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Cordillera Blanca Hike, Featuring the Ultimate in Peru Adventure Travel
Duration: 10 days
4-8 Travelers: $1875 per person
2-3 Travelers: $2275 per person
Venture into the heart of the most impressive mountain range in Peru and hike the famous Cordillera Blanca across Peru. This amazing Peru tour takes you to the Earth's highest tropical range, rising more than 18,000 feet in an area thirteen miles wide and 112 miles long. As you hike through Huascaran National Park, you will view pristine turquoise glacier lakes, flowering meadows, isolated Quechua villages and the towering peaks of Alamayo and Taulliraju. This exciting five-day trek is the ultimate in Peru adventure travel. If time permits, combine this tour with one of our Inca Trail tours for an experience of a lifetime.
If a private departure would be more to your liking, please contact us regarding details and costs.
Itinerary details for Cordillera Blanca Hike
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Day 1 (Thu) LIMA
View Lima accommodations picture gallery
When you arrive, you'll be transferred to your hotel by our guides. If you arrive early, we would be happy to arrange optional tours of museums, the city, and its surroundings sites.
Begin Optional Pre-Itinerary Tour Extensions
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Day 2 (Fri) LIMA - HUARAZ
Depart early by first-class coach for the city of Huaraz (10,140 ft), located about 250 miles north of Lima. Following the Pan-American Highway, your Peru ecotour takes you through several lush green valleys, cutting through the coastal desert, before reaching the town of Pativilca. Turning inland, the main road winds up to Conococha pass (13,120 ft), where you'll experience the first breathtaking glimpse of the Cordillera Blanca. Arrive in Huaraz where you'll be spending the night in a comfortable hotel. (B,L)
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Day 3 (Sat) HUARAZ
Today is a free day to acclimatize and visit the colorful markets and other sights in and around Huaraz. A favorite activity of travelers is a short hike to the statue of the Virgin Mary perched above Huaraz. Here you will enjoy a panoramic view of both the Cordillera Blanca and its sister range, the Cordillera Negra, or Black Range. In the evening, you'll meet your guide to discuss the upcoming trek on the next leg of your Peru travel, allowing plenty of time for last minute preparations in Huaraz. (B)
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Day 4 (Sun) HUARAZ - VAQUERIA
Camp
Leaving early in the morning, your Peru tour continues with a trip to Huascaran National Park and a short hike in the small valley of Quebrada Demanda. In the early afternoon, continue along this narrow road as it twists and turns to the pass at Portachuelo de Llanganuco, (15,580 ft). If the evening is clear, enjoy a spectacular view of Mt. Huascaran, Huandoy, Pisco and Chacraraju, the latter being one of Peru's most difficult mountains to climb. At sunset, drive down to Vaqueria, the first campsite. (B,L,D)
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Day 5 (Mon) VAQUERIA - TUCTU
Camp
Your Peru ecotour continues with a leisurely walk into the Huaripampa valley past small farming settlements and Andean vegetation, where the snowcapped peaks of Paria and Taulliraju come into view. Camp for the evening in the vicinity of Paria or Tuctu. (B,L,D)
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Day 6 (Tue) TUCTU - TAULLIPAMPA
Camp
The trail starts ascending towards Punta Union pass (15,711 ft). This old trail was heavily used in pre-Columbian and colonial times as a route for transporting goods from the eastern side of the Andes to the main valley. As you approach the pass, Mt. Taulliraju looms above. When you reach the other side of the mountain, you'll come upon the glacier and its lake, and from there, have a spectacular view of scenic Santa Cruz valley. The trail descends to camp at 13,200 ft. (B,L,D)
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Day 7 (Wed) TAULLIPAMPA - LLAMACORAL
Camp
Continue down the Santa Cruz valley where you may be able to view Mt. Alpamayo. The landscape of your Peru tour changes as screen slope and rock boulders appear on each side of the now marshy meadow. Toward the end of the day, trek out of the ever-narrowing gully into Llamacorral, this evening's campsite. (B,L,D)
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Day 8 (Thu) LLAMACORRAL - CASHAPAMPA - HUARAZ
The early morning's hike begins with a steep descent to Cashapampa where a vehicle will take you back to Huaraz, arriving in the afternoon. Stay overnight at a Huaraz hotel. (B,L)
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Day 9 (Fri) HUARAZ - LIMA
View Lima accommodations picture gallery
This morning's bus ride returns you to Lima, with a box lunch to tide you over. You'll arrive in the late afternoon and be transferred to your hotel. (B,L)
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Day 10 (Sat) LIMA - RETURN HOME
Transfer to the airport in the morning for your international flight home, marking the end of Southern Explorations services and your Peru tour. Trip extensions to other regions or extra days in Lima can be arranged if you wish to stay on. (B)
Begin Optional Post-Itinerary Tour Extensions
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Key:
(B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner
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Details about trekking the Cordillera Blanca
Our Cordillera Blanca trekking trip consists of five to six hours of hiking per day. Plenty of time is allowed for you to set your own pace. You'll carry only a small daypack with your camera, spare film, water bottle, and rain gear, and porters will carry your additional clothing, personal effects and the camping equipment. A North Face tent and air mattress sleeping pad will be provided. Without the burden of a heavy pack, you'll have more time for photography, observation and exploration on this Inca Trail Peru tour.
