Trek & Climb: Nevado Qampa

Trek & Climb: Nevado Qampa: The snow-capped nevado Qampa is one of the mountains of the Vilcanota mountain range; it’s located to the Southeast of the City of Cusco, in the province of Quisipicanchis. A great introduction climb for those without experience of glacial climbs.

Leaving from Cusco; in private transportation early in the morning, we’ll drive 3 hours south to the Ausangate region. Following our arrival we’ll take our time to check all of our equipment for the climb. We’ll meet up with our arrieros and their mules; the arrieros loading all of our equipment onto them before setting off on this epic Peru adventure.

Nevado Qampa (pronounced Jampa, also spelled Campa), is the easiest; and one of the most popular mountains in Cusco and may be climbed without experience in mountaineering. It requires a glacier hike and sometimes a small rock climbing pass depending on the season. Afterwards, on your arrival at the summit the effort offers you an incredible panoramic view; that reaches to Salkantay over 200km in a north western direction.

Afterall it is a majestic landscape where you can observe cultural diversity; along with biological diversity of the high Andean areas such as; Vicuña, Vizcacha, Andean fox, Andean face, Andean carpenter and other native species.

Highlights

Climb one of the famous mountains of the Cordillera Vilcanota, Ausangate region.
Trek across a glacier & complete a small rock climb to summit nevado Qampa.
Climb & ascend on one the easiest mountains for beginners to glacial climbing.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Tinqui – Pacchanta – Base Camp

Early in the morning, at around 7am, you’ll be collected from your hotel in Cusco. Heading south-east by the Interoceanic highway that goes to Puerto Maldonado, passing through the city of Urcos and within about 3 hours arriving at Ocongate, where you’ll be able to purchase anything that is forgotten in Cusco.

Then taking a detour to Pacchanta, 45 minutes from Ocongate, we’ll meet-up with the muleteers and mountain cook for the expedition. After lunch you’ll begin the trek, taking about 4 hours to reach the base camp, with impressive views of the main snow-capped Cusco nevadas such as: Ausangate (6384 masl), Cayangate (6110 masl) and others, always accompanied by llamas and alpacas of the region.

Already at the base camp, your personal high mountain equipment (harnesses, crampons, ice axes, helmets, leggings, gloves) will have been delivered. Your mountain guide will teach you the correct way of using the equipment, how to act on a glacier and have them ready for use when required.

Dinner is at 6pm, allowing plenty of time for everyone to rest afterwards.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

masl – 4,850
time – 7-9 hrs
Campsite – Qampa Base Camp

Day 2: Base Camp – Summit – Base Camp

Leaving base camp at 3am, you’ll have a light breakfast, it is essential to attack a mountain at dawn. In approximately 2 hours of ascent by moraine you’ll arrive at the glacier, where you’ll prepare yourselves with the mountain equipment to enter the glacier.

After another 3 hours on the glacier you’ll reach the summit of the Qampa mountain which is 5,500 meters above sea level. Taking half an hour on the summit to rest and enjoy the high Andean landscapes, surrounded by the snowy mountains of the Cordillera Vilcanota.

The descent to the base camp will take a further 3 hours, where lunch awaits and you’ll have the whole afternoon free to rest after a long satisfying day.

Dinner will be prepared ready for 6pm.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

masl – 5,500
time – 8.5-9 hrs
Campsite – Qampa Base Camp

Day 3: Base Camp – Pacchanta – Cusco

Leaving at 9am for Pacchanta after breakfast.

Arriving at Pacchanta in about 3 hours where there’ll be the option to enter the thermal baths and buy handicrafts from local crafts people. Then taking lunch and returning to the city of Cusco by around 6pm.

You’ll be dropped to your hotels, and you can spend the evening relaxing and recalling an epic adventure!

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

time – 7-8 hrs

Tour Info

whats included

Breakfast x 2
Lunch x 3
Dinner x 2
Private Transport – collection & drop-off
Professional bilingual guide
Cook
Horsemen & mules
All camping equipment (Sleeping bags to hire + Walking sticks)

whats not included

Hotels before & after (can be organised as part of trip)
Extension trips to Machu Picchu
Tips for crew
Domestic flights (can be organised as part of trip)
Crampons, Ice Axe, Harness, Helmet (can be hired as part of trip)
Any additional extras

Joining arrangements

There will be a pre-trek briefing held usually the evening before departure, at your hotel, to go over the details of the trek and any specific requirements not already captured

Food & Water

Prior to setting off we recommend you steer clear of street food and only eat in good restaurants, to avoid any stomach complaints. Peruvian food can be spicy, it can be strong and rich for many European diets. Likewise with tap water, it is largely untreated, so please avoid at all costs on arrival and stick to bottled water only or sterilised water if you have the right equipment.

Special Diets

We’ll ensure that we cater for all of your dietary needs, at the point of booking we’ll collect this information from you. We can secure special menu requests also for your trek party.

Trekking Crew

We are able to customise our treks to suit you, but usually our treks are guided by a professional bilingual guide, arriero (horseman) and mules to carry all equipment (passenger horses also available on request), and a mountain cook. They become a large part of your trekking expedition and it’s a great experience working together.

Rated 5 out of 5

Cedric Caldarera – Sep Thu, 2019

Review for Trek & Climb: Nevado Qampa (5,500m) – 2 Days
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I really enjoyed climbing Nevado Qampa. This was a new experience for me and I am delighted to have chosen Unu Raymi Expeditions to help me with this incredible adventure. Thankyou to James & Eduardo for this beautiful ascent.
Rated 5 out of 5

Darren – Nov Sun, 2019

Review for Trek & Climb: Nevado Qampa (5,500m) – 2 Days
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We had a great time on the expedition to Nevado Qampa, and we’ll be sure to leave a full review soon. We are still in Cusco, but we leave tonight.