Custom Trips in the Cordillera Blanca - Skyline Adventure School

SKYLINE ADVENTURES - CUSTOMIZED TRIPS

OHHH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO...

Already know the area and / or have specific objectives in mind? Can't find anything that fits into your time slot? Looking for something a bit harder or maybe softer? Go ahead and create your own guided trip!

If you're looking for one of our classic packages and need only to change the dates, we can most likely accomodate your request, especially if you are a group of 3 or more. If you want more or less of what we offer as a set itinerary, peruse the information below to get a feel for what is available and how long it takes. Either way, send us an email or give us a call and we'll happily help you build the trip of your dreams.

CREATE YOUR OWN ITINERAY

ACTIVITY	NAME	LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY	HIGHEST POINT	TECHNICAL INDICATION / GRADE	NUMBER OF DAYS (Huaraz to Huaraz)

CLIMBS	Pisco	Easy / Moderate	5752 meters	Non Tecnical / PD	3-4
	Chopicalqui	Very Strenuous	6354 meters	Partly Tecnical / AD-	4
	Urus	Easy / Moderate	5495 meters	Non Tecnical / PD-	2-3
	Ishinca	Easy / Moderate	5530 meters	Non Technical / PD-	2-3
	Tocllaraju	Strenuos	6032 meters	Partly Tehnical / D	3-4
	Huascaran	Very Strenuous	6768 meters	Partly Technical / AD-	5-7
	Alpamayo	Very Strenuous	5947 meters	Technical / AD+	6-8
	Quitaraju	Very Strenuous	6036 meters	Technical / D-	6-8
	Artisonraju	Very Strenuous	6025 meters	Technical / D	4-5
	Shaqsha	Very Strenuos	5697 meters	Techincal / D	4-5
	Vallunaraju	Easy / Moderate	5686 meters	Non Techincal / PD	2
	Maparaju	Easy / Moderate	5326 meters	Non Technical / F	4
	Huarapasca	Strenuos	5420 meters	Techincal / AD+	1-2
	Ranrapalca	Very Strenuos	6162 meters	Techincal / D	4-5
	Yanapaqcha	Easy / Moderate	5460 meters	Partly Technical / PD+	3
	Huamasharaju (rock)	Very Strenuous	5435 meters	Technical / VI, 5.10a	3
	La Esphinge (rock)	Very Strenuous	5325 meters	Technical / VI+, 5.11c	4-5

TREKS	Santa Cruz	Easy / Moderate	4750 meters	N/A	4
	Quilquihuanca / Cojup	Moderate / Strenuous	4800 meters	N/A	3-4
	Aquilpo / Ishinca	Moderate / Strenuous	4900 meters	N/A	3-4
	Huayhuash	Moderate	5000 meters	N/A	9-13
	Alpamayo Circuit (Los Cedros)	Moderate / Strenuous	4850 meters	N/A	7-9
	Olleros / Chavin	Easy	4700 meters	N/A	3
	Cojup / Ishinca	Moderate / Strenuous	5100 meters	Partly Techincal	4

SKILLS	Mountaineering Course (3 day)	Moderate	5300 meters	N / A	3
	Mountaineering Course (6 day)	Moderate / Strenuosu	5460 meters	N / A	6
	Crevasse Rescue Clinic	Moderate / Strenuous	5100 meters	N / A	1
	Rock Climbing Skills Clinic	Moderate	4000 meters	N / A	1-3

SINGLE DAY OPTIONS	Churup Day Hike	Moderate	4500 meters	N/A	1
	Laguna 69 Day Hike	Moderate / Strenuous	4900 meters	N/A	1
	Mountain Biking	Moderate / Strenuous	4850 meters	N/A	1
	Paragliding	Easy / Moderate	N/A	N/A	1
	Rock Climbing	Easy / Moderate	4200 meters	N/A	1
	Ice Climbing	Moderate	5000 meters	N/A	1
	Ruins Tour	Easy	3800 meters	N/A	1
	Single Day Climb	Strenuous	5420 meters	Techincal / AD+	1

PEAK INFORMATION

Pisco

Named after the ever popular Peruvian beverage, Pisco is known for the outstanding 360 degree summit views of its classic neighbors, Huascaran , the Huandoys and the photogenic Artisonraju. A non-technical climb up a long and gradual ridge will get you to the top. Pisco is a great acclimatization peak and pairs well with Chopicalqui, Yanapaqsha, as well as the Santa Cruz trek.

