Ishinca Valley Climb

• Fly to Huaraz (10,197’)
• Check in at Hotel Andino and enjoy afternoon tours
• Overnight: Andino Club Hotel or comparable
• Meals included: D

• Drive to Pitec (11,811’) to begin our climb to Churup Lake
• Return to Huaraz Hotel by 4pm
• Overnight: Andino Club Hotel or comparable
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Enjoy a day of hiking in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range to two spectacular lakes nestled between Huascaran Peak and the highest peak in Peru, Huandoy Peak
• Overnight: Andino Club Hotel or comparable
• Meals included: B/L/D

• After breakfast in Huaraz at 7:30am we will drive 1 hour to Pashpa (cochapampa) (11,220’)
• Donkeys and donkey driver will be waiting for us, we will load our gear and trek to Ishinca base camp in Huascaran National Park | 4-5 hours
• Settle into camp at the Ishinca base camp
• Overnight: Base camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Today we will do a day hike to beautiful high alpine lakes and return to base camp to rest and acclimatize
• We will check out gear and practice using it
• Overnight: Base Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Today we will move camp
• Climb to Ishinca Moraine Camp
• Overnight: Ishinca Moraine Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Early morning start for summit day!
• After summiting, we will enjoy the view, and then make our way back to base camp for the night
• Overnight: Base Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Spend day relaxing and preparing for departure or next summit if doing an add-on adventure
• Overnight: Base Camp
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Return to Huaraz and then to Lima for international departure, or begin add-on adventure
• Meals included: B/L/D

• Pick up on Day 1 in Huaraz
• Drop off on Day 9 in Lima
• Transportation by private vans and buses throughout
• Baggage handling throughout adventure
• WWTrek Lead Professional Western Guide(s) *for groups of 8 or larger
• Services of local English-speaking guides and staff throughout
• All services, tours, hikes, entrance, and excursion fees described in the itinerary
• 8 nights lodging
• All meals included during scheduled itinerary
• Pre-trip planning, customization, and consultation
• Interactive gear list
• Fitness and Nutrition 6-week plan

• International and domestic airfare other than as described in itinerary
• Passports and visas
• Immunization costs
• Travel and medical insurance
• Personal trekking gear
• Optional excursions or deviations from the scheduled tour
• Meals or bottled beverages other than those specified in the itinerary
• Items of a personal nature: laundry, soft drinks, incidentals, etc.
• Expenses incurred due to circumstances outside of WWTrek’s control
• Gratuities for guides and crew

The Peruvian winter (May through September) provides the best traveling experience. This dry season still offers largely varying weather conditions and temperatures. Please prepare for a variety of conditions and temperatures ranging between 30 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

This trip begins and ends in Cusco, Peru. You will fly into and out of Cusco International Airport (CUZ).

* Many guests prefer to arrive before, or leave after, the scheduled itinerary. We can help you make arrangements. Additional charges for early arrival, transportation, lodging, meals, and activities will apply.

International airfares are not included in program pricing. There are many flight options. Our travel expert, Danny Genung at Harr Travel is more than happy to help you with all of your travel arrangements from the U.S. to Cusco. You can reach him at danny@harrtravel.com or 909.266.0117.

The benefit of using a travel agent is in the event of itinerary changes, the travel agent will find the best flight connections, and land arrangements, for you. Though third-party travel websites are convenient, we do not recommend using them, due to instability in the itineraries. We also recommend that you protect your flight with travel insurance and a refundable ticket.

U.S. Citizens are not required to obtain a visa for travel in Peru. You will need a passport valid for more than six months after your trip. Make two copies of your passport. Leave one at home and bring the other with you in case of an emergency. Ensure you provide a color copy of your passport to WWTrek, 90-days prior to your departure date. Always carry two extra passport photos when you travel.

