Trekking In The Cordillera Blanca

Everyone traveling to South America is of course attracted by the beautiful and majestic Andes Mountains, among the tallest in the world, and home to spectacular scenery. Some of the highest mountains on the continent lie in the Cordillera Blanca, which is a perfect destination for seasoned climbers looking for a thrill away from the usual tourist routes.

From the small town of Huaraz, you can see more than 23 peaks towering at a dizzying height of over 5,000m. The most notable is Huascaran, which reaches 6,768m and is the highest mountain in Peru. The Cordillera Blanca is also home to the largest concentration of glaciers in the world’s tropical zone, as well as shimmering deep-blue lakes, which are often referred to as the jewel of the Andes.

Most of the Cordillera Blanca is now a protected zone covered by the Parque Nacional Huascaran. Established in 1975, it includes the entire cordillera above 4,000m and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, and is also part of the World Heritage Trust. The stunning landscapes and mountains of the Cordillera offer countless opportunities from trekking and climbing, with a network of trails and a few, less defined mountaineers’ routes, for the hardliners. Most treks take about 5 days and are generally easy once you are acclimatized to the altitude, with a few rugged passes between 4,000 and 5,000m.

Trekking or climbing is a heavily regulated activity as the National Park authorities are committed to protecting the flora and fauna to preserve the sheer beauty of this unique environment. This is all for the best of course and organizing for a guided trek or hike is easily done with local licensed tour operators. The Cordillera Blanca is not your typical mountain range, so even experienced trekkers should be aware of the dangers. The sun makes the snow porous and glaciers here move more rapidly than elsewhere, so maps are not always reliable, and it is necessary to register before departing on a trek, and report your positions regularly.

By: Hortense Soulier

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This guide to trekking in the Cordillera Blanca was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Peru packages.