Chopicalqui

Look for the triangular peak on the skyline sitting beside the mighty Huascaran (as seen from Huaraz) and you’ll have set your eyes on Chopicalqui, one of the highest and most popular big climbs in the Cordillera Blanca. The summit ridge is something not likely forgotten, and can be spotted as the subject of many postcards, photos, and paintings of the area. This is one of the classic climbs in the Cordillera Blanca, winding up the aesthetic southwest ridge to a spectacular pyramid shaped finale.

Urus

Urus is a long jagged mountain making up the northern flank of the Ishinca valley. Its non-technical nature makes it an ideal first climb in the Cordillera, as well as a great acclimatization peak. The base camp for Urus is the same as the base camp for Ishinca and Tocllaraju.

Ishinca

Slightly more demanding then its sister Urus, Ishinca offers a longer climb with more time on the glacier negotiating around rock bands and intriguing crevasses. Ishinca boasts 2 summits the one most commonly climbed is the taller southern summit. It’s possible to make a round trip of your climb, up the northern slopes and down the southern or vice-versa.

Tocllaraju

Proud and stern, Tocllaraju rises dramatically at the head of the Ishinca valley. Typically, the climb requires 2 days from basecamp to basecamp. Tocllaraju offers a classic mountaineering experience, camping high on the glacier and ascending through several technical features. The normal route follows the northwest ridge. There is also a more technical and committing route the climbs the steep west face.

Huascaran

The 2 unmistakable summits of Huascaran clearly dominate the skyline as seen from Huaraz. Peru 's highest peak, Huascaran is definitely one of the classics, offering a large variety of route options from partly technical to much more difficult. The southern summit is the highest and most commonly climbed, although the more technical northern peak offers a steep and exciting route for those wanting a challenge other than standing atop Peru ’s tallest summit.

Alpamayo

Long been heralded as the worlds most beautiful mountain, the striking image of Alpamayo graces countless calendars, book covers, and paintings all over the world. The climb itself offers some exciting technical challenges, up to 70 degree snow & ice pitches and a narrow knife-blade summit. Alpamayo requires previous mountaineering experience.

Quitaraju

Quitaraju shares it's glacier with the popular peak of Alpamayo. A slightly higher summit offers the 6000 meter benchmark which many climbers aim for in the alpine pursuits. The classic route ascends the north face, a few hundred meters of 50-60 degree snow slopes which lead to a spectacular knife-edge ridge to the summit. Quitaraju couples very well with an Alpamayo summit expedition.

Artisonraju

Big and beautiful, the perfect snow pyramid of Artisonraju has probably been seen by more people than any other mountain in the Cordillera Blanca range, as Hollywood's own Paramont Pictures has taken it's image for a logo and opened many-a-movie with the image. Boasting a 50-60 degree 600 meter wall of snow and ice, Artisonraju is a worthy endeavor and a proud accomplishment for all who endeavor to stand on it's summit.

Shaqsha

Shaqsha, though closer to Huaraz than most other peaks remains a hidden gem of the Cordillera Blanca. Two days to high camp on the glacier and the mountain awaits your summit attempt. Shown on the front cover of Brad Johnson's book "Classic Climbs of the Cordillera Blanca Peru", this peak is a dazzling enterprise with steep ice climbing and stellar views.

Vallunaraju

Vallunaraju’s crown shaped summit directly overlooks the town of Huaraz and a road actually takes you all the way to the basecamp! This exceptional access gives the peak the uncommon advantage of a 2 day summit experience. Vallunaraju’s glacier is rolling and aesthetically featured, and the steeper slopes of the summit ridge add the right amount of excitement for anyone testing out their mountaineering skills for the first time, getting their alpine feet back under them, or on an acclimatization mission before heading into the heart of the Cordillera for more climbing.

Maparaju

A fabulous acclimatization peak that can be tucked into a trek without much additional effort or equipment, Maparju is known mostly for it's amazing views of Cayesh and Huantsan (the K2 of the Andes). The Cayesh valley is a branch off of the Quilquihuanca, well worth the side-trip and a fun, less-travelling peak to add to your list of adventures.

Huarapasca

Off the beaten track peak, its location near a dirt road makes it possible to climb in one day with only a few hour walk to the ice!! Huarapasca offers two routes, one a partly technical steep direct assent the other a more gradual less technical assent. Neither one requires previous experience.

