The Ishinca Valley is found in the central section of the Cordillera Blanca, only 15km from Huaraz. Three peaks can be reached from the base camp of the valley: Urus, Ishinca and Tocllaraju. The first two are relatively low and easy, good acclimatization and training mountains to gain the experience needed to tackle the higher, and more difficult, Mount Tocllaraju (6034m).
Urus - East Ridge
Mount Urus is a fantastic peak for acclimatization, as well as for learning the skills needed for glacier traverse. The east ridge route is relatively short, leaving plenty of time for climbers to fully acclimatize and/or get to grips with mountaineering skills. It is an ideal climb for first-timers, offering fantastic views of the surrounding ice-capped mountains, including Mount Tocllaraju (6034m), Palcaraju (6274m), Ranrapalca (6162m) and Ocshapalca (5888m). Urus is an all-round great introduction to the Peruvian Andes.
Ishinca – Northwest Route
Mount Ishinca is a slightly steeper climb than Mount Urus, but is also suitable for novice climbers.
Tocllaraju - Northwest Ridge
Mount Tocllaraju is a classic pyramid-shaped mountain. Its northwest ridge offers a pleasant combination of non-technical terrain and sections of steep climbing, where the ice-climbing skills you have practiced on the other two mountains are required. It is a beautiful and dramatic peak, and a fabulous 6000m-climb.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Drive from Huaraz (3100m) to Pashpa. Trek to Ishinca Base Camp (4350m). Duration: 7 hours.
Day 2: Climb from Ishinca Base Camp to Urus Summit (5495m), and descend back to Ishinca Base Camp. Duration: 7 hours.
Day 3: Climb from Ishinca Base camp to Ishinca Summit (5530m), and descend back to Ishinca Base Camp. Duration: 8 hours.
Day 4: Rest day at Ishinca Base Camp.
Day 5: Climb from Ishinca Base Camp to Tocllaraju High Camp (5250m). Duration: 5 hours.
Day 6: Climb from Tocllaraju High Camp to Tocllaraju Summit (6034m), and descend back to Ishinca Base Camp. Duration: 9 hours.
Day 7: Trek from Ishinca Base Camp to Pashpa. Drive back to Huaraz. Duration: 6 hours.
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