Culture Chavin Huantar Culture over (3180 m)

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Highlights of the Cordillera Blanca. The highest tropical mountain range in the world, the Cordillera Blanca is part of the spectacular Andes that form the spine of South America. A mecca for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, the region boasts over 50 peaks that exceed 15,000 feet, 700 glaciers and 300 lakes.

Culture Chavin de Huantar: Located in the Peruvian Andes, Chavín de Huántar was the strategic capital and religious center of the pre-Inca, Chavín civilization. The project team from the University of California at Berkeley traveled to Chavín to digitally preserve this important site. The project’s goal was to support and supplement archaeological activities and research being conducted by Stanford University with the intent of the new data becoming the foundation for an on-site conservation plan.

Chavín de Huántar: The archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar sits at an elevation of 3,180m (10,425ft) above sea level in the Peruvian Andes and is located at the confluence of the Mosna and Wacheksa rivers. Chavín once intersected several major trade routes through the Cordillera Blanca mountain range, a strategic location for the capital of the Chavín civilization. The site is located near the Callejón de Huáyla Valley where the village of Chavín de Huántar is located. Chavín is now served by a recently-upgraded, asphalt roadway. Covering 12,000 sq m (129,167 sq ft), the site includes massive temple structures with significant interior and subterranean space, pyramidal platforms, courts, and sunken plaza spaces, most of which are aligned on a common axis. Over time, river floods have eroded much of this stone architecture; its mountainous location has also made it susceptible to destructive landslides (as recent as 1945) and earthquakes (as recent as 1970) over the centuries.

History: Chavín de Huántar was a ceremonial center of the Chavín, a pre-Inca culture. The center was situated at an unparalleled crossroads between the mountains, the jungle, and the sea; the influence of all these environments likely had a strong effect on their culture and iconography, as well as their economy. It was first inhabited around 1500 BCE, during the Initial Period; during this period, the Old Temple was constructed which was a U-shaped temple and platform, encompassing the Circular Plaza. This temple contained several subterranean galleries used for religious rites, storage and possibly living space for groups involved in rituals at the temple. The Lanzón Gallery was housed in the heart of the Old Temple. The site’s most illustrious era was during the Chavín Horizon (800 – 300 BCE). Similar belief systems and rituals were carried out during this new era, but the entire center was enlarged with new constructions. The site of the Old Temple was expanded to include the New Temple, which also had galleries and plaza spaces. The Old Temple is believed to have still functioned after the completion of the New Temple. Social instability and upheaval at Chavín de Huántar occurred between 500 and 300 BCE, the same time that the Chavín civilization began to decline. Sometime after its abandonment, a small village occupied the Circular Plaza and some temples were salvaged for building materials.

Project Narrative: In July 2005, a group of students from the University of California, Berkeley traveled to Chavín de Huántar in Ancash, Peru for an archaeological 3D laser scan documentation project. The project’s goal was to support and supplement the archaeological activities and research being conducted at the site by Stanford University. The intent was the new data would become the base data set for executing a conservation plan for the site. The students implemented HDS, panoramic photography, HR photography, traditional survey, time-lapse photography, and close-range 3D scanning. The subject of the project was all above-ground structures and selected subterranean galleries. The venture was funded jointly by Stanford University and the Kacyra Family Foundation.

Preservation: Chavín’s state of preservation is poor, but gradually improving. In 1998, Peru’s National Institute for Culture (INC) asked for emergency assistance to stabilize and protect the site from the upcoming El Niño weather pattern. During the assistance, which improved drainage and stabilized the galleries, it was noted that the site had never been subject to a specific conservation or preservation effort and the state of conservation of the major structures was extremely poor as a result of climate, structural instability, topography, the materials used in construction, and badly managed tourism. A new access road was recently constructed, but before construction began, Stanford University performed excavations of the location known as “La Banda” in order to secure any archaeological remains and help assure the damage done by the road is minimal. UNESCO has urged Peru to develop a site management plan. The new Chavín Conservation Partnership (CCP) is developing plans to protect the site from excessive tourism due to the construction of a highway to the remote, mountain-top area. The CCP trained a new conservation team in 2004/2005 and the team has begun working on the preparation of 600-800 artifacts for consolidation, conservation, cataloguing, and interpretation. Artifacts are also being prepared from the collections in the site museum and Lima’s National Museum for the new National Museum of Chavín, slated for construction in 2006. Through support and donations a conservation lab and storage facility were purchased in 2004 and the development and enforcement of a site Master Plan is underway.

Difficulty Condition

Travel Program

We pick up you at 9:00 am, we drive in the way to ancient temple of Chavin, the greatest exponent of the Andean civilization, today declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On this tour we will pass by Recuay (3400 m) known as the “Gateway of the Callejon de Huaylas”, then the district Ticapampa, Cátac (3640 m) where we will observe mine tailings on the banks of the Santa River, the district Cátac and typical houses built of adobe plastered with plaster and tile roofs. We visit the lagoon Querococha (3980 m), know the map of Peru (naturally formed by fluvial erosion), pass through the tunnel Cahuish (4516 m and 480 meters in length). Conchucos arrive at Valley with its Andean villages Tambillos, Machác, Quercos. Finally we reached the Archaeological Monument Chavin (3180 m), ceremonial center dedicated to the worship of the god Jaguar, Snake and bird of prey. In the tour we will see the famous “Lanzon Chavin” head nails, the altar of chinchay shock, the porch of the Falcons, internal galleries, ceremonial plazas and others. Finally we visit the modern Chavin National Museum in its halls ceramic vases, pututos seashell, the obelisk Tello and other cultural property recovered in the temple of ChavinWe. We will return approximately about at 7:30 pm – Arrival in Huaraz.

