Today is a free day to get your bearings after traveling.

Today is mostly a driving and sightseeing day with a short hike included to stretch our legs. After breakfast, we will head northwards on the Callejon de Huaylas through Yungay, a town
rebuilt after the 1970 earthquake. After a few hours sightseeing by vehicle we begin our hike. We will Aascend towards the Gorge Llanganuco, a glacial valley that gives us incredible views
of Huandoy, Huascarán and Chopicalqui Mountains.

Join us for an all-day adventurous acclimatization hike in the Cordillera Blanca Mountain range 40 minutes east of Huaraz. Today's trip will help you adjust to the thinner air and prepare for more challenging future hikes. Driving up into the Cordillera Blancas east of town, we begin with an impressive set of nicely maintained steps that level off to a well-worn path up a ravine that ascends more gradually after our initial ascent. As we hike, we’ll come upon the towering snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca, one after the other, including Peru’s highest mountain, Mt. Huascaran, standing at 22,204 ft (6768 m).

Starting out in the early morning, we’ll head south driving along the paved road for approximately two hours to the town of Chiquian. Along the route, we’ll pause at a vista point in order to appreciate this segment of the Cordillera Huayhuash including Yerupaja, the second highest peak in Peru. Continuing our journey, we traverse a dirt road towards Llamac Village, the gateway of the Cordillera Huayhuash. Crossing Pocpa Village and Pallca Mine, we approach the entrance of the Rondoy Valley at 13,287 ft (4050m); the scenery opens up into rolling grasslands, dominated by the snowcapped peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash. We’ll set up camp in Cuartelhuain at 13,680ft (4170 m).

We start the day crossing the Cacananpunta Pass at 15,256ft (4650m), at the northern end of the massif. This is the Continental Divide, and from this point on, the waters flow to the Amazon and the Atlantic. This is a favorite spot for the Andean Condor, and with any luck, we’ll spot these huge birds soaring over our heads. From here, a rough descent brings us through colorful landscape leads to a beautiful, flat, grassy campsite at Janca (13,870 ft/ 4230 m). Our camp isn't far from Lake Mitucocha, whose turquoise waters reflect the peaks of Ninashanca, Rondoy and Jirishanca peaks. This relatively short day will aid in our acclimatization to the altitude, but for those still feeling energetic we can take a short hike to the lake in the afternoon.

The Carhuac pass at 15,174ft (4625m) takes a bit longer, but is not too steep, with splendid views of Yerupaja, which at 21,765ft (6634m) is the highest mountain in the Huayhuash region. Descending, we arrive at the rim of a hanging valley where we can glimpse down on the crystalline blue green waters of Lake Carhuacocha. We end at our campsite, located below the lake at 13,620ft (4151m). It is surrounded by an incredible vista of peaks and hanging glaciers that dwarf us with their looming presence.

Photographers: an early rise to catch the sunrise over the lake and snowy peaks from our campsite is highly recommended. You’ll know it was worth it when you witness the sun’s first rays catching the peak of Mt Yeru- paja at 21,765ft (6634m). Today’s trek is a long, gradual climb up from a verdant valley accompanied by the gor- geous views of Yerupaja, Yerupaja Chico, Siula Grande, Jirishanca, Santa Rosa, and Carnicero. We’ll also have the good fortune of passing lakes Gangrajanca, Siula and Quesillacocha, each as pristine and crystal clear as the next. Finally, we have a steep climb to the top of the rocky Siula Pass 15,781ft (4810m). After this challenging section, we descend to Huayhuash Campsite 14,238ft (4340 m) and sleep nestled at the foot of Mount Trapecio and the three peaks of Jurua.

Continuing our trek, we ascend 2230ft (680m) to reach the fourth pass, one of the highest of our trek: Trapecio Punta at 16,470ft (5020m). At the top of the pass, take in excellent views of the peaks of Trapecio, Puscanturpa and the southern peaks of the Cordillera Raura. Next, we descend a very steep and rocky trail for around 820ft (250m) and traverse an old glacier moraine before reaching camp: a grassy valley nestled at the foot of spec- tacular Cuyoc Peak. We’ll camp here on the plains of Huanacpatay at 14,800ft (4511m).

Today is probably the hardest day, with a tough afternoon, and often involving hot weather. We retrace our steps down the Huanacpatay valley and drop to the warmer climate of the cultivated, remote village of Huayl- lapa at 11,800ft (3600m), with beautiful views of the waterfalls. In the afternoon, we climb steeply again to spend the night at 14,100ft (4300m) at Huatiac, a high grazing meadow under the shadow of Diablo Mudo, the 'Dumb Devil'.

At last, a very easy day as we cross the Punta Tapush Pass at 15,650ft (4770m), and then, descend for approxi- mately one hour to our next camp located in Gashpapampa at 14,829ft (4520m). From the campsite, we’ll ap- preciate a glorious sunset behind Mount Diablo Mudo.

Today we trek down to the Angoshcancha Valley through a forest of Quenual (Paper Bark) trees. Then we ascend to our eighth and last pass: scree-covered Yaucha Pass, at 15,912ft (4850m). On a clear day, there are magnificent views of the highest peaks of the Huayhuash Range and long-distance panoramas of the imposing peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. Here is another good spot for sighting Andean condors. A long descent eventu- ally brings us to the indescribably beautiful Laguna Jahuacocha, widely held to be among the scenic gems of the entire range. Overnight at 13,287ft (4050m).

This morning we have our final challenge as we will ascend a steady but gradual climb up to Mancanpunta Pass at 15,000ft (4572m). After a brief rest at this vantage point taking in the
surrounding Andean ranges, we descend a steep gravelly trail to Pocpa at 11,430ft (3483m). In Pocpa, our private transportation awaits to transfer us to Huaraz. Tonight you will have a well- deserved hot shower and a wonderful night's sleep in a bed.

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