Olleros – Chavin De Huantar

Driving along the Callejón de Huaylas Valley we enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Cordillera Blanca's highest peaks until me arrive at Olleros 3,500 masl, and then at the picturesque village of Canray Chico. Here we start hiking following the course of the Rio Negro (Black River). On our way we admire the Huantzán 6,395 masl and Uruashraju 5,722 masl peaks. We camp in Sacracancha 4,000 masl.

We follow the remains of an old Inca road up to Punta Yanashallash pass (4,700 masl). We enjoy the sight of the impressive Huantzán peak the highest of this section of the Cordillera Blanca. We camp in Shoncopampa (4,100 masl).

Our trail continues along the Inca Road as it leads down by the Wacheksa Ravine. Descending this ravine we pass by picturesque villages living traditional lifestyles such as Chichucancha, Lanchan, and Nunupata. We arrive at Chavin 4,180 masl town and We explore Chavín de Huántar, South America's oldest and most advanced culture, and one of the six independent centers of civilization in world prehistory. At Chavín we find monumental granite pyramids and ceremonial plazas linked by stone-carved staircases. Subterranean chamber complexes, known as galleries, are the most unusual Chavín architectural style. We visit the Lanzón Gallery with its supreme deity of Chavín, a large stone idol called Lanzón that is finely carved with human, Jaguar, Anaconda, and Harpy Eagle iconography. Sophisticated stone-carved friezes, columns, giant heads, and astronomic representations are a puzzle for Andean archaeo-astronomers. We return to Huaraz, and to our hotel for overnight.