Where should I stay in the Cordillera Blanca ?

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nicolas1970i
nicolas1970i

Hi,

As part of the northern loop of my Peru trip, I would like to stay in the Cordillera Blanca for 6 days. I plan to do a couple of day hikes, then the Santa Cruz Trek (over the four standard days, self-guided).

We will most probably arrive by (night) bus from Trujillo, and leave for Lima where we catch a plane in the morning to Iquitos (on the seventh day - hopefully the night bus arrives early enough to leave us some margin).

I am wondering where to base ourselves : Huaraz ? Yamana ? Yungay ? Other.... ?
Ideally we would like to do the two day hikes straight from the hotel, or with minimal transportation (<1h). Also, we need to leave some bags behind before the trek, and retrieve them just before we go back to Lima. And finally, I'd like to minimize the travel time to and from Vaqueria/Cashapampa (the direction of the trek is indifferent to me, at this point).

What would you recommend ? I would consider overnighting in several places, but no more than two.

Nick

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klaush
klaush

Caraz is a place to be considered. It has enough accomodation and restaurants, a warm, pleasant climate and nice central plaza. Also some tour operators, frequent public transport and a shorter distance to the trailhead at Cashapampa. Any hotel will keep your bags if you have stayed a night or two.

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andrewk81
andrewk81

We stayed in Huaraz. It's convenient. But if you're only going there to do the Santa Cruz trek, stay in Yungay, which will shave a really really early minibus trip off your travel.

However, Huaraz is a better base if you want to do things other than the Santa Cruz trek (e.g. the Chavin ruins), and you won't get to Vaqueria any earlier in the morning: the minivans wait for the transports from Huaraz. Mb if you stay in Caraz you can get to Cashapampa earlier, but we didn't do the hike that way round, so I wouldn't know. In any case, the first and last day are pretty short.

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nicolas1970i
nicolas1970i

Thanks to both of you.

Ideally, I would have liked to stay in a place from which I can do day hikes (prior to the Santa Cruz trek), without having to take public transport in the wee hours. At the same time, not too far from the Caraz-Huaraz road, so as not to waste too much time on the way in, and leaving. Andes Lodge Peru for instance, is 3.5hrs from that road - that's too far. Lazy Dog Inn is convenient, but far away from Laguna 69, for instance, and from the trailheads. Might be one of the better compromises though....

A few more questions :
. coming by night bus from Trujillo (Moviltours/etc... ), do I get dropped first in Huaraz, and have to backtrack - should I stay further north - or can I be dropped in Yungay/Caraz/Carhuaz ?
. I don't have any preference with regards to starting the trek in Cashapampa or Vaqueria (I have a guidebook which describes it starting in Cashapampa), which is the trailhead that is most easily accessible on the first day ?
. what are the chances of hitching a - paying - ride on a tour bus going to the trailhead at the start, if I do the round of the agencies in the two days before ? Just to avoid having to make connections on public transport...
. what are the "luxury bus" options leaving Huaraz back to Lima in the evening ? Moviltours and ... ? Can I catch one anywhere along the road, or only in Huaraz ?

Thanks again !

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nicolas1970i
nicolas1970i

No one to answer the last questions ?

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mendocinateacher2
mendocinateacher2

http://ourstage.com/media_items/CLDDHBJGABWD-how-many-angels-can-dance

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