Hiking the Andes in Peru

Huaraz - a small town in the middle of the Corderilla Blanca, part of the Andes. The city was almost completely destroyed in an earthquake and rebuilt. Not very pretty, but the people and surroundings more than make up for it - because Huaraz is a mecca for trekking and climbing. Here, everyone comes together who has a heart for the mountains. 
Every day I took the combi up into the mountains for a hike. To Laguna Churup, Laguna 69, Mirador Rataquenua... In the middle of nowhere in the mountains live remote farmers and sheep farmers, who work in traditional colorful clothes and huge hats and grin at me curiously already in 200m distance. It's hard for me to describe how all this has shaped me. The nature and the people in the Andes are something very special. May it forever remain such an authentic and inspiring place!
Definately check out Café Andino, with its fire oven and 1/2 liter café for a few cents, it quickly became a meeting spot where you could always find someone you knew, have a chat and plan your next adventure.

I am so excited about the Santa Cruz Trek - with its spectacular landscapes, high passes and deep blue lagoons. It was organized by Jehsús through his agency Galaxie. The whole thing was very luxurious with 2 donkeys carrying the tents, a cook and a "donkey driver" who took care of the donkeys. During your hikes he is very open to teach you a lot about the culture in Peru, corrupt politics, Quechua, but especially about the nature in the Cordillera Blanc. Pickup is at 4 a.m, you take a combi for about 5 hours to Colcabamba, where the tour starts. From here you hike to the first of many beautiful campsites. The next day we had the hardest trip ahead of us, up the Paso Punta Union at 4750m - make sure you acclimatise before! It was a crazy feeling to stand so high up and look out over the mountain ranges. The second night we slept in Taullipampa Camp. From there we went up to the base camp of the Alpamayo to the Laguna Arhuaycocha. Turquoise blue shimmered the lagoon at the end of a glacier tongue and brave souls get to jump in. The last night we spent in Llamacorral Camp, from which we descended to Cashapampa and made a detour to hot thermal springs. The shower before that has rarely felt so good!