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»Other highlights, recommended trekking routs in vilcanota mountain range.

CARABAYA AND VILCANOTA TREK 8D/7N

Itinerary  What To Bring  Included During The Trek   Not Included  

Cordillera de Vilcanota and the Cordillera de Carabaya, both forming the Cordillera Oriental, and as far as Maldonado on the Madre de Dios River in southeastern Peru. As it is the first time that this part of Peru has been geologically investigated, it was possible to obtain interesting data on the geology, stratigraphy, and structure of this little-known part of the Andes.

The Cordillera de Carabaya is a rugged, snow-clad range. The elevation of the lowest pass, Abra de Hualla-Hualla, is 4,820m.a.s.l./15,744ft. Toward the east the range drops in a short distance to an elevation of about 600 meters at Rio Nusiniscato. A complete traverse could be made across the Cordillera Oriental between Urcos and the valley of Rio Madre de Dios. The regional geology is largely represented by older, pre-Cambrian, metamorphic schist and quartzite, which are overlain by Ordovician slates. Upper Paleozoic brown-red shale and sandstones occur west of the section, at Urcos. At its eastern half, east of Quincemil, vast Tertiary plains extend. A remarkable feature of the section is the Araza gneiss underlying the Marcapata metamorphic rocks. The Araza gneiss appears o be early pre-Cambrian, probably Achaean, in age. From the writer's knowledge of the South American Andes, it would seem that this is the first recognized occurrence of gneiss on the eastern slope of the Andes, since none is known to have been described from Colombia, Ecuador, northern Peru, or Bolivia. Structurally, this part of the Cordillera Oriental appears to be block-faulted. The faulting is normal; there is no evidence of large-scale thrusting.

LOCATION:	South-America, Cusco – Perú
DURATION:	8 days and 7 nights
PRICE:	USD. On Request
SEASON:	April to October (every day)
ACTIVITIES:	Nature, Cultural.
GROUP SIZE:	Minimum 4, maximum 15

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DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: CUSCO OR PUNO – PUCARA – MACUSANI – CORANI.

We start to drive depending we are located from Cusco City or Titicaca Lake across the grassland or Puna, surrounded by small villages and rolling hills with high land forest of queñuales (Polylepis) a rare Andean tree found above 13,000ft. We cross a few passes before reaching Macusani village, then we follow a narrow road until to reach a glacial valley, below us the native community with thatch roof houses town of Corani high land village 4,020 m.a.s.l./13,185 ft. Splendid views from the passes open pampas, flanks of steep carved mountains, and the deep gorge of the Rio Corani Camp near the village.

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DAY 2: CORANI - SAYARANI - FANCA – CHULLO – PUCACANCHA.

We star our trek along the big valley of river Corani, river up the valley shows a lava flows that appear as stone forests. We’ll be gradually all the time get up little by little now the river change the name Chimboya river and we arrive to Sayarani small village with few inhabitants 4,400 m.a.s.l./14,430 ft. after that still on the same valley up along the chimboya river next village fanca 4,650m.a.s.l./15,250 ft. later on we will arrive to our camp site Pucacancha village near the chullo village 4,750 m.a.s.l./15,230 ft. along the trek just llamas and alpacas farmers living on the high lands

DAY 3: PUCACANCHA – CHIMBOYA PASS – MATES VALLEY.

Start our trek again gradually up hill enjoying the magnificent views along the valley in that portion is a abandoned mine also some local peoples finally we arrive to the first high point in our trek Chimboya pass 5,000 m.a.s.l./16,400 ft. then down hill, on the way some remains of colonial hacienda houses now looks just an isolated shepherds valleys, day before we had been in Puno region now we are going in to de Cusco area where the mountain range is now called the Cordillera Vilcanota. With great views of the extensive ice and glacier cap peaks and pampas. Pass countless llama and alpaca. Camp at Pampa Mates 15,700m.a.s.l./4,710 ft.

DAY 4: MATES VALLEY – VICUÑA PASS – CCASQARAQOCHA.

