Arrive: Lima, Peru
Depart: Lima, Peru
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
This trip is rated Level 6, Very Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. It is expected that each participant be in excellent health and physical condition.
On a typical trekking day, wake-up is around 7:00 am, when a cup of hot tea or coffee and a basin of warm washing water are brought to your tent by one of the camp crew. After packing up our duffels and having breakfast, we set off on the trail while the crew strikes camp and the porters shoulder their loads. The crew passes us by midmorning to get ahead and prepare our lunch. We typically walk for three or four hours in the morning, then stop for a leisurely lunch of an hour or more at a scenic spot on the trail. After lunch, we walk for another three hours or so until we reach our next night's camp. The porters and crew pass us in mid-afternoon and usually have camp set up by the time we arrive. At camp, we have late afternoon tea (or coffee or cocoa) and snacks. Before dinner in the dining tent, there's free time to read or relax. Temperatures drop quickly as the sun drops behind the peaks, and it can get very cold at night, so have a few extra layers of clothing ready. It gets dark fairly early (around 6:30 pm). After dinner, we can chat away the evening in the dining tent or read by flashlight until bedtime.
For the most part, you can hike at your own speed. There is always a guide in the lead, usually the Trip Leader or the camp manager, who supervises the crew, and a "sweeper" who trails behind the slowest hiker to ensure that no one becomes lost on the trail. Most groups tend to spread out over the trail, taking photos, stopping to rest, and enjoying the scenery. We ask you not to hike ahead of the leader because trails are often not well-marked. If you feel breathless during a long ascent or wobbly during a long descent, by all means stop until you feel restored.
"This was an amazingly beautiful trip."
Deborah S.
Buffalo, NY
"This was a beautiful trip, with outstanding hiking, magnificent vistas, and wonderful interactions with local people."
Frank J.
Fremont, CA
"An amazing trip! I felt the true vastness of the Cordillera Blanca through the well planned itinerary and the thoughtful and professional leadership."
Galia S.
Hong Kong
"We can depend on Wilderness Travel to offer exceptional trips and great attention to detail, and the quality of the Trip Leaders is unsurpassed."
Jocelyn S.
Arvada, CO
"This was one of the best organized treks I have been on. Outstanding crew and leader."
Marc R.
Belmont, MA
"An absolutely fantastic trip. We loved the scenery and had a really great time."
Matthew E.
Chapel Hill, NC
"One of the best treks I have ever been on."
Rich G.
Wyndmoor, PA
"I think this was one of the best hiking trips I have ever taken. I loved the guides, staff, itinerary, food, and the MOUNTAINS! The scenery and weather were spectacular. This was my first trip with Wilderness Travel and I think every aspect of it was well designed and planned out, in every detail."
Scott R.
Woodstock, VT
"A magical tour of some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Flawless planning and support by Wilderness Travel. Excellent trip leaders!"
Thomas C.
Isle Of Palms, SC
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
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With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.