How demanding is this trek?

Graded Hard: it crosses the 5100m Chocu pass with steep ascents and descents on unformed trails and gains altitude quickly. You must be fit, well acclimatised and comfortable in alpine conditions.

Can it be done in 3 days?

Yes. If you are already well acclimatised, the Laguna Churup day hike and first night at Pitec are omitted, starting directly from Pitec to Olivos.

Is it good for climbers?

Yes. It is an excellent acclimatisation hike for expeditions aiming at 6000m or technical peaks, reaching over 5000m amid several 6000m summits.

Expedition Dossier

Quebrada Quillqueyhuanca to Cojup High Alpine Trek — 4 Days

An exciting high alpine short trek for strong hikers who want to stay away from the busier Santa Cruz trails — and an excellent acclimatisation hike for 6000m or technical climbing expeditions.

It begins gently with a day hike to Laguna Churup and finishes by crossing the 5100m Chocu pass between two deep glacial valleys, with 360° mountain views amid several 6000m peaks.

Duration

4 Days (3 if already well acclimatised)

Grade

Hard

Highest Point

5100m

High alpine · Cordillera Blanca

Over the 5100m Chocu pass to Cojup

Grade: Hard
Duration: 4 days (option 3)
Highest point: Chocu pass 5100m
Surrounded by 6000m peaks
Great for pre-climb acclimatisation

This is a physically demanding trek crossing a high alpine pass, with steep ascents and descents on unformed trails. You gain altitude quickly, so you must be fit and well acclimatised and comfortable hiking in alpine conditions. The Chocu pass offers some of the most panoramic views in the Cordillera Blanca.

Expedition Logistics

Essential Trekking Notes & Rules

Grading

A physically demanding trek crossing a high alpine pass. The ascent and descent are steep and on unformed trails, and you gain altitude quickly. You must be fit, well acclimatised and comfortable in alpine conditions to avoid altitude illness or lethargy.

3 or 4 Day Option

For clients already well acclimatised, the day hike to Laguna Churup and the first night at Pitec can be omitted to make a 3-day trek, starting directly from Pitec to Olivos.

Access Roads

Access roads to and from the trek are generally unpaved mountain roads and can be bumpy, so road travel times are slower than the distance suggests.

Route Progression

High Altitude Tactical Itinerary

Review the route day by day: altitudes, distances and acclimatisation.

Technical Timeline // Day 01

Laguna Churup day hike, camp at Pitec

Distance

Time Window

4 to 5 hours

Max Altitude

4450m

Delta Profile

Physiological & Operational Checkpoint

Omit this acclimatisation day for the 3-day option.

A 1½ hour drive to Pitec, where we camp (3750m). We climb steadily up a ridge to the beautiful Laguna Churup (4450m) beneath Nevado Churup (5495m), the final 50m a steep but safe scramble, then return to camp. (Omitted on the 3-day option.)

Bespoke Cross Selling

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