Tue June 17 to Tue July 01, 2008 (15-day trip Lima to Lima) Combination of trekking and sightseeing

• Two strikingly beautiful, neighboring Andean ranges, the dark Cordillera Negra & glistening white Blanca.
• Elegant glacier-covered grey granite summits of the Cordillera Blanca, site of Huascaran -Peru's highest.
• Pastoral scenes, red-tile roofed mountain villages, golden fields of wheat & barley, llamas & alpacas.
• Callejon de Huaylas, valley of spectacular vistas & the mountain town of Huaras. Comfortable local inn.
• Wide ecological variety. Unique Andean vegetation such as the puya Raimondi. Condors & vizcacha.
• Brilliantly cobalt hued alpine lakes, rushing mountain cascades & one of the sources of the Amazon.
• Trek route not traveled by the typical traveler. Quechua guides and mule support.

Besides its natural splendid beauty, the Cordillera Blanca has a rich pre-Inca, Inca, and colonial history. The much-studied, but still little documented, culture of Chavin de Huantar flourished in this region in 1000-BCE. Inca roads criss-cross the Callejón de Huaylas and the mountain passes. Conquistadors stalked through both sides of the Blanca. Warriors in the struggle for independence from Spain traversed the Callejón de Huaylas and one of Peru's wiliest generals escaped capture by the pursuing Chilean army during the War of the Pacific (1883) by fleeing into one of the tiny side valleys entering the Callejón. The Valley also has unusual Andean flora, one of which is the giant lobelia puya raymondi. Unusual fauna is also to be found. In the rocky slopes of the high passes lives the vizcacha, a rodent like creature with large eyes, rabbit ears, a raccoon tail, stocky body, and the fleet-footedness of a cat – all the makings of the proverbial creature created by committee. All the high meadows abound with alpaca and llamas, both of which are New World cameloids. Lively markets are found in every village and sometimes even in the mountain passes. Traditional villages and tidy fields complete the remarkable scene. The main commercial center is the village of Huaras that was nearly destroyed in 1970 by an enormous earthquake and alluvion. Huaras has recovered well and has grown by leaps and bounds. Huaras is now the center for outdoor activities in all of the “Blanca.” Trekking in the Cordillera Negra has been virtually unheard of, but the Cordillera Negra is well suited for easy hiking at high elevation and is an excellent place to acclimatize. There is a multiplicity of lakes and the tundra is wide, open and spacious. The views are dazzling.

Overall Plan

There will be a late evening arrival in Lima two hotel overnights. If you wish to arrive a day or two earlier than that, additional city tours can be arranged. After the stay in Lima, begin a one-day drive up the coast and thence eastward ascending steeply to Conococha Pass (circa 15,000-ft) into the Central Highlands. From the pass and a short distance beyond there are stunning views of another fantastic range, the Cordillera Huayhuash. Near the end of the day there will be a short descent to Huaras (circa 11,000-ft) in the Callejón de Huaylas, the huge valley dividing the Cordilleras Negra and Blanca. You will have five nights in a hotel in Huaras prior to your trek allowing adequate time for proper acclimatization. The hotel is a delightful Swiss-run

establishment from which there are spectacular views northward down the valley. On the first day in Huaras there will be a chance to visit the markets and shops of Huaras and travel to the incredible puya raimondia. On the next day you will have the opportunity to travel to the archaeological ruins at Chavin de Huantar. On the third day in Huaras we’ll travel to the crest of the Cordillera Negra for stunning views of the Callejón de Huaylas and of much of the 250-km span of the Cordillera Blanca. There will be opportunity to walk to some lovely lakes on the open tundra, picnic and return to Huaras. On the fourth day in Huaras you’ll drive to the Llanganuco Valley in which nestles a lake of incredible cobalt color. You’ll continue to Llanganuco Pass (circa 15,000-ft), one of the world's most spectacular mountain passes with splendid views of the backside of Huascaran, the flank of Huandoy and Chacraju and more sub-ranges to the east side. After a night's rest in Huaras, you’ll begin the trekking portion of this journey. The route is close to Huaras but not overrun by hordes of trekkers. Most of the route is between 12,000-ft and 13,000-ft. There are incredible lakes that we will visit and splendid views of the bigger peaks abound. After the trek you’ll return to Huaras for a final night before beginning the drive to the Lima airport.

Tue June 17: Day 1: 10:00pm arrival Lima via Continental Airlines. Begin Ibex Expeditions services. Transfer to Hotel Bolivar and overnight.

Wed June 18: Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel included. Lima city tour including the Plaza de Armas, Presidential Palace, Grand Cathedral, catacombs and other on request. Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight Hotel Bolivar. B

Thu June 19: Day 3: Breakfast at the hotel included. Drive north on the coast through miles of huge sand dunes before turning east into the foothills where we commence our long climb to Huaras. Welcome dinner in Huaras. Overnight local hotel. B,L,D

Fri June 20: Day 4: Breakfast at the hotel included. Drive to Pachacota and walk up the valley to view the giant Puya Raimondi, one of the botanical wonders of the New World. Sweeping panorama of the southern peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. Possible afternoon tour of local markets. Return to the hotel of the previous night and overnight. B,L,D

Sat June 21: Day 5: Breakfast at the hotel included. Day trip to Chavin de Huantar on the eastern escarpment of the Cordillera Blanca. Drive back up valley a short distance and turn eastward to cross the Cordillera Blanca before descending into carefully tended highland farms and on to the ruins. Time to picnic and investigate the ruins. Return to Huaras for the night. Overnight local hotel. B,L,D.

Sun June 22: Day 6: Breakfast at the hotel included. Drive westward to the crest of the Cordillera Negra. Time for a short walk to some small lakes and picnic. We may even see some Inca and pre-Inca ruins. Open tundra with numerous lakes and great views. Easy walking. Return to Huaras for the evening. Overnight local hotel. B,L,D.

Mon June 23: Day 7: Breakfast at the hotel included. Drive north through both Ranrahirca and Yungay, villages totally destroyed by successive alluvions in 1967 and 1970. Beyond Yungay enter Huascaran National Park. Drive beneath the sheer and immense northern face of Huascaran and enjoy fantastic views across the cobalt waters of Llanganuco Lake. Ascend to the crest of the Cordillera Blanca at Portochuelo de Llanganuco (15,580ft), a pass to the northeast of Huascaran (6768-meters, 22,200-ft.) with an incredible panorama of glaciated summits in all directions. Pack lunch. Return to Huaras and overnight in local hotel. B,L,D.

Tue June 24 – Mon June 30: Days 8-14: On the first day, breakfast at the hotel included followed by a short drive to the beginning of the trek. 7-days trek with all nights in camp. Enormous U-shaped valleys. There are a few trees at first and then open tundra. Easy trail with mild gradient. All meals included while on trek. B,L,D

Mon June 30: Day 14: Trek in the morning, meet vehicles and return to Huaras. Afternoon free. Overnight at the same hotel as earlier in the trip. Farewell dinner in Huaras. B,L,D.

Tue July 01: Day 15: Breakfast at the hotel. By road to Lima. Lunch at a seafood restaurant on the coast. Possible dinner on your own in Lima. Evening transfer to airport for flight to USA. End Ibex services. B, L. Arrive USA July 02.