Alpamayo

Height: 5,947 m
Duration: 5 days
Country:
Peru flagPeru

Often hailed as the most beautiful mountain in the world, Alpamayo rises gracefully to 5,947 meters in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru. Its iconic, near-perfect pyramid shape and dramatic ice flutes make it a dream destination for climbers seeking technical challenges. Whether you're considering a climb on Alpamayo or planning an unforgettable Alpamayo expedition, this peak offers one of the most rewarding experiences in mountaineering.

A climb up Alpamayo is not for the faint of heart. Its steep, technical routes, such as the Ferrari or French Direct routes, require skilled use of ice tools and crampons, making it a sought-after objective for experienced mountaineers. Along the journey, climbers will pass through stunning landscapes, from lush valleys to high-altitude camps like Moraine Camp and High Camp, which provide essential rest and acclimatization. Combining skill and preparation is critical for a safe and successful Alpamayo climb.

For those seeking a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, an Alpamayo trek offers an incredible opportunity to witness the beauty of the Cordillera Blanca. While the summit may be reserved for experienced climbers, trekking routes like the Santa Cruz Trek allow hikers to marvel at the mountain's beauty from a distance. Whether you're a seasoned climber or a trekking enthusiast, exploring Alpamayo provides breathtaking views, unforgettable challenges, and a profound connection to Peru’s majestic landscapes.

Climbing Alpamayo

Prepare for an adventure climbing Alpamayo. This overview provides essential details on routes, difficulty, costs, and the best times to go, helping you plan a successful expedition.

Route

  • 3,047 m gain over 5 days
  • Starting and ending in Cashapampa
  • approach: walk in

Walk in

  • +1,450 m over a 20 km approach
  • 2 days in
  • 1 days out

Climb

  • +1,597 m over 2 - 3 days.
  • 2 high camps. Base camp and high camp are typically used, and sometimes an intermediate camp for those less acclimatised.

Difficulty

  • AD: Fairly hard (alpine grade 3)
  • D: Hard (alpine grade 4)

When to go

  • May to August

Pictures from climbing Alpamayo

These are pictures taken while climbing Alpamayo. They're shown here to give you an idea of what the route is like. You're welcome to share your own pictures of mountaineering Alpamayo, to help the community of climbers. Picture here are either uploaded by members (there own, or creative commons pictures), or guides.

Alpamayo mountain guides

Guide links

These guides offer organised mountaineering expeditions for Alpamayo. From here you can check each guides profile, or browse directly to their website to see the trip. You can separately view the guides directory to browse all guides in one place.
Below is a curated list of independent mountain guides offering expeditions for Alpamayo. Each guide provides their own experience, allowing climbers to select the approach that best suits their style, budget, and experience level. You can explore each guide’s dedicated trip page to review what they offer, from logistics and support to pricing details, with no additional influence from us.

Alpamayo itinerary

Walk in from Cashapampa to base camp, camping along the way (two days up, one down). It's a big walk up to high camp, which is shared with Quitaraju.

base-camp
Base Camp

Located in the Arhuaycocha Valley, Base Camp serves as the main staging area for the ascent. It is the starting point for acclimatization and preparation.
4,350 m

high-camp
High Camp

High Camp is situated on the glacier and serves as the final staging area before the summit push. Climbers navigate through snow and ice to reach this camp.
5,300 m

summit
Summit

The summit of Alpamayo, reached by climbing the steep and technical southwest face. This section involves advanced ice climbing techniques.
5,947 m

Alpamayo route

Explore the 3D route map for a realistic view of the ascent to Alpamayo. This interactive map provides a close-up look at key points like base camp and high-altitude camps along the way. For those planning their own expeditions, it offers a helpful overview of the mountain's terrain and surroundings.

Walk in from Cashapampa to base camp (camping along the way). From base camp you climb up to high camp (same as for Quitaraju).

Alpamayo weather

How is the weather on Alpamayo, and when is the best time to go.

The weather in the Cordillera Blanca, where Alpamayo is located, varies significantly throughout the year. The best months for climbing are typically May through August, which are the dry season months with the most stable weather conditions.

The best time to climb Alpamayo is in these months:

  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
Decent weather in these months, but expect cloudy weather once or twice a week given the proximity to the Amazon.

Alpamayo Services

Gear rental, porters, guides, transport, internet, accommodation

Accommodation

Camping on the walk in is possible anywhere. Then with 2-3 camps on the climb.

Guides

Plenty of guides ply this route.

Porters

Mules are available in the town but will go up to base camp only. If you want porters for high camp, arrange them in Cashapampa or even in Huaraz before leaving.

Alpamayo access - getting there

How to get to Alpamayo

Drive to Cashapampa, or take local transport changing at Caraz.

Alpamayo Videos

Get inspired by these incredible videos capturing the experience of climbing Alpamayo. From route highlights to summitsummit views, these clips showcase the mountain’s beauty and the challenges it presents. Have your own Alpamayo video? We'd love for you to share it with the community to inspire future climbers.

Alpamayo Summit view

What you can see from the summit of Alpamayo. Click and pan around the map to explore, and zoom in/out to see the names of neighbouring mountains.

Alpamayo questions

What to know about climbing Alpamayo

Common questions people have about this trek, if yours isn’t here - add it to get an answer.

Alpamayo Links

useful websites, Groups and communities

Groups / links with more info on the Alpamayo route.

Similar climbs to Alpamayo

These climbs are similar in length, difficulty, and elevation. Offering a similar level of challenge as the Alpamayo climb.

climm Artesonraju
Artesonraju
 AD - D
Peru
$1,750
 6,025 m