Nevado Vallunaraju 5686m Mountain Climb
The guide in charge of your climb will be one of our local experienced & professional AGMP-IFMGA Certified Mountain Guides.
Vallunaraju is one of the few peaks in the Cordillera Blanca that can be climbed from Huaraz in two days. The climb is a moderately hard mountaineering adventure with great mountain views.
It is suitable for both novice climbers and also is a challenging climb for experienced climbers and is ideal preparation climb for 6000m or technical peaks.
Although it is a suitable peak for beginner climbers, the altitude at 5686m and the steep hike up to reach the glacier carrying all your climbing gear does make it demanding. For fit, strong and well acclimatized hikers, this is a great challenging adventure.
We use Refugio Llaca Mountain Hut and they provide us food and shelter.
Length: 2 days
Route: SW Slopes
Grade: 1/A
Start/Finish: Huaraz
Maximum Altitude: 5686m
Average: 4350m
Season: May to November
Day By Day Itinerary
Day 1: Huaraz – Refugio Llaca Mountain Hut
Drive for less than two hours from Huaraz to Refugio Llaca Mountain Hut located in Llaca Valley at 4350m. After check in and lunch, we explore the beautiful Llaca Lake.
Day 2: Summit Attempt and Return to Huaraz
Early start. We climb steeply up a ridge. The first 2 hours is steep and tough, but then the way gets easier and traverses gradually along to the rock face. All the way up to the glacier, we have amazing views of Ocshapalca and Ranrapalca Mountains next to us, the town of Huaraz and the opposite Cordillera Negra. We climb up over moraine rock slabs which are steep in places for about 40 minutes to an hour before we come to the glacier. Then we have steady and steep ice/snow slopes towards the summit 5686m. The last 60m to the summit is steep and feels exposed to some people and the guide will help with this if you are unsure. All the way during the climb we can see across to Huascaran, the highest mountain in Peru and the Huaylas Valley. We then return down to the hut to have lunch and then return to Huaraz. Around 10 to 12 hours to climb and return to Llaca Valley.
Altitude & Acclimatization
It is very important that you are well acclimatized to the altitude before attempting to climb Vallunaraju Mountain. Climbing above 5000m is physically demanding, even if the climbing is not technical.
What to Bring:
*Backpack – to carry your gear
*Layers of warm fleece or polypro clothing
*Sleeping bag
*Warm hat
*Sunhat or cap
*Mountaineering Sunglasses (UV)
*Sunscreen
*1 pair of Goretex gloves with 1 pair woollen inside gloves
*Socks – 1 pair for climbing in
*Snow Gaiters
*Down jacket
*Rain proof jacket
*Rain proof overtrousers
*Thermal long johns
*Personal First aid kit.
*Small bottle of hand disinfectant recommended
*Water bottle
*Head lamp + batteries
Technical Gear
*Helmet
*Walking axe
*Harness
*Leather climbing boots
*Semi-automatic crampons plus snow anti blocks