Ranrapalca

Another 6000 meter peak in the Cordillera Blanca which receives less traffic than most, Ranrapalca offers two routes, both technical ascents with some rock climbing included, that are moderately steep and long. The north face of Ranrapalca, striking and steep, winds through rock bands and tops out on the summit ridge. The northeast face is a little less steep but none-the-less exciting to climb. Ranrapalca requires previous experience and a high level of fitness, as both routes require fast and sure movement through the night so that parties can top out and get down before the day's sun begins to loosen the surrounding rocks.

Yanapaqcha

Yanapaqcha sits at the head of the Llanganuco valley between it's more famous neighbors Chopicalqui and Pisco. The climb up Yanapaqcha's west face is more technical than that of Pisco making it a great follow-up peak, or a great predecessor to an attempt on Chopicalqui. The final headwall can propose slopes up to 60 degree ice, and the small and personal summit does indeed have a 'top-of-the-world' feel.

Huamasharaju

Spotted from Huaraz as a triangular peak, 1/2 snow covered and 1/2 rock, not only is Huamasharaju a beautiful mountain to look at, it's granite faces offer some of the most adventurous and moderate multi-pitch rock climbing around! Cracks and face climbing between grades 5 and 6a (5.7-5.9), all at a slightly less than vertical pitch, are sure to please when you are ready for a break from the snow & ice. Previous rock climbing experience needed.

La Esphinge

The most widely known and popular big-wall rock route in the Cordillera Blanca, La Esphinge (the sphinx), is a clean granite dream for seekers of the vertical high. Rated all free at 7a (5.11c), or 6a+ (5.10 C2) as an aid route, there are 18 pitches of fun to be had! Previous rock climbing experience and a level of comfort equal to or greater than the above grades is required.

TREK INFORMATION

Santa Cruz

Hike through the very heart of the Cordillera Blanca, where Peru’s highest mountains soar thousands of feet above. The popular Santa Cruz trek works its way over 2 high passes catching stunning views of Huascaran, Chopiqualqui and the Huandoys. You'll see vizcachas scurrying amid the rocky terrain looking for dinner, sparkling blur glacial lakes, and walk through traditional mountain settlements on your journey from one side of the Andes to the other!

Quilquihuanca / Cojup

The proximity of these two stunning valleys to Huaraz has in no way tarnished their beauty. In fact, they may both be visited less each year than the other popular treks, only because the terrain encountered prevents donkeys from carrying loads the whole way around. The Quilquihuanca / Cojup is a trek for the adventurer, the backpacker (in the true sense of the word as backpacks must be carried for part of the way!), and the seeker of wild & dramatic places.

Aquilpo / Ishinca

This“off the beaten path,” trek takes you up the seldom traveled Alquilpo valley, at the head of which nestles a spectacularly colored glacier lake. Camp at the waters edge before pressing over the pass and down into the base camp of Ishinca. Continue out the popular Ishinca Valley and back to Huaraz via Pashpa.

Huayhuash

The remote Cordillera Huayhuash offers hikers the rare opportunity to slip away from civilization for two weeks and be all-the-while surrounded by unforgettable mountain splendor. The range is full of rustic dwellings and Andean people carrying out their agricultural lives, mountain passes as high as 5000 meters with breathtaking views in every direction, and full of the flowers, trees, and animals that call the Andes their home. The Huayhuash is the most physically demanding trek we offer with over 120 kilometers to cover on foot, circumnavigating the entire range.

Alpamayo Circuit

This challenging and "less traveled" path winds it's way from the ruins of Hualycayan to the distant town of Pomabamba, taking you from the western slopes of the Peruvian Andes, all the way across and down their other side. Impressive views abound, and a visit to Alpamayo, "the Most Beautiful Mountain in the World" will send you home wondering if your fairy-tale vacation was real!

Olleros / Chavin

Follow one of the pre-Inca trail systems from one side of the Cordillera Blanca to the other. This ancient trail takes you past tiny mud huts where the sturdy mountain dwellers still live, over a high mountain pass, and back down to the historic temples of Chavin. In keeping with the historical significance of the trail we use the original pack animal of the Andes ; the llama, to carry our food and equipment.

Cojup / Ishinca

The Cojup valley resides northeast of Huaraz and follows a beautiful river bed all the way up to the base of Ranrapalca and Ishinca's east aspects. A challenging ascent through the rocky morraine tops out at last on the glaciated saddle between these two well-known peaks. Cross the glacier and drop down into the popular Ishinca basecamp, then turn west and hike back out towards Huaraz via the small village of Pashpa. This trek is strenuous in nature as the pass between the Cojup and Ishinca valleys are inaccessable to donkeys, making part of your journey at least a backpack carrying affair.