Overnight
Hotel

Hiking
1 hours approx

Meals
B/L/-

Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner

What's Included

Services included in the prices:

  • Transport private to start point to hike and viceverse
  • Official trekking guide
  • Entrance fees to Chavin Temple and Museum
  • Pick up at your hotel (at 9:00am)
  • First aid kit and oxygen (if necessary)

Not included:

  • International flights to Lima / Peru round trip
  • Transfer from the airport for bookings of individual flights with different times of arrival / departure
  • Exit tax at the airport in Lima
  • Travel accident and health insurance
  • Luggage insurance and trip cancellation
  • Meals in restaurants in Lima and Huaraz
  • Pick up at the airport in Lima to the Hotel
  • Transfer from the Hotel to the airport and bus station
  • Transport public bus or Domestic flight Airline LC-Peru
  • Hotel Casa Andina 2 nights in Lima or other hotel
  • Hotel San Sebastián 4 nights in Huaraz or other hotel
  • Personal expenses
  • Box Lunch (amount depends on you)
  • Personal equipment (such as clothes while traveling in the vehicle and hiking. But to be in the sheltered lagoon and hats with earflaps attire is required, hiking shoes, sometimes waterproof/goretex if its rainy season, Sunscreen, Sunglasses, camera, hat or sun hat, sports drinks or water (2 liters approx), etc.)
  • Tips

What to Bring

What to Bring or take fo Day Hiking and Technical Equipment for Climbing Expedition

This equipment list is compiled to provide you with adequate help when choosing your equipment for a climb. Most items are required. Please consider each of them and make sure you understand the function and exclusive use for mountaineering, before substituting or removing items from this list. Please note that this list has been carefully annotated by the organizer. Remember that mountaineering, mountaineering or mountaineering is an extreme, risky sport, therefore everything related to it is of great attention.

These items should be on your hiking checklist:

Hiking backpack for hiking 30 to 40 liters

Light gloves for hiking or (Optional Mittens waterproof)

Medium weight socks

Sleeping bag (-10º to 15ºC)

Small daypack for one day hiking 20 liters

Weather-appropriate clothing (think moisture-wicking and layers)

Hiking boots or shoes

Medium weight parka with fibber fill or down

Rain poncho (or rain gear)

Long-sleeved shirts

Fleece or Wool sweater and/or trousers

Lightweight pants

Cotton short-sleeved shirts or t-shirts

Water bottle for hiking or trekking

Strong waterproof duffel bag

Flashlight with spare batteries and bulb

Towel for personal hygiene each participantFirst-aid kit

Regular and long underwear

Knife or multi-tool

Light cap and wool hat

Sunglasses with UV certification, Sun block, lips

The rest of the list Essentials as appropriate for your hike

Grooming and personal hygiene kit

One Hiking Buff per person

Technical Equipment for High Altitude Expedition Mountains

3 Locking carabiners, we recommended per person

We recommend 2 ice screws for each client

1 Daisy Chain (Life Line) per each person

2 Ice axes (per person) technical, we recommended GRIVEL company

1 ATC descender (Rappel), this is very necessary for technical mountains

2 Cords for prusik, very important (Size Cord 6 mm x 10 m. long)

Gloves(Good gloves) for expeditions over 6000meters

Harness, we recommended GRIVEL company

Sleeping pad / Mattress, we recommend with air or inflatable mattress

Crampons, we recommended GRIVEL company

Walking sticks (optional), a pair per person, we recommended GRIVEL company

Down Jacket for expedition

Very important to have personal clothing such as pants and jacket with GOROTEX certification

First aid kit, for high mountains, because we as guides cannot medicate clients

Backpack Capacity 60 liters, it is better to have a bigger backpack to go comfortably to the high camps, because here you have to carry all your personal things

Gaiters or Leggings, now modern boots already have built-in (Incorporated), but better to have an extra pair

Dressing appropriately for the mountains can make the difference between a pleasant trip and a really uncomfortable one. Clothing must provide the right degree of temperature, perspiration and be well ventilated. Preferably cotton clothing should be avoided, as in humid conditions they absorb body heat.

In general, the weather conditions in in the Andes of South America can vary from day to day and even throughout the day. Therefore, clothing must be versatile.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have regarding the necessary equipment.

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— JUL 2023 / — AUG 2023

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» Additional dates available upon request
» Rates may vary from July 26th to 31th for the national holidays

Prices (per person):

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Deposit for reservations: * — USD (– EUR) ✓ Full payment 40 days before. No refund if you cancel less than 30 days!
Places: 🟢 *Available
Trip-code: Number ►PE-404
Duration: 1 day
Participants: Minimal: — Maximal: —
Members: We don’t have an open group to join – We can open a new group – Contact us!
Country / Location: Peru
Mountain Guide: Edwin Albino Lliuya
Other dates / additional info: Contact us!

3% early bird discount when booking 6 months prior to departure 2023

Legend Booking-information:
EZZ Single room supplement
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Edwin Albino Lliuya

Expert trekkin guide certified
Trekking-guide of Peru Expeditions

Elmer Albino Lliuya

Expert trekkin guide certified
Trekking-guide of Peru Expeditions

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