SANTA CRUZ TREK & PISCO CLIMB

OVERVIEW:

Duration: 08Days/07 Nights
Highest Point: 5752m. Pisco Summit
Route: Trekking Santa Cruz & Climbing Pisco Mountain
Recommended Season: May - September
Difficulty: Moderated
Number of Persons per Guide: 2-3

Trekking Santa Cruz is one of the most famous treks in the Cordillera Blanca, due to the spectacular panoramic views of the mountains, beautiful lagoons of crystalline waters and a great diversity of flora and fauna typical of the Andean area; It is also appropriate to start here to achieve a good acclimatization to ascend to higher altitudes and better combine this hike, climbing a mountain like Pisco. Therefore, this time we offer you to do this Trek in a combined tour including climbing the Pisco mountain, this mountain is technically easy to climb and for many visitors it is one of the mountains that has a spectacular view from its summit, that´s why this tour would be a great choice or perhaps the best, if you love trekking and climbing at the same time.

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Huaraz - Cashapampa - Llamacorral (3800m/12464ft)
After the breakfast in the hotel we will take our private bus to the Callejón de Huaylas on the north side of Huaraz. We will travel through the districts of: Carhuas (2650m.), Yungay (2500m.), and Caraz City (2250m). We will arrive around 10:00am to our destination, Cashapampa. Our donkey driver will waiting for us to transport our camping equipment, and therefore make our backpacks very light. From the trailhead we will hike for 2.5 hours and then break for lunch. Another 5 - 6 hours of hiking will get us to our first camp the, Llamacorral (3760m), around 4:00pm.

Day 2: Llamacorral – Alpamayo view point – Taullipampa (4200m)
This day will be a full day hiking and breathtaking vistas. After the breakfast we will begin the two-hour hike that will take us to Ichiccocha Lake and Jatuncocha Lake. From here we continue for another two hours that takes us to the base camp of Alpamayo. From this vista we can see the mountains Alpamayo, Quitaraju, Artesonraju, Paron, and Aguja. Try to resist maxing your camera’s memory card at this location because there is much more to come. Two more hours of hiking will bring us to our second camp site, Taullipampa (4200m/13776ft).

Day 3: Taullipampa – Punta Union Pass (4750m)– Cachinapampa
After breakfast we will start hiking at 8:00am. A four-hour hike will bring us to the Punta Union Pass (4750m/15580ft) where we will have lunch while enjoying the splendid scenery. Complete panorama views of glaciated mountains, blue skies, and unique landscapes will be our companion during this high altitude picnic. After lunch we descend for approximately three to four hours to our final camp, Cachinapampa (3800m/12464ft).

Day 4: Cachinapampa – Vaqueria – Yurac Corral
After the breakfast in the morning we will start going down for about 2 hours half to get Vaqueria, where our transport will be waiting for us, to transport to Yurac Corral; we will pass the Portachuelo Pass 4770m., here we will have a stop to enjoy the splendid view of impressive mountains such as: Huascaran, chopicallqui, Huandoy, Pisco and Chacraraju and deep in the LLanganuco valley we can appreciate two beautiful lakes, the Chinancocha and Orconcocha. From the Portachuelo Pass, we have two options: go down to the camping place by bus or walk by old trail till Yurac Corral, buy bus it will take us 1 hour approximately and on foot about 2 and half hours.

Day 05: Yuracorral-Trekking Laguna 69 4437m.- Pisco Base Camp
Today we will start very early our walk to the beautiful lagoon 69, within the Cordillera Blanca, is one of the most visited lagoons, this due to its easy access and having spectacular views that visitors can observe during the journey. To get to this beautiful lagoon we have to follow a very visible and marked path that ascends gradually and will take us an average of 3 hours, once here you will have as a prize a beautiful lagoon of blue and crystalline waters just at the foot of the impressive mountain of Chacraraju; We will also have a break to recharge our energy having lunch time. After this break we will continue ascending a little more and this time we take a slightly more demanding path, every minute we ascend we will have incredible views of magnificent mountains and a wonderful landscape around us, after walking for an average of three hours we reach Pisco Base camp and here we will spend the night at 4670

Day 06: Pisco Base Camp– Pisco Moraine Camp
After breakfast, we will start the ascent a first and small section, then descend about 150 meters and cross some brunettes until we reach the Moraine camp, from here we are closer to the glacier and to our final goal that is the summit of the Pisco mountain, this The tour is not very long and it takes us an average of 3 hours of walking, so when we arrive at the camp we have plenty of time to put the tents, rest, relax and prepare everything for the next day. From here we can appreciate magnificent views of some impressive peaks and be right at the foot of the gigantic Huandoy Mountain and Pisco Mountain.

