Punta Olympica: Triple Heart Bypassing

The Peruvian rainy season provides us with ample rainy days to tick our way through Huaraz’s various restaurants, cafes, street markets, (plentiful) panaderias and of course sampling some exceedingly strong ale courteousy of the Sierra Andina brewery.

Just as things start feeling a bit too comfortable to contemplate moving, blue skies and clear views of Peru’s highest peak Nevado Huascaran offer a seemingly brief window of weather by which to lift us from our sugar induced comas.

As the months pass by, it seems the urge to lay even the shallowest roots in places like Huaraz conflict with the need to keep going on a bearing vaguely north. After a couple of shaky days we eventually uproot and head north toward the town of Carhuaz.

Dubiously dubbed the Triple Heart Bypass, a triple pass medley of Punta Olympica (4890m), Pupash (4050m) and Portachuelo de Llanganuco (4676m) sees us cross the Cordeillera Blanca looping our way back to a little over 10mks further north in the town of Yungay.

With some sadness I bid my farewell to hostal dog Scrappy Doo, playmate, nipper and all round endearing pup.

Scrappy Doo

Weaving our way through the dug up streets of Carpo Barrio, the latest harvest is sifted. After a round of photos, my parting gesture to the ladies has us all in fits of laughter. Hermosa, muy muy hermosa.

Ladies Shifting

Finding the merest sliver of dirt, we weave through a handful of small villages before being spat on to tarmac. Nevado Huascaran looming large over the local villages at its base.

Huascaran

Climbing quickly on tarmac we enter the Huascaran National Park with jaw dropping views out to snow capped mountains. A ribbon of tarmac taking us quickly to the base of Punta Olympica and an alpine amount of switchbacks taking us ever upward.

Valley

As we climb upward views across the Cordeillera Blanca open up. Chopicalqui in the distance.

Mountains

Taking us closer and closer to vast glaciers, creaking and groaning in the late afternoon sun.

Curves

As we reach the tunnel at the top of the new pass, we take the old dirt road over Punta Olympica proper. Snow patches linger before we drop down to camp on a glacial moraine overlooking a vivid blue glacial lake.

Descent

By morning we descend the other side of the pass down to Chacas, famous for its Andean Andalusian architecture. Narrow streets and intricate wood carvings courteousy of Italian trained craftsmen in the Don Bosco church, synonomous throughout much of the Cordeillera.

Chacas

Dropping further and further down the warm afternoon temperatures becomes too much and we sit by the river waiting for temperatures to drop, climbing in to the coolness of the early evening toward to Yanama.

River Valley

As we continue climbing in the following afternoon, the mountains are concealed under clouds, as rain showers pass.

Climbing to Yanama

Climbing out of Pupash the clouds once again lift. As we winch out way to the square cut nick of the Portchuelo high above.

Valley

As the light begins to drop, glaciers begin to look dark and oppresive.

Climb to Portchuelo

More rocky ridgelines, sharks teeth and mirror like bodies of water.

Views back to Yanama

We hit the top of the pass as the sun sets, Flo looking out to Yanaphaqcha and the Llanganuco valley.

Sun Set

Our descent; Portchuelo Llanganuco. Switchback after switchback.

Portchuelo

We linger at the top of the pass watching as the sun sets behind the mountains. Yanaphaqcha batched in light.

Sun Setting

Riding down in the dark we find our camp site spotted from on high. Chopicalqui detail set off in the clear morning light.

Morning Views

That classic Cordeillera view. The vivid aquamarine Llaganuco lakes.

Llanguanco

Bound for Yungay.

Lagos

The loop makes for a spectacular three and a half riding with high alpine views. Weighing in with some hefty days climbing, make sure you bring your climbing legs.

Route

Carhuaz – Punta Olympica – Chacas – San Luis – Yanama – Pupash – Puertochuelo Llanganuco – Yungay

8 Comments

  1. Neil
    01/12/2014

    Wow, great shots! Glad you felt the urge to start putting down roots in Huaraz too…

    Reply
    • Mike
      01/12/2014

      Thanks Neil!

      Yeah Huaraz was a fantastic place. Plans brewing for a return visit at some point.

      Hopefully with your new guidebook in hand!

  2. Cass
    03/12/2014

    Awe-some!!!

    Looks like the weather shined down upon you. Beautiful.

    See you up north…

    Reply
    • Mike
      09/12/2014

      Yup. Almost 2 weeks of glorious sun and no rain.

      Amazing. I may need to change my war cry to: Cordillera Blaaaaanca!

  3. Caraz to Ecuador - Mike Howarth
    20/01/2015

    […] Punta Olympica loop neatly deposits Flo and I in the town of Caraz, the starting point for one of Peru’s most […]

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    23/02/2015

    […] This article was originally posted here […]

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  5. Francois
    14/03/2016

    Mike would you say this route is possible without camping?

    I only have a 10 day cycle trip in the area and want to determine if I should bring my camping gear.

    Reply
    • Mike
      14/03/2016

      Its certainly possible to do it without camping, we rode from Caraz and just over the Punta Olympica in a day. Without the weight of camping equipment and food you should be able to make it further down the pass where there are a few villages you may be able to find accommodation in. As I remember your best bet is Chacas, where you would be able to stay at the Don Bosco church for free.

      On the backside of the loop you should be able to stay in Yanama fairly easily, there are a number of restaurants and possibly a guest house as a I remember.

      In total we rode the loop in two days, although we were very well acclimatised. Without any means of camping I would potentially suggest that it may be better to divide it in to three shorter days to ensure you are able to find accommdation each day.

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