This day in coming the second high pass after to trek up hill between llamas and alpacas again, we get the called Vicuña pass 5,300 m.a.s.l./17,400 ft. with another spectacular view the most part of Cordillera Vilcanota panoramic scenery of lakes, glacier mountains, snowfields, Such as the Climbing Mountains of Continental Glacier 5,543m.a.s.l./18,180ft. Paco mountain 5,400m.a.s.l./17,700ft. Montura mountain 6,050m.a.s.l./19,800ft. Hatunñaño punta Mountain 5,800m.a.s.l./19,020ft. Chumpi Mountain 6,100m.a.s.l./20,000ft. Three peaks mountains 6,100m.a.s.l./20,050ft. Qolque Cruz Mountain 5,950m.a.s.l./19,520ft. Santa Catalina Mountain 5,820.m.a.s.l./ 19,090ft. the down hill and a big flat area to reach the camp site Ccasqaraqocha lake with hundreds of water birds we camp over 4,900m.a.s.l./ 16,710ft.

DAY 5: CCASCCARAQOCHA – VICUÑA’S CHACO AREA (PUCAMOQO).

We left our camp then we will continue our trek right to the largest lake of the Vilcanota mountain range easy walk with a view of Ccasqaraqocha and Sibinaqocha both of them glacier lakes hundreds of llamas and alpacas, probably vicuñas.

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DAY 6: PUCAMOQO – CONDOR PASS – KILLITA - CCAMPA.

We leave the campsite and start a gradual climb up toward the highest pass (abra) Condor Pass 5,200m.a.s.l./17,060ft. Where we will have an impressive panoramic view of climbing face of Ausangate Mountain, then we will descend toward the small village of shepherds and weavers Killita, along the killita valley again hundreds of llamas and alpacas few population there, during the afternoon we will continue toward the campsite at Ccampa another small village with few population but spectacular scenery like the glacier mountains of Tres Picos (three peaks), Qollquecruz.

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DAY 7: CCAMPA VILLAGE – CCAMPA PASS – QOMERQOCHA – PACCHANTA.

We climb once more toward the Ccampa pass 5,000m.a.s.l./16,400ft. an offering place, here we will see several offering stone piles, possible to see the Vicuña a wild Andean cameloid. From here we descend through the Qomerqocha lake valley easy hike downhill until we reach the Pacchanta campsite, 4,100ma.s.l./13,450ft. near the thermal hot springs. We rest this afternoon and enjoy the panoramic view of north face of Ausangate Mountain and the hot springs.

DAY 8: PACCHANTA – TINKY- CUSCO

This morning a short hike across the highland through small villages with llamas and alpacas way back to Tinky village (Ocongate District) 3,800m.a.s.l./12,500ft. this is the end of our hike, Drive back to Cusco.

WHAT TO BRING

• A sleeping bag.
• A backpack (20 or 25 liters)
• Hiking boots, sneakers and shoes.
• Long pants and shorts.
• Long sleeved shirts and T-shirts.
• Warm clothes sweaters, jacket and fleece.
• Rain gear.
• Camera, films, batteries.
• Flashlight and batteries.
• Insect repellent and sun block.
• Personal toilet items and first aid kit.
• A pocketknife.
• A water bottle and purified pills.
• A change of underwear.
• Hat or cap to protect from the sun, rain or cold.
• A pack towel.
• Snacks: Energy bars, chocolate, biscuits, dry fruits etc.
• Cash USD and local currency (no option for ATM machines)
• Swimsuit (optional hot springs visit)
• Walking sticks with rubber covers (optional).

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INCLUDED DURING THE TREK

• Pre-Departure briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your trek.
• Pick up from hotels all the members, then transfer by Bus or Van to Corani Village (trailhead)
• A large igloo tent, for each 2 persons.
• Mattress, one per person.
• Kitchen tent.
• Dining tent.
• Enough tables and chairs.
• Toilet tent.
• English speaking professional tour guide.
• Expert cook.
• Wranglers and horses.
• Full meals during the trek.
• Daily snack bag.
• Daily afternoon tea service.
• Daily wake up call tea, and hot water for washing.
• Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
• Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
• Transfer by Bus or van from Tinki to Cusco.

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ADDITIONAL EXPENSES:

• Sleeping Bag, Rental sleeping bag should be requested in advance, charge is USD:30
• Single Tent, if you prefer to have guaranteed single tent the charge is USD: 30

NOT INCLUDED

• Day 1 Breakfast ( you can order an early breakfast at your hotel).
• Day 8 Dinner (on your own)
• Tips to the crew ( guides, cooks, wranglers)
• Hot spring pools visit entrance fee (on your own)

WE RECOMMEND:

• To be in good health and shape to be part of this trek.
• Participants in this trek should plan on at least two or three days of acclimation at around 3,400m.a.s.l./ 11,100 ft. Cusco’s altitude. Or treks days before in Cusco area. Perfect for the people after Inca trail or similar.
• We can arrange for accommodations and Pre or Post tours.

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