4-Day Ishinca & Urus Climb from Huaraz: 5530m Peak

Climb two peaks in the Ishinca Valley with a guide and porters carrying your tent.

A 4-day climbing expedition from Huaraz to Ishinca Base Camp, where you ascend Ishinca Peak (5530m) and Urus Peak (5495m) with a Peruvian mountain guide, local porters and donkeys. The route crosses the Ishinca Valley, passes through high-altitude glacier terrain and returns via native queñual forest. All camping, meals and transport from Huaraz are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Transfer and trek to Ishinca Base Camp

• Transfer from Huaraz to Pashpa
• Climb through Ishinca Valley to Base Camp

Day 2: Climb Ishinca Peak and return

• Climb trail and moraine to glacier
• Climb glacier to Ishinca summit
• Descend to Base Camp

Day 3: Climb Urus Peak and return

• Ascend west face of Urus
• Cross moraine and glacier to summit
• Descend steeply to Base Camp

Day 4: Return trek and transfer to Huaraz

• Trek from Base Camp to Pashpa
• Transfer from Pashpa to Huaraz

The experience

You start in Huaraz and travel north to Pashpa (3400m) by vehicle, then trek for 4–5 hours through the Ishinca Valley with donkeys carrying the camp gear. The route climbs steadily to Ishinca Base Camp at 4250m, where you sleep in a shared tent and eat meals prepared by the expedition cook. This first day is a warm-up. The real climbing comes next.

On day two you leave camp before dawn for the Ishinca ascent. The trail crosses moraine and reaches the glacier, where a local guide ropes in with you for the final steep sections and hard ice if conditions demand it. The climb takes 10–12 hours round-trip, with the last 50 meters to the 5530m summit over snow. Day three tackles Urus Peak (5495m) via the west face: a shorter route of about 7 hours that crosses rocks and snow, then descends steeply back to camp. Both peaks sit in view of Tocllaraju (6034m) and the Palcarajus massif, so the scenery frames the work.

On the final day you walk out early with the donkeys carrying everything, descending through queñual forest, native high-altitude trees, back to Pashpa and the waiting vehicle. The return to Huaraz usually happens by early afternoon. A local mountain guide leads throughout. The guide speaks English or Spanish. Minimum age is 18, and moderate fitness is required for the altitude and long climbing days.

What’s included

• Donkey drivers and donkeys to carry camp gear.
• entrance fees to Huascaran National Park.
• a Peruvian mountain guide fluent in English or Spanish.
• kitchen equipment and a cook.
• all meals throughout the 4 days.
• private transport from Huaraz to Pashpa and back.
• shared camping tents for two people.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Peru Expeditions Tours

Is this one for you?Book this trip if you're arriving in Huaraz without a car or climbing partner. The guide, porters and donkeys mean you show up with a day pack, and the private transport handles the drive to the trailhead and back to your hotel. The 4-day schedule fits a long weekend or a break in a larger Peru itinerary.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Ishinca Valley climb like compared to the Urus route?

Ishinca is the longer and steeper of the two, with 10–12 hours of climbing over glacier and moraine to reach 5530m, including hard ice sections near the summit. Urus takes about 7 hours and follows the west face over snow and rock, making it shorter and less technical, though the descent is steep. Both are part of the same 4-day trip, so you climb both peaks.

Do I need mountaineering experience to climb these peaks?

No prior climbing experience is required. A local mountain guide accompanies you on both summits and ropes in for steep sections and hard ice. You need moderate physical fitness for the altitude and the long days, Ishinca's summit day runs 10–12 hours, but the routes themselves are not technical climbs.

How does the altitude affect the climb, and is there time to acclimatize?

You start at 3400m and sleep at 4250m on night one, then climb to 5530m and 5495m on days two and three. There is no dedicated acclimatization day included in the 4-day itinerary, so the pace is steady. The first day's trek to base camp helps your body adjust before the summit attempts. Travelers with poor cardiovascular health are not recommended for this trip.

What do the donkeys carry, and what do I pack myself?

Donkeys and local drivers carry the camping tents, kitchen equipment and most camp gear. You carry a day pack with water, snacks and personal items during the climbs. The expedition provides all meals, so you don't need to pack food. Personal climbing equipment (boots, layers, a headlamp). You bring yourself.

What happens if I don't reach the summit?

The itinerary includes the ascent of both Ishinca and Urus, but the route is designed so the climb is rewarding even if you turn back before the peak. The Ishinca Valley itself offers scenic views of the surrounding massif, and you return to base camp the same way. The guide and team support whatever pace you set.

How do I get from Huaraz to the trailhead, and is there a hotel in Huaraz before or after?

Private transport picks you up in Huaraz on day one and drives you north to Pashpa (90 minutes), where the trek to base camp begins. On day four, the vehicle meets you at Pashpa after the descent and returns you to Huaraz, usually by early afternoon. Lodging in a Huaraz hotel is included on the final night.