A return to Peru! This time, we head north to trek around the Huayhuash Mountains north of Lima. We hiked the rigid mountain peaks and battled altitude sickness. We experienced authentic cultures in local communities and got to know the livestock that lives in those communities. We had a meal cooked for us in the middle of our trek that was so delicious! Another destination crossed off the list!
The last pass! (Kassandra Magruder)It's always been my dream to do a long-distance trek in Peru. Peru was the first destination I specialized in when I started working for Adventure Life, many moon ago. I remember sitting down at my desk on Day 1 and studying the itineraries and regions. Machu Picchu = check. Sacred Valley = check. Cusco, Lima, Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon = check. Cordillera Blanca .... wait ... what's this .... holy cow, those are big mountains! I'm a mountain girl at heart. I live in Montana (montaña being mountains in Spanish) and I spend a lot of my time skiing, fishing, hiking, biking and otherwise tooling around mountains. If I had to describe myself to someone and use only one word or phrase, that would be it.
So, I've had my heart set on trekking the Cordillera Blanca for years. "But, hold on a second here .... you didn't trek the Cordillera Blanca ... you trekked the Cordillera Huayhuash" you might say. This is correct. When it came down to plan this trip, I contacted our local outfitter in Huaraz and he actually talked me out of the Blanca for this trip. He took a few moments to describe why the Huayhuash might be a better set of mountains: more remote, less trekking traffic, and you can walk around the entire mountain range in 10-12 days. After doing a little research, I was convinced he had our best interests at heart and we made the trip plan.
10 days. 100 miles. The entire trek between 14,000 and 16,500 feet. But we wouldn't be carrying heavy packs. We'd have a cook/guide, arriero (packer), 4 donkeys and a horse to carry our gear. "I can certainly handle this", I thought. And thus, I became that much closer to achieving my goal of long-distance trekking in Peru.
Clara Tort has been our Travel Advisor for Buenos Aires, then for Iguazu, then for Mendoza and Aconcagua Trekking, and then for Patagonia and Fitz Roy trekking. She has navigated with us through our travels, and now we are coming back for more- onto Machu Pichu and Peru.
Gus ORDONEZ
2 months ago
We have used AL for decades now to plan trips. Kassandra has been with us from the start and has never disappointed. She knows our family and our quirks and is always willing to fit the trip to us. This time we made her work for the booking because of family member schedules. It has all come together for a great Christmas gift for many families.
Kris Rowe
2 months ago
Great company. Good communications. Great accommodations, excursions, transport. Guide Elvira was spectacular along with transport, driver, Cesar and activities
Kathy S
3 months ago
Having done a trip in the past with Adventure Life, I found picking a trip and customizing it was a breeze and fit everything I wanted