A new and interesting way to trek, llama-packing is part of Llama 2000, an
initiative undertaken by a group of peasant farmers from the Callejón de Huaylas and the
Mountain Association of the Olleros-Chavín area. The initiative is designed to promote
ecotourism in the Ancash department by rescuing its traditions. Llama and alpaca -the
traditional Andean beasts of burden- captivate the walkers’ attention during their
trip along some of the most spectacular trails in the Cordillera Blanca and Huascarán
National Park. The route starts in the charming town of Olleros (30 kilometers south of Huaraz) where llamas are loaded with the necessary travel gear. During four days of walking and enjoying the scenic beauty of the area and the views of snow-capped peaks like Shaqsha (5,703 m), Cashan (5,686 m) and Tuctupunta (5,343 m) travelers have the opportunity of sharing the customs and traditions of local peasant communities at Shongo (a site dotted with imposing sacred monoliths or huacas) and Nunupata.
The route ends at the splendid archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar, built to serve as the administrative and ceremonial center of the first pre-Columbian civilization that spread over most of what is now Peru. UNESCO declared the site part of Mankind’s Cultural Heritage in 1985. Dozens of structures in polished rock, underground plazas and galleries, and peculiar gargoyle heads and carved stone slabs make Chavín an indispensable stop for visitors to the area.