Cordillera Blanca: Santa Cruz-Llanganuco

Itinerary
Day 1: Huaraz - Caraz (breakfast) - Cashapampa (2900m) - Llamacorral (3760m).
We leave Huaraz early in the morning, by road to the trailhead at Cashapampa (2,900m). From there, donkeys will carry our gear. After 3 hours walking we'll have lunch in the shade of quenuales. We then continue to a flat meadow called Llamacoral at 3.800m and set camp.

Day 2: Llamacoral - Alpamayo base camp -Taullipampa.
On this day the trek is easy, to the turquoise lakes of Jatuncochja. We‘ll have lunch close to the lakes, at a spot called Quisuar. We then ascend to the base camp of Alpamayo, which offers a spectacular view. The second camp is called Taullipampa (4.200m.)

Day 3: Taullipampa (4250m) - Paria Valley (3870m).
We leave camp after a good breakfast, towards Union Pass (4,750m.) following a zigzag trail. After 3 hours walking we reach the pass, and admire a beautiful view of the Cordillera Blanca with the summits of Taulliraju, los Rinrijircas, Pucahircas, Quitaraju, Santa Cruz, Artesonraju, Pirámide de Garcilazo, Paria, Millishraju, etc.

Day 4: Paria Valley (3870) - Vaquería (3850).
We walk along the valley with spectacular views of Chacraraju to the village of Vaquería, where private transportation will transfer us to Portachuelo Pass. This is a lookout point to the lakes of Chinancocha y Orconcocha as well as the summits of Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Chacraraju, the four summits of Huandoy y Pisco. After this impressive panorama, we continue by road to Yungay and back to Huaraz.

EXPEDITION COSTS INCLUDE:

• 3 nights camping
• Bus transportation Huaraz and private local transportation Huaraz - Cashapampa - Lake Llanganuco - Huaraz.
• Mountain guide, porters and cook.
• Donkeys to carry the common gear (tents, food and fuel) as well as personal gear (up to 20 kg per person)
• Kitchen gear and cooking facilities at base camp (including dining tent, chairs, cooking tent)
• Food for the whole duration of the climb (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is included.
• Camping gear: 4 season tent
• First aid kit
• Check-up for oxygen to assess acclimatization level of each client.
• Entry to National Park Huascaran.

Not included:

• Personal trekking and climbing gear (sleeping bag, sleeping mattress etc..)
• Personal expenses.

Recommended gear:
Lightweight walking shoes/sandals/socks/pants/short pants/T-shirts (long sleeve and short sleeve)/sunglasses/sunscreen/plastic bags/warm sleeping bag /light weight trekking boots/wool socks/light weight treeking pants/waterproof pants and jacket/fleece/Goretex/hat/mits or warm gloves/thermal liners/camera/bandana or hat against sun/headlamp with extra batteries.

Safety Individual gear:
Glacier glasses 100% UV with rigid case (2 pair recommended)/ goggles/ sunscreen with maximum protection/lipbalm/4 season sleeping bag/ sleeping pad or thermarest/hat/thermal underwear/fleece jacket/fleece pants/down jacket/Goretex jacket or similar material/2 pairs of gloves or mittens/ pair of thermal glove liners/2 pairs of thermal sock liners/plastic boots/gaiters.