15Day-Mountainbike Extreme Cordillera Huayhuash Yerupaja Circuit

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.

This will be a varied and interesting voyage. The drive 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 (3100m.) 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.

First day on bikes , east of the city of Huaraz, to adjust to the high elevation. Huaraz – Marian – Huanchac – Wilcahuain – Monterrey – Huaraz. We’ll ride through fields and eucalyptus forests, along the valley slopes and through the villages of Marianan and Huanchac, to Wilcahuain (3,250 m), where we’ll see some pre-Incan ruins. In Wilcahuain, we have a picnic lunch and then continue at our leisure to the hot springs at Monterrey for swimming and relaxing. Afterward we return to Huaraz. Distance covered by bikes: 20 km.

Today we visit the Cordillera Negra, from where you have a magnificent view of the Cordillera Blanca. Wilcacocha is an exceptional viewpoint for the Cordillera Blanca, allowing us to identify peaks (from north to south) Huandoy Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Hualcan, Copa,Vallunaraju, Ocshapalca, Ranrapalca, Palcaraju, Churup, Chinchey, San Juan, Huamasraju, Huatzan, Cashan, Shacsha, Pucaraju, Muruaraju and Caullaraju. The camp is set on a beautiful lake, complete with wild ducks.

Our third day of acclimatization. In the morning we ride downhill from Wilcacocha to Huaraz. From there we take a short car ride (bringing the bikes) through the villages of Unchus and Llupa to Pitec (3850 m) in the Cordillera Blanca. From Pitec, we have 5-6 hours of hiking to Laguna Churup, impossible on a bike, but worthwhile nonetheless. Laguna Churup is at the foot of the glacier of 5000 meter Nevado (Mount) Churup. Descend back to Pitec on foot and have a downhill ride or go via car to Huaraz.

Our extreme adventure begins today! Our van takes us to Yanashallash Pass (4,680 m), the highest point of our route today and our way across the Cordillera Blanca. From the pass we enjoy a beautiful view of the mountains to the east and west and the peaks of Uruashraju (5,722 m), Huanstán (6,395 m) and Yanamarey (5,237 m.) We’ll ride our bikes from here to Huallanca (3,100 m.) Along the way we discover ancient dinosaur tracks and shop in the market in Huallanca for some additional things that we need for the next part of the tour. We follow the San Juan River to Cunchush Pass (4,700 m.) Here is a great view of the Cordillera Huayhuash. Continue to Matacancha Camp (4,150 m).

Climb from Matacancha to Cacanampunta Pass (4,700 m). We carry our bikes for almost all of this section, 3-4 hours, because the trail is very uneven and rocky. At Cacanapunta Pass we have spectacular open views of the wild mountains of Huayhuash. We descend over beautiful wide pastures to Laguna Mitococha (4,300 m) and continue with an easy climb over Punta Carhuac Pass (4,650 m) and descend over gentle undulating grasslands to Laguna Carhuacocha (4,200 m), one of the best campsites on our route. If there is no wind, we’ll see the peaks of rock and ice reflected on the surface of the calm waters. At the lake live indigenous farmers – with their permission we may get to catch fresh trout for dinner!

This part of the route is strenuous and has no obvious road. It passes through remote peaks and glaciers of Huayhuash, with the most magnificent panoramic view of the excursion. We pass Lake Carhuacocha and beyond that is the ice fall and retreating glacier of Sarapo Peak (6127m). We cross Siula Pass (4,950 m) with overwhelming panoramic views. Almost all of this part of the trek we carry our bikes on our shoulders, making for a very strenuous and difficult day. We can very carefully ride some sections of the descent into camp at Quiesillococha Lake (4,450 m). Alternative: If you prefer an easier day, there is a route that is a little longer but less demanding and less steep: flat along the east edge of Lake Carhuacocha, climb through the Quebrada Acoshpado to the summit of Carnicero Point (4,580 m) and a smooth descent to the two lakes of Atocshaiko to Carnicero Camp or Camp Huayhuash at Quesillococha Lake (4.450 m).

Huayhuash, then to the headwaters of the Huayhuash River – the very green Suirococha Lakes (4,500 m.) The climb is again dominated by impressive mountain panoramas, this time the ice covered peaks of the southern Huayhuash Range. Descend to the largest lake, and the southernmost point of the trek – Lake Viconga (4,400 m). Viconga Hot Springs Camp.

From the lake of Puscanturpa Gorge, we scramble over rocks and sand to the pass. The spectacular view is of the Raura Range to the east. The Puscanturpa Peaks loom very close and “giants” of Huayhuash, Sarapo, Siula and Yerupajá. We drop sharply to Huanacpatay Gorge (4,350 m) and continue along the river to the Calinca Valley (Rio Huayllapa) and continue to the village of Huayllapa (3,600 m). In the relatively low elevation, the trail takes us through dense vegetation with many colors of flowers – especially the shrubs called huishllac, named for their yellow color and open purple flowers, the sacred flower of the Incas. Camp in the village of Huayllapa. (3,600 m).

Magnificent views once again, including Nevado Diablo Mudo (Silent Devil Peak) (5,350 m). Camp in Gashgapampa.

750 m.) From this point Silent Devil Peak can again be seen. We enjoy the downhill ride to beautiful Jahuacocha Lake (4,066 m). During the descent we stop to look at the upper part of the mountains of Rondoy, Jirishanca, Yerupajá, Rasac and Sarapo. Our camp at Jahuacocha Lake is one of the most beautiful places of our route.

Our mountain bike trip begins today with carrying our bikes for about one hour. We continue on a pronounced slope toward Juhauapunta Pass (4,650 m). Rapid changes in the weather (with snowfall!) happen every time we are here. From the pass we go down past a mountain cow pasture to the picturesque indigenous village of Pocpa (3,600 m.) Countless cacti, quite unusual for this region, suggest that high temperatures are not uncommon here. We see colorful flowers along the entire way. In the village of Pocpa, our private transport will be waiting. At dinner we can exchange photos of the tour and reminisce. Lodging at a hotel.

Day 14: Transfer to the Anta Airport and 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 LC-Peru and last 50 minutes.

Arrival in USA or Austria, Switzerland,Germany, etc