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An amazing experience! No previous experience required just some fitness for hiking about 9 hours. This is a hiking traverse over Ishinca glacier with crampons where the ice hits the rock, between cracks and open holes by the water. This trek explores beautiful Cristal Blue Lakes, two panoramic high passes, and three spectacular valleys of Huascaran National Park: Ishinca, Cojup and Quillcayhuanca which definitely is the best valley in forest, very rich in local trees, wildflowers, Andean bird, bushes, mushrooms, moss and lichens.
Day 01: Huaraz –Quillcayhuanca – Cuchillacocha Lake
Hike through wild Quillcayhuanca Valley, a remote stretch along a River marked by fir forests, vibrant pastures colored by blueberry bushes and rhododendrons, and views of the snow capped peaks with beautiful lakes. Also we are exploring the Pre-Inca Tambo Nuevo ruins. We spend the night at 4 500masl
Day 2-Cuchillacocha Lake – Huapi Pass – Cojup
The day’s walk starts about steeply zigzag path, enjoying the Cuchillacocha Lake, which is situated on the base of Pucaranra and Chinchey Mountains. Then, we go uphill toward to Huapi pass (5 020masl), from where we will have one of the most spectacular views of Mountains such as Huapi, Pucaranra, Tullparaju, etc. Then we descend to Cojup valley to set up our tents at 4 350masl.
Day 3-Cojup – Perolcocha Lake
This is a short day but very steep. We start the day ascending to our next camp site which is situated on the moraine of Ranrapalca and Ishinca at 4 850masl. During the journey we are passing by small Lakes and enjoying beautiful landscapes.
Day 4-Perolcocha Lake – Ishinca Pass – Ishinca Base Camp
We continue steeply on a twisting climb toward the Ishinca pass. Skirting the Ranrapalca and Ishinca moraine we get the col, where we will begin use the crampons and the safety gears to traverse the Ishinca Pass which is like a small summit (5 300masl). This is a beautiful pass, where we can appreciate the turquoise Perolcocha Lake on the base of Ranrapalca; south of the lake, Huantsan Mountain; although far away, dominates the view along with Pucaranra , Palcaraju and Ishinca Mountain. Then we descend slowly over the Ishinca moraine. We spend the night in Ishinca Base Camp at 4 300masl.
Day 5-Ishinca Base Camp – Pashpa – Huaraz
Our last day we start walking easily along the Ishinca valley, passing great vegetation predominated by Quenual forest during 04 hours. Opcional: We are ending our trek visiting the Honcopampa ruins (3 400masl), where the vehicle will be waiting for us to go back to Huaraz.
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