Olleros – Carhuascancha – Chavín Trek — 6 Days

A 45-minute drive past Olleros to the trailhead at Quisuar (3686m), where gear is loaded onto donkeys and horses. An easy pre-Inca path climbs the wide Quebrada Uquian through eucalyptus and open puna, with first views of Shaqsha (5632m) and Cashan (5716m), to camp at Sacracancha (4120m).

A long but not steep ascent to the Punta Yanashallash pass (4700m), with close views of the Uruashraju glacier and many small lakes; we pass Laguna Huamanpinta near the top. A 2 to 2½ hour descent reaches camp at Shongo (3850m), where we may meet local families.

We descend the Shongo valley, greeted by local children, then cross into the Quebrada Alhuina with its waterfalls and small lakes. The massive ice-clad Huantsan (6395m) dominates the skyline before a steep final hour to camp at Castillo (4350m).

A shorter, easier day. A slow 2½ hour climb to the Portachuelo pass (4850m) brings splendid views of Huantsan, Pamparaju and several small lakes, then an easy descent through a granite-walled valley to camp at Rimarima (4300m), amid the intriguing Rima Rima flowers.

A 1½ hour climb up an ichu-grass hillside to the Mesapata pass (4600m), a spectacular vantage over Huantsan Grande and Chico, Maparaju and Cayesh and glacial lakes such as Tumarina. A long descent leads to camp in the Carhuascancha valley (3930m) among local sheep-farming families.

We descend the long Carhuascancha valley to Yuracyacu (2964m), where our vehicle waits. We drive via San Marcos to Chavín de Huántar to spend about two hours at the museum and the archaeological site before the 3½ hour drive back to Huaraz.