Stats
- Distance: 87 miles
- Distance (w/ side trips): 103 miles
- Days: 7 trail days
Description
The Alpamayo Circuit is in the heart of Peru’s Cordillera Blanca, or “White Range.” The Cordillera stretches over 100 miles through the Peruvian Andes and contains more than 30 peaks higher than 5,500 meters (18,040 ft). The Circuit combines two distinct treks: Alpamayo Base Camp and the Santa Cruz Circuit. The route begins at Hualcayan and winds its way through a series of demanding high-altitude passes before finishing in Cashapampa.
I selected this hike because it is regularly listed, along with Torres del Pain in Chile, on various best trek lists. More importantly, though, Alpamayo was declared the “World’s Most Beautiful Mountain” by an international survey team in 1966. Which totally has to mean something.
Posts
You can find more info and pictures in my posts on the Alpamayo Circuit:
- One Great Trek Down, Six to Go
- So You Want to Hike the Alpamayo Circuit?
- 7-Day Alpamayo Circuit Itinerary
Images from the trail:
Sunset above Cashapampa
View of Nevado Alpamayo from the north
Laguna Cullicocha
Nevado Talhraju (and the wide Inca road that leads over Punta Union)
