Peru's Cordilleras Blanca & Huayhuash

INTRODUCTION Itineraries 9 - When to go 16 PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TRIP Guided or independent? Arrieros 19 - Agencies 19 Getting there To Peru 20 - From Lima to the trails 20 Budgeting Accommodation 21 - Food 21 - Transport 21 What to take Clothing 22 - Equipment 23 - Maps 24 - Recommended reading 24 Health precautions, inoculations and insurance Fitness 25 - Health 25 - Inoculations 26 - High altitude travel 26 - Insurance 26 PART 2: PERU & THE CORDILLERAS BLANCA & HUAYHUASH Facts about the region History of the Cordilleras 27 - Modern Peru 29 - Flora 30 - Parque Nacional Huascaran 31 Fauna 32 Practical information for the visitor Documents and visas 33 - Money 33 - Local transport 33 - Food 34 - Safety 38 Other information 38 PART 3: MINIMUM IMPACT HIKING, HEALTH & SAFETY Minimum impact hiking and biking Environmental impact 39 - Economic impact 41 - Cultural impact 41 Health and safety in the mountains Safety while trekking 43 - Health in the mountains 43 PART 4: CITY AND TOWN GUIDES Lima 45 - Huaraz 52 - Caraz 62 - Carhuaz 64 - Chavin 66 - Chiquian 68 - Pomabamba 69 Yungay 70 - Yanama 71 - Chacas 71 - Huari 72 - San Marcos 72 PART 5: HIKING ROUTES & MAPS Using this guide 73 - Trekking route map key 7 Northern Cordillera Blanca Alpamayo Basecamp 74 - Santa Cruz 88 - Santa Cruz-Alpamayo Circuit (Linking section) 99 Ulta-Yanama 104 - Laguna 69 107 - Artesonraju Basecamp 109 Hikes near Huaraz Laguna Lejiacocha 111 - Akilpo-Ishinca 112 - Quebrada and Laguna Ishinca 116 Laguna Wilcacocha 119 Quebradas above Huaraz Laguna Churup 121 - Laguna Shallap 121 - Quilcayhuanca-Cojup 123 Conchucos Chacas-Huari 128 - Quebrada Rurichinchay 132 - Quebrada Rurec (Conchucos) 133 Quebrada Carhuascancha 137 Southern Cordillera Blanca Olleros-Chavin 143 - Quebrada Rurec (Huaylas) 146 - Quebrada Raria 148 Cordillera Huayhuash Huayhuash Circuit 152 PART 6: CYCLE TOURING Introduction Practical information 175 - Transport 175 - Spares 176 - Renting 176 Routes Day

Neil and Harriet Pike have hiked and cycled extensively in the Andes and Himalaya. They've spent three years exploring the Andes by bike and on foot, and are repeatedly drawn to the mountains of Peru. They blog at pikesonbikes.com and run the website andesbybike.com