Article Alpamayo BC Trek

Below one of the most beautiful mountain

Petr Liška

Wrote 2517 articles and follows him / her 248 travelers

Hiking Hiking circuits & Trekking

Inserted: 19.02.2015

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Alpamayo BC Trek belongs among one of the most amazing treks in Peru. In addition, most of its route leads through uninhabited landscape, co you can enjoy a bit of adventure and romance along the way. On the other hand, you will have to rely on yourselves, because any possible help may be very far away. Along the way you will see a lot of beautiful mountains, including Alpamayo, considered as one of the most beautiful mountains in the world ever.

Day 1

From Huaraz to the mountains

The first day will await you the way from Huaraz to Caraz and then to Cashapampa or even a little bit further. You will then walk through picturesque countryside full of fields on the lower slopes of mountains with views of the opposite Cordillera Negra.

2.
Hike Cashapampa - Hualcayan

The beginning of Alpamayo trek

Rating:

| Altitude: 3 950 m / 12 959 ft

Alpamayo BC trek 1: The first stage of this adventurous trek begins in the village of Cashapampa (2 920 m asl), where will take you a shared taxi from 28 kilometers distant Carazo (2 270 m asl) situated in the valley of river Santa. Along the way you will enjoy views of the thousands of boxes in the opposite lower mountain range Cordillera Negra. This entire first day of the trek awaits you walk through picturesque farmland. continue reading

Day 2

Hike to lagoons below the massif

The second day will finally be high mountain day. You will ascent over four thousand meters above sea level and see the first glacial massif on this trek – Nevado Santa Cruz (6 241 m asl) and beautiful lagoon Cullicocha. And if you still have enough energy, then also another lagoon Yuracchoca during a side trip.

4.
Hike Hualcayan - Lagoon Cullicocha

Walk to the massive of Nevado Santa Cruz

Rating:

| Altitude: 4 620 m / 15 157 ft

Alpamayo BC trek 2: The second day´s walk will test your acclimatization to high altitudes, because campground located by the lagoon Cullicocha is at an altitude of 4 620 meters asl making it the highest located overnight stay on the trek right at the beginning. For this reason, this trek should not be undertaken by not acclimatized tourists! Along the way you can expect the final views of the opposite massif of Cordillera Negra, an interesting view deep into the canyon with lagoon Yanacocha and a beautiful view of the massif of Santa Cruz. On the way, there is also turning to the lagoon Yuraccocha, which is a great, but difficult and long side trip. continue reading

5.
Hike to lagoon Yuraccocha

Pond under the massif of Santa Cruz

Rating:

| Altitude: 4 650 m / 15 256 ft

Alpamayo BC trek – Sidetrip1: On the second day of the trek to northern BC Alpamayo you can also go to a very pleasant, but long and tiring side trip under monumental three peak massif of Santa Cruz with beautifully colored lagoon Yuraccocha. continue reading

Day 3

Over the passes below Alpamayo

This day awaits you overcoming of the rocky ridge and descend into the abandoned Quebrada Alpamayo. Here you will realize why this trek is said to be one of the loneliest in Peru. At the end of the day you will finally be rewarded with the first views of Alpamayo itself.

7.
Hike Cullicocha - Quebrada Alpamayo

Walk across two passes

Rating:

| Altitude: 4 860 m / 15 945 ft

Alpamayo BC trek 3: You can expect two high passes the third day of the trek – Osoruri (4 860 m asl) and Vientunan (4 770 m asl), over which you get to the desolate valley of Quebrada Alpamayo. If you do not plan any side trips, these are the highest places that you will reach. This stage is difficult rather due to high altitude rather than due to absolute elevation and length. continue reading

Day 4

Ascent to the northern BC Alpamayo

The fourth day of the trek is related to the one of its peaks – you will ascend directly to the amazing mountain Alpamayo. In addition, you can continue even further to other lagoons on the northern side of the massif of Santa Cruz. If you still have in the afternoon some energy, you can undertake also a short walk around the camp Jancarurish. You can then recap today's hike from the outlook place below the rock wall.