MOUNTAINEERING COURSES / SKILLS CLINICS

Mountaineering Courses

Skyline Adventure School offers both 3 and 6 day Mountaineering Courses prepare participants with little to no mountaineering experience to be contributing members of a climbing team. Courses aim to provide a thorough understanding of both objective & subjective alpine hazards, then systematically teach techniques to combat these dangers. A peak climb objective is included in all 6 day courses to offer participants a supervised summit experience, where they can take the lead (as appropriate) of the climb, with an instructors supervision and support. For more information, click here: MOUNTAINEERING COURSES

Crevasse Rescue Clinic

If you are looking for a refresher on crevasse rescue and don't feel the need to take an entire course, we are happy to organize 1 day clinics that focus on this important rescue technique. Held at various sites in the Cordillera Blanca, you can add this day to any climb you are doing with Skyline Adventures or set it up as a seperate activity all together.

Rock Climbing Skills Clinics

Though the Cordillera Blanca is most widely known for it's mountaineering, there are a handful of up-and-coming rock climbing sites which offer fun and challenging routes for all levels of climbers. If you want to learn a little about the technical aspects of this vertical acitivity, we are happy to put together 1 - 3 day courses, teaching everything from climbing knots, belay systems, anchor building, rappel set-up, rappelling, haul systems, lead climbing, and more! You name your objectives and we will build you a customized course to meet your needs.

DAY ACTIVITIES

Churup Hike

The most popular day hike and acclimatization activity in the Cordillera Blanca, the hike to Churup starts 30 minutes outside of Huaraz and takes you to a breath-taking rock and ice cirque, to the shore of the shimmering waters of Lake Churup. The trip can be made in 5-8 hours, Huaraz to Huaraz, and takes you to an altitude of 4500 meters. This is a great and highly recommended way to spend your first day or two in the area.

Laguna 69 Hike

Beginnning at Cebolla Pampa, the trailhead for Pisco, Yanapaqcha, the Huandoys, and Chacraraju, the Laguna 69 hike is long and delightful, culminating at a 4900 meter turquoise tinted lake with the name 69. The day is made long not only by the walk (which is a bit longer than the hike to Churup) but by the transport out to the Llanganuco Valley where the hike begins. Expect 8-12 hours round trip, beautiful views, and an outstanding jump on your acclimitization track. This can also be coupled with climbs on Pisco, Yanapaqcha, or Chopicalqui.

Mountain Biking

The Cordillera Blanca is quickly becoming a mountain bike destination, for those who like pure downhill adrenaline rides as well as those who enjoy the huff and puff of a ridgeline traverse. From non-technical to quite technical, there is a route for everyone, beginner or expert alike, and many high specification bikes around to make your ride even better. Available with and without a guide and as a single or multiple day trip.

Paragliding

Another fun and adrenaline packed activity for your time in and around Huaraz. Tandem rides as well as multiple day courses are available for those who wish to go flying!

Rock Climbing

Ice Climbing

A great way to acclimatize before heading into the mountains or a fun day's outing if your days in Huaraz are limited. The glacier Pastoruri, accessable within 40 minutes by vehicle, has a nice 20 meter wall of ice with routes of all degrees for all types of climbers (and non-climbers!). The glacier sits at 5000 meters so some previous acclimatization is required to participate. Fun, safe, and no camping required!

Ruins Tours

Huaraz is surrounded by many pre-Inca ruins, small and well preserved, that make great day trips if you are acclimatizing or winding down from an adventure in the mountains. Some are accessible by foot and make nice walks on your first day in the Cordillera Blanca, others are a bus ride away. The notalbe ruins of Chavin de Huantar are known world-wide in the arquiological realm for their historical and religious significance to the people who lived and worshiped there as long ago as 700 BC.

Single Day Climb

Want to experience the alpine world but can't fit the trip into your schedule? We have the peak just for you! Leave Huaraz early in the morning and return for dinner, and in between find yourself standing a top a 5400 meter peak! Only because of it's accessibility to a small dirt road, can this even be possible. Your approach is about a 1 hour walk and your climb is some of the most exciting and aesthetic around. Steep, dramatic, and packaged into one tidy day trip. Ask us for more information on mountaineering in a day!