We recommend purchasing travel insurance, which will protect you in the event of an unanticipated cancellation of your trip, and depending on the plan you choose, can refund all the costs already paid (including flights, trip costs, and your payment to us). Please note: you must purchase this plan within 14 days of your deposit payment. There are three plans that we recommend choosing from: Cavalry, Rip Cord or Harbor. Please send us a copy of your plan if you choose to purchase one.

Upon arrival in Peru, you can expect the finest accommodations while staying in lavish lodgings such as the Andino Club Hotel in Huaraz. Enjoy full service camping while hiking through alpine lakes to the Ishinca Base Camp. Finish out your trip by summiting two more peaks with one of our add-ons.

World Wide Trekking boasts an extensive support crew for all of our groups ranging from eight to 12 people. At headquarters in Salt Lake City, our staff is dedicated to helping you every step of the way. If you’re planning your trip and have a question about which boots to buy, our adventure specialist is just a phone call away.

We provide medically certified, English-speaking Western guides for all of our adventures. Additionally, you have access to a local operations manager and a plethora of local professionals to aid the group on the mountain including porters, a tent crew, chefs, servers, dishwashers, separate toilet attendants, and anything else you can think of.

Our stringent commitment to safety means you have access yo our medically certified guides before and throughout your trip. Our staff also carries emergency medical equipment such as satellite phones and medical kits.

Prior to the trip, you will need to get a few prescriptions from your physician: Diamox for altitude sickness, Cipro for stomach ailments, and Z-Pack for respiratory ailments. In addition, we recommend visiting your local travel vaccination clinic one month before your trip. Needed vaccinations include a current tetanus shot, annual influenza shot, Varicella, Typhoid, Hep A, and MMR.

Helpful over the counter medications include Imodium Ad, throat lozenges, ibuprofen, eye drops, and any other personal medications you may need.

For more information, feel free to contact Dr. Levy, our medical advisor, at 801.943.0264.

In many parts of the world, gratuities are given in appreciation for a job well done. Our guides will take care of tipping service personnel along the way so that you don’t have to think about it.

For any additional services outside of our itinerary, plan to tip 10% (transport, restaurants, baggage, lodges, etc). We will provide you a tipping guide once you sign up for a trip.

At the trails end you will have the opportunity to contribute to a group tipping pool that will be presented to your WWTrekking guides and trekking staff as we say our goodbyes.

You will have the opportunity to exchange money after your WWTrek guide escorts you from the airport. You can easily exchange money at gift shops in both Cusco and the smaller villages we visit. Exchange money as you go using your credit card or cash for your personal expenses at the lodge. Typically, our guests spend about $1,000 for various personal expenses, souvenirs and incidentals.

Peru is a nation of discovery. Between the ever-evolving cultural landscapes of indigenous peoples and Spanish influences, the country provides a multitude of natural wonders and economic growth. With a resurgence in cultural pride and open arms to tourists, Peru offers an old world destination with an increasingly modern and progressive attitude.

30.38 million

Peru Time (PET) is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This time zone is in use during standard time in South America.

Lima, Peru

Essentially, two populations reside in Peru, that of the whites and mestizos (people of mixed indigenous and Spanish descent) and that of the criollos (natives). Many Peruvians believe that being white is better. This belief contributes to inequality issues that permeate Peru’s government and economic sectors. A significant divide exists between the wealthy elite, typically whites and mestizos, and the poor, predominantly the criollos. Many Peruvians subscribe to the tradition that men go to work and women stay at home, although this trend is changing. In addition, the government and the Catholic Church work closely together. The official religion of the military is Roman Catholic while priests and other religious figures receive government stipends.

The official languages of Peru include Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. Quechua and Aymara are languages of the Incas whereas Spanish is a colonial language. Spanish is by far the most widely used, from the coast to the highlands. Read our blog to learn a few Spanish and Quechua words and phrases you can use during your trip to Peru.

The official currency in Peru is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN), referred to as the sol. Due to fluctuating exchange rates, we recommend searching online to find out the current rate before your adventure.