El Camino De Los Dioses

Cordillera Blanca

The heart of the Peruvian Andes, The Cordillera Blanca offers you trekking of exceptional beauty.
In 2019 an unprecedented high altitude route was opened, as a result of the collaboration between Italian volunteers and local guides, expression of new sensibilities towards the mountains and their people.

DEPARTURE / ARRIVAL: Bosque, Shilla
DIFFICULTY: EE, F +
LEVEL: +6930 - 100 meters
DURATION: 63 hours approx. in 11 days, with possible variations

HOW TO GET
From Italy, numerous airlines offer flights to the Peruvian capital, Lima. From Lima in comfortable buses in 7 hours you can reach Huaraz, the tourist capital of the Cordillera Blanca, you can also establish your base in Marcara, 30 minutes by bus or taxi (you will find several hostels, get advice with your guide). The town of Shilla, at the foot of the Huascarán mountain, accessible by bus or taxi from the cities of the Huaylas alley, is the reference town for the beginning and the end of the walk. The most convenient starting point is the Bosque tourist complex, which can be reached by taxi from Shilla. It takes a few days of high altitude acclimatization before going through the stages, classified EE, except for two F + (easy mountaineering) however they can be ignored.

Itinerary:

DAY 1: HUAYPAN (BOSQUE) 3500M - HUASCARAN REFUGE 4600M
» DIFFICULTY: EE, short sections with fixed ropes
» LEVEL: +1150 - 50 meters approx.
» DURATION: 4 - 5 hours

From Bosque, we will climb a hill of moraine and after Queyshururi valley, towards the great slope below Huascarán obliquely to the left; some plates and simple steps equipped with fixed ropes will be overcome, to pass upstream of a large rocky tower (4350 m approximately 3.5 hours); Continue to the left slightly uphill towards the refuge (4600m, 1 hour)

DAY 2: HUASCARAN REFUGE (4600M) - LAGUNAS DE LLANGANUCO (3850M)
» DIFFICULTY: EE
» LEVEL: approx. +300 - 1450 m
» DURATION: 6 - 7 hours

From Refugio you descend to the traditional base camp of Huascarán. Through a vast area of smooth rock plates and streams; Having reached the camp (4250 m approximately 1.5 hours), continue along the road only to an altitude of 4150 meters. Here you cross to the right towards an area of meadows, and then enter a valley until you reach the edge of the Acraranco ridge, which descends to the right at the Armapampa valley (3250 m, 3 hours). Climb a new ridge and descend to the Llanganuco valley, to climb along the road to the lagoons about 3450m. 1.5 hours, follow the valley to the Yurac Coral camp by taxi, bike or on foot, according to agreements with the guide.

DAY 3: YURAC CORAL (3850M) - PERU REFUGE 4665M
» DIFFICULTY: E
» LEVEL: + 820 m
» DURATION: 4–5 hours

From the camp, walk along the valley to Cebollapampa 3900m. After crossing the bridge over the river take the route that leads with many curves to camp 1 and to the peru al pisco refuge (4665 m) from 4 to 5 hours.

DAY 4: PERU REFUGE - LAGUNA BROGGI 4570M
» DIFFICULTY: E
» LEVEL: + 460 m
» DURATION: 4–5 hours

From the refuge you will ross the moraine of the glacial tongue that descends from the Huandoy a little downhill. Once overcome, you will climb on the opposite side of the mountain and we will go through the three condors (4850m 2 hours); Go down north, in front of Chacraruju la Luguna 69 (4600m), pass the lagoon and go down a vast flood road of 4400m, turn left towards Demanda valley to the camp near Broggi Lagoon (4570m 2 hours)

DAY 5: LAGUNA BROGGI - MASTAGLIA REGUFIO (HUARIAMPA) 3600M.
» DIFFICULTY: EE, F + features
» LEVEL: around 400 - 1370 m
» DURATION: 7 - 8 hours

From the camp climb to the head of the valley, pointing to the depression of the ridge between the snowy mountains of Chacraraju and Yanapaccha. Climb the rocks (a climbing part, 2 secured by the guides and then emerge on the spectacular chacraraju pass (4950m 2 hours). Cross to the left with some exposed passages to cross a ridge and descend to the Tintacocha lagoon. Ranincuray ravine to Huripampa and Refugio Mastaglia (3600m 5 hours)

