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7 days
Apu Pariaqaqa
The Inka Trail to Apu Paraccacca takes us on an adventure to the highlands following Andean myth and history in a mythical landscape which is home to a variety of flora and fauna, specific to each ecological level we will cross.
In Andean Cosmo-vision, worship of the mountains is very important, as it is a society dedicated to animist religion.
In this sense, Apu Pariaccacca is the important mountain for worship in the Central Andes of Peru. This sacred mountain has been worshiped since ancestral times and it is remarkable to discover dozens of decorations carved into the stone along the path, in each place where the magnificent Pariaccacca can be seen.
Pariaccacca is also a mythological hero. On the route we can see geographical evidence of the titanic battle between the Gods / Apu Pariaccacca and Callolla Carhuincho, pre-Inka deities of the Yauyo and Huanca ethnic groups, who fought over the territory (this is the myth of the origin of the ethnic group).
The Apu Pariaccacca is also a geographical landmark used since pre-ceramic times to pick out the actual path, paved by the Inkas. It is worth mentioning that this path has been used since ancestral times by cameloid shepherds, evidenced by the cave paintings found in the Cuchimachay cave, in Escalarayoq.
The nature of the area takes us to the high andean lands, where the raging river Huarco (Cañete) loses itself underground to again come to the surface after having travelled a considerable distance thours approximatelyough natural underground channels. In lower grounds the river offers us beautiful calm areas where we can rest and apprecaite the abundant wildlife in the area.
The Inka Trail to Apu Paraccacca takes us on an adventure to the highlands following Andean myth and history, in a mythical landscape which is home to a variety of flora and fauna, specific to each ecological level we will cross. The Inka Trail to Apu Pariaccacca is a trek to the heart of the Andean World.
Your adventure step by step
In the morning we head to the Jorge Chavez airport to take our flight to the city of Jauja (approximately 25 minutes), located at 3400 masl / 11154 ft above sea level, in the Junin region of the Central Andes, in the surroundings of Lima.
After our transfer to the hotel, we will have a light lunch and have a couple of hours rest in the afternoon, to help with the acclimatization process. Alternatively we can carry out some activities which do not require a physical effort, like visiting the Paca lagoon.
We have dinner before going to bed to enjoy a well deserved rest.
We will make short treks and hikes around Jauja in order to have a better acclimatization
Early in the morning, after breakfast, we travel by car from the city of Jauja towards Pachacayo, the start of the rural path towards Shaqsha mountain pass, where we will begin our trek. In this part of the path, we will cross highlands where the beauty of the mountains is accentuated by the presence of flocks of vicuñas, cameloids originating in the Andean mountain range, relative of the Alpaca.
Arriving at the Portachuelo pass, we will meet our llamas and llama handlers, we will have the chance to finish organising our equipment before beginning our adventure. In keeping with the ceremonial Andean world, we will make an offering of coca leaves to our beloved Apu Pariaccacca.
We will begin our trek with a gradual uphill climb to the Escalerayoq sector, at 4780 masl / 15682 ft meters above sea level. Welcome to the highlands!
We will begin our descent where we find a long paved sector of path in the Escalerayoq sector, noticing the excellent state of conservation of the stone steps.
When we arive at the refuge where we will spend the night at the Escalera lagoon (4400 masl / 14435 ft) we will have our lunch, and after a brief siesta, we will visit the Cuchimachay cave to see the ancient cave paintings, where there is a representation of the “Chaku”, or the gathering of cameloids by a chain of people, to contain the animal. After paying our respects to the ancestors of this area, we return to the refuge to have dinner and spend the night.
We should be prepared for a cold night.
After packing our equipment and having breakfast, we being our trek on the Inka trail towards Amaru, where we will be able to observe the geography representative of the mythical and titanic battle between the Apus / Dioses Pariaccacca and Callallo Carhuincho.
On the way we will see another mythical place, the Mullucocha lagoon, where according to the legend, Pariaccacca traps Callallo Carhincho after having created an intense hail storm. Titanic battle between the Gods.
We continue on the Apu Pariaccacca Inka Trail, reaching the Atarhuay valley and beginning our descent into the Rio Huarco (Cañete) valley. Here we will follow a flat path to a small lodge at the hot springs, where we can enjoy medicial mineral waters. After eating we enjoy a well deserved rest.
After a nutritional breakfast, we begin our walk towards the road with very little trafic, to cross the “Tragadero” bridge, where the Huarco (Cañete) River disappears to follow underground channels for over 4 km, resurfacing near our campsite at Huicomachi.
On this part of the trek we have the opportunity to see part of the acuatic fauna such as andean geese, puna Ibis, and crested duck among others.
Upon arriving at the Huicomachi sector, we will see the return of the River Huarco to the surface thours approximatelyough a mountain spring. Simply spectacular. In our campsite, we will enjoy our food and a rest.
Today we can appreciate the beauty of the River Huarco in all its glory, with pools which invite us to rest and observe the beauty and varied quantity of birds, as well as the landscape, fit for a watercolour.
Different levels in the riverbed form small waterfalls, where the green colour of the pools mixes with the white foam, creating a view which stops time. As we approach the town of Vilca, the River Huarco crosses a beautiful forest of native trees, creating a spectacular view.
We eat on the outskirts of the town to later say goodbye to our llama handlers and take transport to the beautiful town of Huancaya, where we will set up our camp.
Today we will travel the whole way by car. We will leave Huancaya early in the morning towards the towns of Vitis, Tinco, Alis, Tomas and Chupaca, until arriving at the well populated city of Huancayo, which nestled in the Andean mountains makes use of the rich resources of the beautiful River Mantaro valley.
The road we will take passes thours approximatelyough several sections of canyon, before reaching the Puna ecolgical level. The highest point we will reach is the Negro Negro mountain pass (4800 masl / 15747 ft) where the immensity of the Andes will appear before our eyes. We will descend into the River Mantaro Valley, which is the most important in the region, to arrive at the pleasant and important city of Huancayo, capical of the Junin region, in the central Andes.
We will take a short tour of the city to end the tour in the “Park of Huanca Identity” (pre-inca ethnic group which occupied this fertile valley), a pleasant space where we can observe native trees and flowers, as well as statues of artists, born of this noble land. In this park we will get to know the famous “mates burilados” (intricately decorated gourds), a handicraft which depicts the traditions and way of live of the Huancaíno (local people), in exquisite pictures etched into the gourd. This “mate” is the hard outer-part of a type of pumkin only found in this region.
Overland option
Wait until 11pm to take a sleeper bus to the city of Lima – it is 8 hours by bus. The bus is quite comforatable and the advantage is that you can rest a bit and gain time the following morning, as you arrive at 7am. Transfer to your hotel.
Air option
Travel by road to the city of Jauja, where the airport is located, to spend the night in the rural hostal “Morita”. The following morning, we take our flight back to Lima which takes around 45 minutes. Transfer to your hotel.
Maximum altitude: 3400 masl / 11154 ft
Minimum altitude: 0 masl / 0 ft
Services not included
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We recommend that you bring
Important Environmental Note
Pachatusantrek is committed to following the principles of ecotourism in our operations, and request the understanding and cooperation of trekkers, especially by not contaminating the waters and in the adequate disposal of non-biodegradable waste. We must also respect the customs and traditions of the local people.
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