Alpamayo to Pomabamba Trek

Arrive in Huaraz and check into your hotel. Enjoy exploring Huaraz on foot as you get used to the altitude. If you are coming from a lower elevation, you should spend 2-3 days acclimatizing to the altitude, and you can book a 3-day hiking tour during the booking process, that is a good way to acclimatize prior to starting this Alpamayo Trek. You can arrange bus travel from Lima to Huaraz in the booking process.

Your first day on this guided Alpamayo trekking tour begins after breakfast, where you’ll be picked up at your hotel before you leave to transfer to Hualcayan (3,150 m / 10,335 ft) via the Callejon de Huaylas. This transfer takes between 4.5 and 5 hours and you’ll have lunch included along the way. During your transfer, you’ll stop in the towns of Carhuaz, Yungay, Caraz, and more.

Upon reaching Hualcayan you’ll meet up with the local guide and his pack animals. The animals will then carry your equipment and food while you trek up a clear path of switchbacks with a panoramic view of the Callejon de Huaylas. After about 5 hours of trekking, you’ll arrive at Amacuna (3,400 m / 11,155 ft), which is where you’ll camp for the night.

You’ll begin today’s section of the Alpamayo Trek on a clear trail which will allow you to visit an alternative campsite called Wishcash. This trail will provide constant gorgeous views of the surrounding landscape on your way to Cullicocha Lake. You’ll stop at the stunning Cullicocha Lake after about 4 hours of trekking. You’ll relax and eat lunch while enjoying the views of Cullicocha Lake surrounded by stunning mountains. You’ll then continue soon reaching Llampapashillun Pass at 4,850 m / 15,912 ft. Your day will then end after trekking for another 3 hours to reach Osoruri (4,500 m / 14,764 ft) where you’ll eat dinner and camp for the night.

Your third day on the Alpamayo Trek will take you toward Vientuna Pass (4,750 m / 15,584 ft). You’ll reach this destination after roughly 2.5 hours of trekking, and from here, you’ll be able to see the Milhuacocha and Pilanco Mountains, as well as sections of the Cedros and Alpamayo Valleys. From here, you’ll trek about another 3 hours to Ruinapampa, which is your lunch destination. After lunch, you’ll continue your trek through the Alpamayo Valley so that you can reach Jancarurish, which sits at 4,000 m / 13,123 ft. This is your camp for the night.

Today is a well-deserved short day. You can choose to have a complete rest day, though guests are urged to take a closer look at the Alpamayo Mountain on an optional trek to the Alpamayo viewpoint. You’ll start on the route that will take you to the ancient Alpamayo base camp known as Jancarurish. You’ll then ascend through some steep, rocky, terrain that will eventually take you to an area where you’ll be greeted with views of Alpamayo, which many consider to be the most beautiful mountain in the world. This is a 4 hour excursion. After a chance to take photos and rest, you’ll return back to camp and have lunch at the campsite. You’ll spend the remainder of the day relaxing and spend the night here again.

Today is another great day on your guided Alpamayo hike. The first goal of the day is the Kara Pass at 4,830 m / 15,846 ft, which you will reach after 4 hours of trekking. The views from Kara Kara Pass are amazing, taking in Alpamayo, Santa Cruz, and Quitaraju Mountains. After a rest you then walk for another 1.5 hours to reach Mesapata Valley: your lunch spot for the day. The tour then continues with a short trek toward Mesapata Pass (4,200 m / 13,780 ft) where you will pitch your campsite and then have dinner.

Todays trek takes you to Jankapampa via the Pucahirka Pass (4,600 m / 15,092 ft). You will hike for three hours up to Pucahirka Pass, where you’ll have gorgeous views of Pucahirka Mountain and the Jankapampa Valley. After a short rest at the pass and lunch on the trail, you’ll continue for 2 hours to Jankapampa (3,700 m / 12,139 ft), where you’ll set up camp.

Today is the last day of trekking on your guided Alpamayo trekking tour. Today’s objective is to hike down to Pomabamba (2,950 m / 9,679 ft). Pomabamba is a typical Andean village, and the hike to this spot takes about 4 hours. From there, you will get a transfer back to Huaraz. This will be a long car ride, taking approximately 8 hours on a dirt road. You will arrive in Huaraz around 9:00 pm, and will transfer to the hotel.

Today you’ll depart Huaraz. Many guests take a bus back to Lima, though some stay on to complete another trek in the Huayhuash.