A fresh cup of hot tea brought to your tent each morning, with a bowl of hot water for washing. Our experienced trail cooks prepare meals using fresh vegetables, beef and chicken as well as vegetarian fare.
During your Peru travel, each day's trek begins around 8 AM to cover most of the day's distance before lunchtime and reach the campsite by mid-afternoon. This schedule gives you plenty of time to unpack for the night and to enjoy your surroundings. This Andes hiking trip is a trekker's dream.
Itinerary Map
ARTICLES & INFORMATION ABOUT PERU
TOURS AND TRAVEL
CONTACT US
CALL
1.877.784.5400
TOLL FREE
OUTSIDE
THE U.S.A. CALL
1.206.784.8111
2008 SCHEDULED TRIP DATES
Thursday Departures
2 person minimum / 8 maximum
July
24-8/2
August
21-30
September
18-27
October
23-11/1
November
20-29
December
11-20
Private Departures can be arranged. Please contact us regarding private departure costs.
2009 SCHEDULED TRIP DATES
Thursday Departures
2 person minimum / 8 maximum
January
15-24
February
19-28
March
5-14
April
2-11
May
21-30
June
18-27
July
16-25
August
13-22
September
10-19
October
15-24
November
19-28
December
3-12
Private Departures can be arranged. Please contact us regarding private departure costs.
INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS
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Included in tour cost
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- Meals as indicated
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- All hotel and camping accommodations (twin shared basis)
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- All airport/hotel transfers
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- Entrance fees for all scheduled tours and archaeological sites
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- Porters
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- Three person North Face tents
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- Air mattresses
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- Kitchen and dining tent
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- English speaking certified guides
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- Southern Explorations pre departure services.
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Excluded in tour cost
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- International round - trip airfare to and from Peru
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- Airport taxes international (around $30)
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- Tips and gratuities
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- Sleeping bag
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- Travel insurance
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- Continental breakfasts are included at all hotels. All other meals are not included unless specified in the itinerary.
PHYSICAL RATING
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Difficult - Strenuous
PERU ACCOMMODATION
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Cordillera Blanca Hike Accommodation:
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5 nights hotels
4 nights camping
(North face 3 person tents for 2)
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
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Additional $245
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- Single Supplement is the additional cost of a single traveler not sharing a room in double occupancy. We will match you with another same gender traveler unless you request single accommodations.
Prices based on 3% cash discount
)
Duration: 10 days)
Today is a free day to acclimatize and visit the colorful markets and other sights in and around Huaraz. A favorite activity of travelers is a short hike to the statue of the Virgin Mary perched above Huaraz. Here you will enjoy a panoramic view of both the Cordillera Blanca and its sister range, the Cordillera Negra, or Black Range. In the evening, you'll meet your guide to discuss the upcoming trek on the next leg of your Peru travel, allowing plenty of time for last minute preparations in Huaraz. (B)
)
Continue down the Santa Cruz valley where you may be able to view Mt. Alpamayo. The landscape of your Peru tour changes as screen slope and rock boulders appear on each side of the now marshy meadow. Toward the end of the day, trek out of the ever-narrowing gully into Llamacorral, this evening's campsite. (B,L,D)
