 5480m
Nevada Ishinca, 5350m
Toclaraju, 6034m
Nevado Pisco, 5752m
Optional addition: Chopicalqui 6354m (5 days)
Trip – Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet in Huaraz, Peru: (3000m)
Dinner and meeting with the mountain guide to talk about the last details
Night at Hotel in Huaraz
D
Day 2: Trekking near Huaraz
Easy trekking tour for your acclimatization.
Night at Hotel in Huaraz
B, L, D
Day 3: Trekking Laguna Churup, 4485m
We drive to the village of Luba where we walk along an Inka trail up to Laguna Churup. The trail is narrow and steep but very interesting perfect to get used to the higher altitude.
Night at Hotel in Huaraz
B, L, D
Quebrada Ishinca
Day 4: Trekking to the base camp of Quebrada Ishinca 4385m
We drive to Huillac Paspha where our trail to the base camp of Quebrada Ishinca starts. We reach the beginning of the Ishinca valley trough a beautiful, shady Quenqu forest and are now in the Huascaran National Park. The base camp lies at the foot of two impressive 5000Meter peaks Ishinca and Urus and the 6000Meter peaks Nevado Tocllaraju and Palcaraju.
Night in tent at the base camp
B, L, D
Day 5: Rest and acclimatization day
An important day for our acclimatization process. We relax and enjoy the scenery around the base camp and get new energy for the next days at high altitude.
Night in tent at the base camp.
B, L, D
Day 6: Urus Peak, 5480m – back to base camp
An early start today to be able to reach Urus our first 5000M peak, a great first mountain that is perfect to start our mountain adventure.
Night at tent at the base camp.
B, L, D
Day 7: Nevado Ishinca, 5350m – back to base camp
Our second 5oooM peak is waiting for us today, the Nevada Ishinca peak. A pretty easy climb with amazing views to the Andes mountain range. Good physical condition is needed today.
Night at tent at the base camp.
B, L, D
Toclaraju
Day 8: Toclaraju Camp 1, 4950m
We climb up to Toclaraju’s camp one where we also spend the night. After about 3 hours we reach the base camp 1 where we have an exceptional view down to the Ishinca valley and it’s surrounding peaks like Urus, Ishinca, Ranrapalca and Palcarajus and to the deep blue Ishinca Laguna.
Night at tent at Camp 1.
B, L, D
Day 9: Toclaraju, 6034m – back to Camp 1
With a bit of luck with the weather we will climb Toclaraju peak today, the highest mountain in this stunning mountain massif. We leave our camp in the early morning to hit the climb with rope, axe and crampons. Once on the top the whole Cordillera Blanca lies underneath us. All the famous peaks are in sight – an amazing spectacle!
Night at tent at Camp 1
B, L, D
Day 10: Back down to Huaraz
A long trekking back down to the green valleys and the vibrant Huaraz.
We enjoy our dinner in Huaraz and celebrate life!
Night at Hotel in Huaraz
B, L, D
Second part of the trip
Day 11: Rest day
A well deserved rest day in Huaraz. Go explore the town or rest and dream of your next peaks.
Night at Hotel in Huaraz
B, L, D
Day 12: Refugio Pisco, 4950
The following two days are reserved for an attempt to Nevado Pisco peak. Today we reach the base camp on his foot and the beautiful mountain hut.
Night at refuge.
B, L, D
Day 13: Nevado Pisco, 5752 – back to Camp
Our last peak of the 13 days program – Nevado Pisco.
Night at refuge.
B, L, D
Back to Huaraz or on to Chopicalqui
Day 14: Back to Huaraz – For Chopicalqui climbers: back down the valley and up to Chopicalqui base camp 4800m
Trekking back down and drive to Huaraz.
Night at Hotel in Huaraz.
B, L, D (Day 15. spare day that we might use for bad weather)
Day 15: Chopicalqui: Moraine Camp 1 at 5380m
We trekk up to the first Moraine Camp at 5380m
Night in tents
B,L,D
Day 16: Moraine Camp 2, 5600m
Today we reach the highest camp and get ready for our climb up to the top the next day
B,L,D
Day 17: Chopicalqui peak, 6354m back to Moraine 1 camp
We climb Chopicalqui peak today and get back down as far as to the first base camp
B,L,D
Day 18: Back to Huaraz
A taxi will wait for us down in the valley and will bring us back to Huaraz for a farewell dinner and celebration. End of the trip.
B,L,D
Costs for 15 day trip without Chopicalqui: (min.2 climbers, max. 4 climbers)
- 2 climbers: 5025.00€ per climber
- 3 climbers: 3854.00€ per climber
- 4 climbers: 3047.00€ per climber
- Included in the price:
Organisation, UIAGM mountain guide, overnight at Hotels in standard double rooms and in tents at the base camps, transport to and back from all climbs/trekks, camp service (meals) and mules transportation if needed, all meals as mentioned in the itinerary, one tent per 2 climbers, - Meals like mentioned in the program: (B)Breakfast, (L)Lunch, (D)Dinner
- Not included in the price:
Flights, drinks and personal expenses, all personal insurances (travel, accident etc.), sleeping bag and therm a rest, climbing equipment like crampons, ice axe, harness etc.
Costs for Chopicalqui peak 5 days, per climber: (Max. 4 climbers/ 2 per guide)
- With 2 climbers: 1512.00€
- With 3 climbers: 2113.00€
- With 4 climbers: 2230.00€
Getting to Huaraz
Fly to Lima, Peru. Than get on a bus ( 7-9 hours) to Huaraz. There are several bus companies, each one with its own bus station in Lima:
Here are 3 of them: Cruz del Sur, Movil Tours, Ormeño
Personal requirements
Good physical condition and some experience in glacier traveling are required!