Santa Cruz (Llanganuco trek) and Mount Pisco | 7 DAYS - 6 NIGHTS

Day 01: Huaraz - Cashapampa (2,900 m) Bus 3h. Cashapampa - Llamacorral (3,650 m) 4h.

Leaving Huaraz city heading to the north of the Callejon de Huaylas we descend by a road to Caraz (2,300m), 1h then from this place we begin to ascend towards the Cordillera Blanca to the small town of Cashapampa (2,900m), 2h, where we meet up with our mountain personnel: guides, cooks, muleteers, etc. and begin the walk having loaded up our donkeys. We begin the trek heading up the Santa Cruz valley to set up our first camp in Llamacorral (3,650m) 3 h.

Day 02: Llamacorral - Taullipampa (4,000 m) 5h.

We continue the trek up Santa Cruz's wide valley, passing Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha lakes; we arrive at Quisuar where we can make a diversion towards Alpamayo base camp via the Arhuaycocha valley, with splendid views of the peaks of Quitaraju (6,040m), Alpamayo (5,947m), Artezonraju (6,025m) and others. Ton ight we camp in Taullipampa (4,000m) at the foot of the impressive Taulliraju peak (5,830m) and surrounded by snow peaks.

Day 03: Taullipampa - Huaripampa (3,600 m) 7h.

This will be a long and tiring day ascending by a steep zig zag path at the foot of the impressive Taulliraju and overlooking the Taullicocha turquoise lake. We arrive at Punta Union (4,750m) 3h and see the peaks of Chacraraju (6,112m), Artezonraju (6,025m), Pyramid (5,885m), Huandoy (6,395m), Alpamayo (5,940m), Santa Cruz (6,259m), Rinrihirca (5,810m), Taulliraju (5,830m) and others; now on the east side of the Cordillera Blanca we begin to descend passing the Morococha lake and then into the long, broad Huaripampa valley, passing through red-barked quenual forests and pleasant Andean grasslands; we approach our camp in Huaripampa (3,600m) 4h.

Day 04: Huaripampa - Vaqueria (3,700 m) 3h. - Cebollapampa (3,900 m) Bus 2h.

We continue descending to the small Andean town of Colcabamba (3,350m) 1h then we begin to ascend toward Vaqueria (3,700 m) 2h and in our vehicle ascend towards the Portachuelo de LLanganuco (4,765m) 2h with splendid views of Huascarán Norte (6,768 m) Huascarán Sur (6,650 m), Chopicalqui (6,354 m), Huandoy (6,395 m), Pisco (5,752 m. Then we descend by the Llanganuco valley to our camp in Cebollapampa (3,900m) near the LLanganuco lakes.

Day 05: Cebollapampa - Pisco Base Camp (4,400 m) 4h.

Today we begin our ascent towards Pisco, approaching the base, where we set up camp (4,400m) and rest until tomorrow, to prepare oursleves for the climb.

Day 06: Base Camp - Summit (5,752 m) - Base Camp 12h.

Today before dawn we leave for the summit, beginning the ascent by crossing a broad moraine that comes off Huandoy. We reach the edge of the glacier (4,900m) 3h, and making use of the rope, crampons and ice-axe begin the ascent up a gentle glacier until reaching the coll between Huandoy Este and Pisco 1½h. From here the view of the beautiful mountains is fantastic; we continue climbing up more steep sections, but without technical difficulty to reach the summit 3h where the view of the Cordillera Blanca mountains is truly impressive. Then return by the same route to base camp 5h.

Day 07: Base Camp - Llanganuco (3,900) 2½h. Llanganuco - Huaraz (3,100m) Bus 2½h.

From base camp after a good rest we return to Cebollapampa 3h and take a vehicle back to Huaraz 2½h. On this, the last day, the muleteers and donkeys will come to pick up the load and then we descend toward Collon 3h to meet with our vehicle and head back to Huaraz 1½h.

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