Duration: 4 days
Highest altitude: 4.750 m (Punta Union)
Difficulty: Easy

Description:
Day 1: We pick you up at your hotel in Huaraz (3100 msal) at 7 AM and transfer you to the trail start in Cashapampa (3000). On the way we make some photo stops and also visit the remains of the old village of Yungay which was burried by a mud-avalaunche in 1970.
We will arrive in Cashapampa at approximately 10 AM were we meet our donkey drivers who will start loading their donkeys while we put on our hats and sunblocker, take of our fleece and get ready for our first day of hiking. Today we walk as far as the camp site "Llamacoral" (3650 msal) in approximately 4-5 hours, arriving at the camp site at about 2-3 PM.
By the time we arrive at the campsite our donkey drivers have overtaken us - fast and strong as they are - and have set up the camp site where tea and a snack will be waiting for us.

Day 2: The second day of our trek we hike about 6 hours to the camp site "Taullipampa" (4200 masl). We start walking after everybody has taken breakfast, packed personal gear together, prepared their day pack and warmed up slightly, usually between 8:30 and 9:30 AM. Almost immediately after leaving we start walking past the lakes "Ichi Cocha" and "Jatun Cocha". Walking on the trail right next to Jatun Cocha we will see a distant trail winding up towards the North into the Arhuaycocha Valley - which is today's side-trek to get the best views of Mount Alpamayo (in the late 60ies in Munich voted to be the prettiest mountain of the world) and Quitaraju. The uphill trail isn't as bad as it looks and the gained altitude ist not lost: continuing to Taullipampa we don't have to walk down but will walk on nearly flat terrain. Arrival 3 or 4 PM.

Day 3: From Taullipampa we walk approximately 2 to 3 hours to the highest point of the whole trek: Punta Union at 4.750 masl. Needless to say that the views from there looking back into valley are spectacular. After taking pictures and a short break we make our way down towards our following campsite named "Cachinapampa" (3800 masl) where we will arrive 2 or 3 PM.

Day 4: The fourth and last day we walk only 2,5 to 3 hours to a small settlement called "Vaqueria". On the way we will see many indigenous houses and people, many kids playing around. Farming animals often cross our path and will claim their right of way. At about 11 AM you will board our private van direction Huaraz. On the way we make a couple of photo stops, especially just crossing the Portachuelo de Llanganuco pass at 4760 masl. Very pretty views overlooking the Llanganuco Valley with turquoise lakes and snow-capped 6000ers all around.

Our tours are like the ones you would book back home in one of the fancy travel agents.
Our staff is selected not only because of their qualifications but also because of their social skills. You are spending a lot of time together and nothing is worse than a nasty guide or constantly begging donkey driver.
It must be mentioned though, that many local providers do not respect working conditions and exploit their staff and so generate malbehaviour. Needless to say that that doesn't happen with us.