Day 07: Pisco Moraine Camp- Summit- Base Camp
Today we begin our hike very early, we leave at 3:00 AM and crossing a path of brunettes to reach the glacier in half an hour, here we are going to put all the climbing equipment to start with our ascent towards the summit of the Pisco Mount. We pass very steep slopes with an inclination of 35-40 °. Once at the summit we will have impressive views of many peaks around us, including the imposing Chacraraju, Artesonraju (which is used as a Paramount Pictures logo), the 4 peaks of the Huandoy, Caraz, Huascaran, and even the Alpamayo that is known as the most beautiful mountain in the world and others. After a restful and relaxing break we will descend by the same way to the base camp. It will take us 7-8 hours approximately.

Day 08: Pisco Base Camp- Yurac Corral- Huaraz
Today is our last day together in the mountain, so after breakfast we descend from the base camp of Pisco towards Cebollapampa and then we continue walking to Yurac Corral, where our transport will be waiting to bring back us to Huaraz City, after 3 hour driving we will arrive here and then transfer in your hotel.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

All private tours, all private transport and the price system guarantees your departure and only with your team members.

Official bilingual guides with good manners and social behavior

Official mountain cooks (Our expeditions always go with guide & cook, amount depending on the amount of participants).

Good and varied food - best quality (vegetarian option).

Climbing in the Cordillera Blanca always with accredited guides, no exceptions.

Porters, donkeys and donkey drivers, amount depending on the amount of participants and nature of your expedition.

We respect working conditions and local tariffs of staff - no exploitation

Imported tents from Eureka, Mountain Hard ware, North face and Ferrino brand, 3 person tents for every 2 customers, 2 person tent for every single person.

All camping equipment and cooking/eating utensils.

Self inflating Matresses (Thermarest)

Clients carry day pack only, approx. 12 kg per client on the donkeys

Safety horses in case of emergency or fatigue (until 6 pax -> 1 horse, until 12 pax -> 2 horses, until 18 pax -> 3 horses …).

All entrance fees

First aid kit and oxygen bottle

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

Not mentioned or additional beverages or meals in villages

Sleeping bag (rental US $ 7.00 per day + US $ 5.00 for obligatory laundry)

Breakfast on the 1st day (hotel) and dinner on the last day.

Tip for the staff

Travel accidents and health insurance

Return or abortion otherwise as planned itinerary: transport & possible accommodation costs (also for staff)

Personal mountain equipment.

WHAT TO PACK

CLIMBING GEAR LIST
Dear client,
We understand how important it is for our clients to have the right equipment on their trips. That’s why we provide you with this Climbing Equipment and Gear List, which gives you a detailed inventory of all the items you need during your excursion.
We recommend to always purchasing quality equipment: we realize that this may be expensive, but it can mean the difference between reaching a summit and not.
Some (technical) equipment can be provided by Unlimited Expedition (as indicated below); please let us know beforehand if you bring these items yourself or if you would like to use Unlimited Expedition gear.
Kindest regards,
Unlimited Expedition

FEET
- Outer socks, thick wool or polypropylene - 1 pair
- Inner socks, thin silk or polypropylene - 1 pair
- Plastic double mountaineering boots – 1 pair
- Gaiters – 1 pair

UPPER BODY
- Lightweight polypropylene - 1
- Fleece jacket - 1
- Breathable windproof outer jacket, such as Gore-Tex, with hood - 1

LOWER BODY
- Polypropylene or underpants - 1 pair
- Fleece pants (full length side zippers recommended) – 1 pair
- Breathable windproof pants such as Gore-Tex – 1 pair

HANDS
- Mittens, thick fleece - 1 pair
- Gloves, polypropylene or capilene - 1 pair
- Gore-Tex wind shells for mittens- 1 pair

HEAD
- Balaclava - 1
- Baseball cap - 1

SLEEPING GEAR
- Down or polar guard sleeping bag comfortable to minus 10 Celsius - 1

PACK
- Backpack large (50+ liters) - 1

TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT
- Ice axe 70 cm
- Crampons, 12 points
- Ski poles
- Climbing harness
- Climbing helmet