Trailblazer Guide Books

Worth watching out for.
 — John Cleare

 

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Itineraries  9 - When to go  16

 

PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Guided or independent?

Arrieros 19 - Agencies 19

Getting there

To Peru 20 - From Lima to the trails 20

Budgeting

Accommodation 21 - Food 21 - Transport 21

What to take

Clothing 22 - Equipment 23 - Maps 24 - Recommended reading 24 

Health precautions, inoculations and insurance

Fitness 25 - Health 25 - Inoculations 26 - High altitude travel 26 - Insurance 26

 

PART 2: PERU & THE CORDILLERAS BLANCA & HUAYHUASH

Facts about the region  

History of the Cordilleras 27 - Modern Peru 29 - Flora 30 - Parque Nacional Huascarán 31

Fauna 32

Practical information for the visitor

Documents and visas 33 - Money 33 - Local transport 33 - Food 34 - Safety 38

Other information 38

 

PART 3: MINIMUM IMPACT HIKING, HEALTH & SAFETY

Minimum impact hiking and biking  

Environmental impact 39 - Economic impact 41 - Cultural impact 41

Health and safety in the mountains  

Safety while trekking 43 - Health in the mountains 43

 

PART 4: CITY AND TOWN GUIDES

Lima 45 - Huaraz 52 - Caraz 62 - Carhuaz 64 - Chavín 66 - Chiquián 68 - Pomabamba 69

Yungay 70 - Yanama 71 - Chacas 71 - Huari 72 - San Marcos 72

 

PART 5: HIKING ROUTES & MAPS

Using this guide  73 - Trekking route map key  7

Northern Cordillera Blanca

Alpamayo Basecamp 74 - Santa Cruz 88 - Santa Cruz-Alpamayo Circuit (Linking section) 99

Ulta-Yanama 104 - Laguna 69 107 - Artesonraju Basecamp 109

Hikes near Huaraz

Laguna Lejiacocha 111 - Akilpo-Ishinca 112 - Quebrada and Laguna Ishinca 116

Laguna Wilcacocha 119

Quebradas above Huaraz

Laguna Churup 121 - Laguna Shallap 121 - Quilcayhuanca-Cojup 123

Conchucos

Chacas-Huari 128 - Quebrada Rurichinchay 132 - Quebrada Rurec (Conchucos) 133

Quebrada Carhuascancha 137

Southern Cordillera Blanca

Olleros-Chavín 143 - Quebrada Rurec (Huaylas) 146 - Quebrada Raria 148

Cordillera Huayhuash

Huayhuash Circuit 152

 

PART 6: CYCLE TOURING

Introduction

Practical information 175 - Transport 175 - Spares 176 - Renting 176

Routes

Day rides near Huaraz 178 - (Huaraz Ruins Loop 178 - Negra Acclimatization Loop 179

Blanca Acclimatization Loop 183 - Santo Toribio Circuit 184 - Laguna Llaca 185)

Huascarán Circuit 186 - Huayhuash and Puya Raimondii Loop 192 - Cordillera Blanca Circuit 197

Laguna Parón 209 - Winchus Loop 210

 

PART 7: MOUNTAIN BIKING

Introduction

Mountain biking agencies 214 - Bike setup 215

Routes

Pitec Descent 215 - Negra Downhill 218 - Bikepacking the Huayhuash 218

Cross country routes near Huaraz 219 - (Laguna Rajucolta 219 - Quebrada Quilcayhuanca 219

Quebrada Ishinca 220 - Other downhill rides 220)

 

APPENDICES

A: Spanish words and phrases 221 - B: Glossary 225 - C: GPS waypoints 228

 

INDEX

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