20-Day Peru Trek and Climb Expedition to Alpamayo and Chopicalqui

• Arrival in Lima - a large city with a population of approximately 11 million, the largest city in South America.
• Rest.
• If you wish, explore the city on your own.
• Overnight Hotel (-/-/-)

• This ride follows the Pan American Highway north across the impressive Pacific coastal desert.
• Continuing toward higher terrain, we pass through the Cordillera Negra (Black Range) at Conococha Pass (4020 m) into the Santa Valley and Huaraz (3100 m).
• Once across the pass, you'll see a charming view of the mountains of the Cordillera Blanca, without a doubt some of the most impressive scenery in the world.
• You can also fly via LCPERU - flight duration 50 minutes.
• Overnight Hotel (B/-/-) = There is already the option of taking a flight from Lima-Huaraz-Lima, estimated cost approximately 200 to 300 USD per person round trip.

• For acclimatization, we visit the Cordillera Negra, where you can see a magnificent view of the Cordillera Blanca.
• We'll have a chance to see wild ducks on the beautiful lake. Wilcacocha, because of its location, is an exceptional viewpoint for the Cordillera Blanca, allowing us to identify peaks from north to south, including Huandoy, Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Hualcan, Copa, Vallunaraju, Ocshapalca, Ranrapalca, Palcaraju, Churup, and many more. Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

• The trail to Laguna Churup is one of the classic hikes of the Cordillera Blanca, challenging but a great acclimatization route. We drive to the village of Llupa, and from there begin our hike on an ancient Inca trail to Laguna Churup.
• The trail gets narrow and steep, including a small section with fixed ropes. It's one of the most beautiful places in this varied mountain region.
• Churup Peak rises above the lake, a wild rocky mountain with glaciers and cliffs 5,400 meters above sea level.
• Here we can continue climbing and do a loop to the Churup summit trail before returning to the trailhead and back to Huaraz for the night.
• Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

• Huaraz - Transfer to Paso Punta Olimpica (4736 m) - Nevado Mateo (5150 m), one-day guided ascent.

• After a good breakfast, we'll take our minibus to the Santa Valley, north of the small village of Yungay via the Santa River. We continue by private car to Portachuelo Pass (4650 m) on the east side of the Cordillera Blanca.
• We arrive in the village of Vaqueria (3,750 m). In this small village our pack animals are waiting.
• We take a short hike to our camp at Huaripampa (3,550 m).
• Our route then takes us farther up the Huaripampa Valley, past Paria (3,800 m).
• Continue trekking to Amapampa, our camp (4250 m). Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

• Today we cross Punta Union Pass.
• From the pass we can see all of the Santa Cruz Valley and the trail that we will follow.
• After stopping for a while on the pass for photos, we descend to Taullipampa Camp (4,250 m) and then continue to Alpamayo Base Camp.
• From this point we can already see Alpamayo, the goal of our expedition.
• Camp at Quebrada Arhuecocha (4,300 m). Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

• Today we have a good breakfast and prepare the expedition equipment for Alpamayo. From here we begin using a local team - porters, cook, and local guides - who will help us carry everything.
• We set out for the moraine after a small lunch in Base Camp.
• The trail takes us across the steep moraine at the tongue of the glacier to Moraine Camp (4,900 m). Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

• Alpamayo High Camp is on the steep glacier at the base of Alpamayo and Quitaraju.
• Due to the constant shrinkage of the glacier, every year we find a different situation along this section.
• We find magnificent views from High Camp - the summit looks close enough to touch.
• We have dinner a bit early because we must rise very early for the long day that awaits us tomorrow. High Camp (5,300 m). Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

• Summit day! One possible route is the French route, a 60 to 80 degree wall of ice which narrows toward the top.
• Above the wall, you need to conquer a few meters to the highest point of the narrow ridge.
• At the summit, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the Cordillera Blanca. The neighboring peak of Quitaraju (6,036 m) is almost within striking distance, and to the southwest you can see the remarkable summit of Huascarán (6,768 m).
• After a brief rest and photos at the summit, we return quickly to High Camp via a rappel down the route we came up.
• In good weather, the climb to the summit and return to Base Camp can be done before noon.
• The ascent takes 5-6 hours, while the descent takes about 2-3 hours.
• If participants are tired, we can stay one more night in High Camp.
• If everyone feels fine, which is usual, we descend to Alpamayo Base Camp (4,300 m). Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

• Extra day scheduled in case of bad weather or to return to Base Camp if staying the previous night in High Camp. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

• Today we rise early in order to begin our hike, descending through the Santa Cruz Valley to Cashapampa (about 6 hours).
• In this village our minibus awaits to take us and the local expedition team back to Huaraz. Lodging at the hotel. Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

• Rest day in Huaraz.
• Optional: Rock climbing at the walls of Chancas, a classic location for many rock climbing enthusiasts. This area is 40 minutes north of Huaraz. It was developed thanks to the guides of Don Bosco in the Andes, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing tourism, in 1997. It has 8 developed routes of different difficulties. It is a good place to spend a quiet day in nature and then visit the local hot springs to relax aching muscles. Overnight Hotel (B/-/-)

• After breakfast we begin to prepare our mountaineering equipment in Huaraz (3100 m).
• Transfer via Quebrada Llanganuco.
• Trekking to Chopicalqui Base Camp (4350 m).
• Continuing ascent to Chopicalqui Moraine Camp (4900 m), with our private transport taking 3-3.5 hours and the trek up to Moraine Camp taking 5 hours. Overnight Camp (-/L/D)

• First we climb over the rocky moraine to the glacier.
• Then we continue over the different slopes of the glacier, crossing various crevasses to camp on the glacier at High Camp. 5-6 hours. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

• Chopicalqui is a demanding mountain, and the culmination of our expedition. Climb to the summit. There are seracs and crevasses to cross and sections of technical walls to climb.
• On the final section we have some 8-10 meters of 75º-80º slope.
• Descend to High Camp or Moraine Camp and continue to Base Camp (10-13 hours today). Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

• Today we prepare to leave early, from Moraine Camp or Base Camp to the highway, where we find our private bus.
• Now is the time to say goodbye to the Llanganuco Valley. Lodging at the hotel in Huaraz. Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

• Transfer to Anta Airport and a 50-minute flight to Lima, or transfer to the bus terminal for the 8-hour ride to Lima.
• Transfer to the hotel.

Options: Flight or bus. Flights are via LATAM and last 50 minutes. Overnight Hotel (B/-/-)

• In the late afternoon, taxi transfer to the airport.
• Arrival in USA or Austria, Switzerland, Germany, etc. Overnight flight (B/-/-)

• Arrival in USA or Austria, Switzerland, Germany, etc. Overnight Home (-/-/-)

Note: It is very important to know that if, for some reason, Nevado Alpamayo or Chopicalqui is closed or cannot be climbed, the second alternative is Nevado Tocllaraju (6034 m).