Are you an experienced hiker looking for an adventurous challenge? Climb Vallunaraju, one of the few peaks in the Cordillera Blanca that can be climbed from Huaraz in only two days. This challenging trek is filled with beautiful trails, climbing up gorgeous glaciers, and surrounding scenery that will leave you in awe. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to conquer this mountain and feel a sense of accomplishment like never before. Book your trip today and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

All about the Vallunaraju Climb (5686m/18,654ft).

Vallunaraju is one of the few peaks in the Cordillera Blanca that can be climbed from Huaraz in two days. It is mainly suitable for experienced climbers and hikers. Although graded as an easy climb, the high altitude and long and steep snow slopes do make Vallunaraju a physically demanding climb. It is also necessary to carry all equipment up to Moraine Camp on the mountain. Porters carry tents, food, and climbing rope up to Moraine Camp and back, but you need to carry your own personal gear.

Requirements

You need to be healthy and not have a fear of heights. Good fitness and strength is required. You need to be strong enough to carry a moderate-weight backpack up the steep trail. For the fit, strong and well-acclimatized this is a great, challenging adventure. You should not consider this climb unless you have above average fitness and are generally strong.

It is important that you are well acclimatized to the altitude before attempting to climb any peak. Thus avoiding any potential problems with lack of energy or any altitude-related illnesses when climbing. Climbing above 5,000m/16,404ft is physically demanding, even when the climbing itself is not steep or technical. On this ascent you go from Huaraz (3090m/10,137ft) directly to the Moraine Camp (5130m/16,830ft), constituting an altitude gain of 2014m/6,607ft in a single day.

It is therefore extremely important that you are already well acclimatized. We always recommend a trek of minimum 4 days for acclimatization and extra fitness.

Best Season

This climb can be booked all year around. The best climbing season in the Andes is from April to October, with rainy season in between. It is usually sunny and warm during this time. Due to the altitude, the nights can be quite cold (to minus 5°C/23°F).

The Santa Cruz trek departs from beautiful Mecca to the famous Huaraz. This region is consistently overshadowed by Cusco & Machu Picchu, but thats what makes this place so magical – with towering snowcapped peaks, and no crowds. This trek takes you through fertile valleys, has views of magnificent, spiraling high glaciated peaks, flower-filled meadows and glacier-fed turquoise lakes. This world-famous circuit crosses from one side of the Cordillera Blanca range to the other through ascending the Punta Union Pass reaching an elevation of 4750m/15,583ft. It is a trek that will give you memories that last a lifetime.

If you’re planning on visiting Huaraz you absolutely need to visit Laguna Paron. The largest lake in the Cordillera Blanca, it’s also one of the most beautiful. This guided tour is sure to leave you speechless and will give you memories that last a lifetime. Here are some things you can expect on your adventure to Laguna Paron:

Altitude: The mirador over the lake sits at 4,200m/13,779ft. This is the highest you will trek as the lake itself is a little lower than this.

Distance: If you choose to hike from the trailhead entry, the total distance is approximately a 20km round trip. Should you take a tour that goes all the way to the lake entrance, you need only do a short walk (45 minutes there and back) up to the mirador.

Time: This is a long day trip from Huaraz, requiring a start at either 5 a.m. or 8 a.m. dependent upon the type of tour you take. Tours are usually back in Huaraz by about 6 p.m.