9.
Ascent to Northern Alpamayo BC

Under the most beautiful mountain in Per

Rating:

| Altitude: 5 025 m / 16 486 ft

Alpamayo BC trek 4: The longest, toughest and also the nicest „side“ trip at Alpamayo Base Camp trek is the ascent to this base camp and then further through the valley to the south to the small lagoon directly under the side of Nevado Santa Cruz Chico with an amazing view. This is also the highest point of the trek and the only place where the tourist gets over five thousand meters above sea level. continue reading

10.
Hike around the camp Jancarurish

Below the rock wall

Rating:

| Altitude: 4 300 m / 14 108 ft

If you still have some energy after the difficult morning trip to the northern base camp Alpamayo, you can undertake in the afternoon from the camp Jancarurish a short walk directly below the sharp rock wall of Tayapampa mountain (5 675 m asl), which offers a lovely view not only of Alpamayo, but also of the lagoon Jancarurish. continue reading

Day 5

Over two passes

This day you will leave the deserted valley of Quebrada Alpmayo and you get through unkind pass Gara Gara and lower Mesapata in sight of the spectacular massif of Pucajirca.

12.
Hike across the pass Gara Gara

From Alpamayo to Pucajirca

Rating:

| Altitude: 4 830 m / 15 846 ft

Alpamayo BC trek 5: The fifth day of the trek awaits you overcoming of Gara Gara pass (4 830 m asl) famous for frequent bad weather. It can snow here also in the highest season. By its overcoming you leave extremely isolated valley of Quebrada Alpamayo and get into the area, from where you can more easily get to civilization. At the end of this walk awaits you even easier ascent into the pass Mesapata (4 460 m asl) and decision whether you set out for another side trip to the lagoons Safuna and Pucacocha or walk the standard route of Alpamayo trek. continue reading

13.
Hike to Lagoons Safuna

To the beautiful lagoons below Pucajirca

Rating:

| Altitude: 4 390 m / 14 403 ft

Alpamayo BC Trek – Sidetrip2: Lagoons Safuna Alta and Safuna Baja lie just off the main trek trail around Alpamayo, so they are definitely worth a visit, during which you will be able to enjoy the stunning view of six thousand high massif of Pucajirca. It is ideal to combine it with the crossing of Gara Gara pass that can be managed early in the morning, and lagoons will remain for the afternoon. continue reading

Day 6

Descent into Pomabamba

If you do not plan to walk around the entire massif of Alpamayo, this day is for you the last day. From lagoons Safuna you move to the last pass Yanacon (4 610 m asl) and from here awaits you a long descent to Pomabamba (2 960 m asl). Especially the last part of this hike, walk through the valley of Janca pampa with panoramic view of the massif of Pucajirca is worth it.

15.
Hike over pass Yanacon

To the valley of Janca pampa

Rating:

| Altitude: 4 610 m / 15 125 ft

Alpamayo BC Trek 6: From the lagoons Safuna await you the long walk through the valley of Tayapampa and then in the direction of the latest high pass on this trek – Yanacon (4 610 m asl) and farther into wide valley Jancapampa. Here you need to decide whether you end this trek by descending into Pomabamba or extend it and make the entire walk around the entire massif of Alpamayo. Compared to the previous stages is this day a little less interesting. continue reading

16.
Hike Through Janca Pampa to Pomabamba

Descent through fabulous valley

Rating:

| Altitude: 3 550 m / 11 647 ft

Alpamayo BC Trek 7: The last stage of the trek leads through the picturesque valley of Janca pampa with stunning „back“ views of glaciated ridge of Pucajirca. Picturesque sceneries are completed here by the herds of horses and boxes strewn around the surrounding mountain slopes. continue reading