Three smiling climbers roped together on a snowy glacier in the Cordillera Blanca

Ishinca and Tocllaraju

Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Thirteen days in Peru's Cordillera Blanca. Learn glacier skills on Ishinca, then put them to work on Tocllaraju, a real 6,000-meter (19,700-foot) climb.

Altitude: 6,034 m (19,797 ft)
Length: 13 days / 12 nights
Team: Up to 8 climbers and 2 guides
Price: From $3,900
Status: Booking now

Two peaks from one base camp in the Cordillera Blanca, with Huaraz as the town at either end.

The first days are for acclimatizing around Huaraz: a hike to Laguna Churup and a day of ice climbing on the Llaca Glacier. Then donkeys carry the heavy gear into the Ishinca Valley. Nevado Ishinca, 5,530 meters (18,140 ft), is mostly low-angle glacier. It’s where you get comfortable on a rope team at altitude.

Tocllaraju is why most people sign up. At 6,034 meters (19,797 ft) it has steeper snow, more complicated glacier and a longer summit day. You climb it with the skills you just practiced on Ishinca.

You don’t need mountaineering experience, but you need real fitness: six to eight hours on your feet with a 40-pound pack, and enough left to do it again the next day.

Your expedition leader is from AWE. The local guides in the Cordillera Blanca have been men, because there are very few certified women mountain guides in Peru. We hire women guides and staff wherever we can.

The last night is a team dinner in Huaraz.

Is this trip for you?

No mountaineering experience needed.
You've hiked plenty. Backpacking or time at altitude helps.
Six to eight hours with a 40-pound pack, with enough left to do it again the next day.
You can be away for about two weeks.

Not sure? Ask us. We'll tell you honestly whether it's the right next step, and what would get you ready.

Take the details with you

A printable trip overview: dates, day by day, what's included, what to bring and the questions people ask. Leave your name and email and the download link appears right here.

Day by day

Day 1Arrival in Huaraz, Peru; welcome dinner
Day 2Gear check & acclimatization day
Day 3Acclimatization hike to Laguna Churup
Day 4Ice climbing school at Llaca Glacier
Day 5Transfer to trailhead & hike to Ishinca basecamp
Day 6Rest day & skills practice
Day 7Hike to Ishinca high camp
Day 8Ishinca summit push & return to basecamp
Day 9Rest day at basecamp
Day 10Hike to Moraine camp
Day 11Tocllaraju summit push & return to basecamp
Day 12Hike out and transfer to Huaraz; final team dinner in Huaraz
Day 13Depart

Itineraries change with weather, team condition and local logistics.

Included

Hotel accommodation in Huaraz, double occupancy
Most meals (as detailed in the expedition handbook)
Professional guide team including AWE expedition leader and local Peruvian guide(s)
Guided day of ice climbing instruction
Cook, cooking equipment & dining tent
Team gear including four-season tents (double occupancy), ropes, snow anchors & team medical kit
Donkey support
On-trail real-time GPS tracking and communications
National Park entrance fees

Not included

Flights to/from Huaraz, Peru
Airport transfers in Huaraz (a van from the airport costs about $7)
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for expedition leader and local guides & staff
Personal climbing gear and attire
Personal medications
Sodas & alcoholic beverages
Personal trekking snacks (such as bars, trail mix, or beef jerky) for on-trail sustenance
Medical, travel, and rescue insurance
Single supplement - contact us to discuss availability and pricing

Bring your own

Mountaineering boots
Ice axes & crampons
Climbing helmet, harness, carabiners & belay device
65l+ backpack
Sleeping bag rated to 0°F or colder
Sleeping pad
Trekking poles
Expedition-weight down jacket
Hardshell (GoreTex) jacket

The full packing list comes in your trip handbook after you book.

Questions people ask

How fit do I need to be?

Fit enough to hike six to eight hours with a 40-pound pack and not be wiped out afterward. No mountaineering experience required.

How technical are the peaks?

Both are glacier climbs on a rope with crampons and ice axe. Ishinca's normal route is mostly low to moderate angle and a good learning peak, with a summit day of six to eight hours. Tocllaraju is steeper, more complicated and longer, and you need to move well to summit.

How much will I carry?

Donkeys carry the heavy gear to base camp, so 15 to 20 pounds on the way in. The heaviest days are the moves to high camp on each peak, where you'll carry all your own gear, often around 40 pounds.

Can I hire a porter?

Yes, above base camp. Ask us about cost.

Are the local guides women?

Not usually. There are very few certified women mountain guides in Peru. Your expedition leader is from AWE, and we hire women guides and staff wherever we can.

Is Peru safe to travel in?

Generally, yes. Take normal precautions: keep your things with you and don't walk alone after dark. Huaraz is used to climbers and easy to get around.

Should I take Diamox (acetazolamide)?

That's a decision for you and your doctor. Plenty of climbers summit without it. How well you acclimatize is mostly genetic, and the best predictor is how you've done at altitude before. If you've never been this high, Diamox can improve your odds, but it has side effects and takes a day or two to start working. If you'd rather learn what your body does on its own, skip it.