Macashca Hills Hike

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Day Hike Moderate to Hard

Grade Moderate to Hard

Duration 5 to 6 hours

Max altitude 4200m

Distance 7 km

By vehicle Short drive

About this day

An escape from the usual circuit, close to home. An 1 hour drive into the farming valley of Macashca past its small hydroelectric scheme and then a steady climb up a broad grassy hillside through open farmland to a saddle at 4200m. From the top: Huascarán and the snow peaks of the Cordillera Blanca on one side, the dry Cordillera Negra and Huaraz on the other. One of the better acclimatisation days, with little road time.

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Getting there

Macashca Hills

Acclimatisation hike close to Huaraz · Cordillera Negra views

By vehicle

Huaraz → small hydro plant → Macashca valley → drop-off point (the road carries on elsewhere). an 1 hour drive.
On foot

Drop-off point, where the walk starts → grassy hillside → saddle (4,200 m).
On foot

Saddle → back down to Huaraz on foot by a different path.