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Alpamayo
Height: 5,947 m
Duration: 5 days
Country: 
Peru
PeruAlpamayo's near-perfect pyramid shape and intricate ice routes make it a standout among the peaks of the Peruvian Andes. The climb offers a challenging yet rewarding experience, set against a backdrop of stunning glacial landscapes.
Prepare for an unforgettable adventure as you embark on one of the world’s iconic climbs. 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
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.
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.
| Guide | Info | Cost |
|---|---|---|
 Peru Adventures Travel | view guides trip webpage | from $1,750 |
| Andean Raju Expeditions | view guides trip webpage | from $1,940 |
| Andean Sunrise | view guides trip webpage | from $2,499 |
 Peruvian Mountains Adventures & Expeditions | view guides trip webpage | from $2,800 |
 Grupo Alpamayo Tours | view guides trip webpage | from $2,950 |
| Wild Guanabana | view guides trip webpage | from $4,400 |
| Namas Adventure | view guides trip webpage | from $4,500 |
| Attitude Montagne | view guides trip webpage | from $5,245 |
| Jagged Globe | view guides trip webpage | from $5,395 |
| First Light Guiding | view guides trip webpage | from $6,790 |
| Montana Alpine Guides | view guides trip webpage | from $7,250 |
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
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 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
The summit of Alpamayo, reached by climbing the steep and technical southwest face. This section involves advanced ice climbing techniques.
5,947 m
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.
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.
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.
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