DAY 6: MASTAGLIA REFUGE - 4100M CONTRAHIERVA REFUGE
» DIFFICULTY: E
» LEVEL: around 950 - 450 m
» DURATION: 5 - 6 hours

From Huaripampa, go down to the town of Colcabamba 3300m and go up to Challua 3560m, 1.30 hours); Go up more to skirt the slope and descend the Ichi Ulta valley to the carriage path in Molinopampa (3500m 1.5 hours). Climb the opposite side and touch the archaeological site of Quishuar to reach the Contrahierba Refuge (4100m 2 hours).

DAY 7: CONTRAHIERVA REFUGE - CONTRAHIERVA REFUGE
» DIFFICULTY: E
» LEVEL: approx. + -600 m
» DURATION: 5 - 6 hours

Day dedicated to visit the extraordinary pre-Inca temple rebuilt on the vast plateau upstream of the Refuge and climb through a forest on the edge of the snowy Cajavilca, among the spectacular 6000.

DAY 8: COUNTERHIERVA REFUGE - MIRADOR CAMP 4600M
» DIFFICULTY: EE
» LEVEL: approx. 850-350 m
» DURATION: 6 hours

From the refuge, go down to the valley until you reach the right side path of the Ichic Ulta valley (3730m 0.45 hours), turn left and with a long road through the meadows and forests under a waterfall, enter the path on the side opposite. Once you reach the Ichic Ulta lagoon (4200m at 3.5 hours), it rises to the spectacular terrace of the field called Avalancha (4600m 1:45 hours).

DAY 9: MIRADOR CAMP - HUALCACOCHA CAMP 4600M
» DIFFICULTY: EE
» LEVEL: + -650 - 900 meters approx.
» DURATION: 7 hours

From the camp we continue the ascent, then with a hiking to the left we reach Yanayacu Pass (4850m 1:15 hours). It descends through sharp bends on the slope of the Yanayacu lagoon 4515m, then along the valley to the bridge (3940m 3 hours). The camp in the brilliant Hualcacocha lagoon (4350m approx. 2.5 hours)

DAY 10: HUALCACOCHA CAMP 4600M - AUQUISCOCHA CAMP 4303M
» DIFFICULTY: EE with an F + section
» LEVEL: + -700 - 800 meters approx.
» DURATION: 7 hours

From the camp we will go up to the dam of the lagoon 4355 m, after crossing, we will climb the moraine that encloses the lagoon of Hualcacocha; When you reach the end of the ridge, turn right ascending diagonally along the rocky slopes towards the northern crest of the snowy Checquiacraju (5000m approx. 2:25 hours). Continue along the slope with small ascents and descents in aerial rock or snow terrain, where the guide's experience is decisive, going to the southwest ridge, just below the snowy glacial summit (5060 m approx. 1 :30 hours); Easy detour to the summit, then descend to the rocks and grass of Gatay valley to the field of the Auquiscocha lagoon (4303m 2:45 hours).

DAY 11: AUQUISCOCHA CAMP 4303M - TIENDAYOC 3400M - MARCARA 2720M.
» DIFFICULTY: EE
» LEVEL: - 900 meters approx.
» DURATION: 3 hours

From the camp we head towards the smooth plates on the left side of the Gatay valley, entering a path that leads through a forest between rocks and waterfalls, crossing a canal several times. Towards 3650m there is a road that goes down to the trail of Ulta valley, 3400m 3 hours), upstream of Shilla, we will finish the route and then return to Marcara.

Services:

Our Services Include:

private transport from/to your hotel.
Camping and kitchen equipment, food utensils.
Varied food option for vegetarians.
Certified trekking guide (English or Spanish) other language by request.
Cook.
Donkeys and donkey drivers for equipment transfer. Approx. 10 Kg per person.
Emergency horse.
Tent for 3-4 seasons (2 people per tent).
Mats.
Bath tent.
First aid kit.
All entrance fees to the Huascarán National Park.

Our services do not Include:

Sleeping bag.
Personal trekking equipment.
Breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last day.
Extra meals or drinks in the villages.
Tips (optional)