Blackbird Teams Land in Peru!

Teams guided by Zeb Blais in 2016 on Pisco Oeste, another amazing peak in the Cordillera Blanca.

2022-06-15 Today our team arrived safely in Lima, Peru for this year’s Cordillera Blanca climbing trip. We’re attempting to climb 4 peaks, up to 6,000m, over the next couple weeks including Yanapacha, Ishinca, Urus Este and Tocllaraju. The climbs involve glacier travel, steep snow, steep ice and moderate rock climbing at high altitude and they’re all located in one of the world’s most magnificent ranges: The Cordillera Blanca.

After leaving yesterday afternoon, our flights from the US went miraculously smoothly. We landed at 6:35, snagged our luggage and cleared customs. At 7:30am our team was greeted by our driver, Carlos, at the gates of Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport and brought to our hotel in the hip, oceanside neighborhood of Miraflores.

The stunning shoreline of Miraflores and San Isidro en route to Huaraz and climbing in the Cordillera Blanca.

After check-in, we grabbed a delicious breakfast of roasted avocado, eggs and toast. Today’s itinerary was light and meant for exploring Miraflores, resting after the long flight, and enjoying some of the city's excellent restaurants before departing for our main destination, Huaraz, tomorrow.

A note to travelers: only change enough money at the airport to get you to your hotel and to grab a quick snack. The exchange rate at the airport at both the “cambio” (money changing booth) and the ATMs is abysmal and is really only for people who are stuck with zero other option to get money at the airport. Rates there were 3.43/usd from the Cambio and 3.57 from the ATM, while rates on Avenida Larco in Miraflores were 3.72/usd. I’m sure there are better places to change money, but this was close enough to published rates.

Classic Peruvian food wouldn't be complete without Ceviche!

Miraflores is an awesome neighborhood. Stretching from the ocean for tens of blocks inland, it’s a vibrant spot with restaurants, bars, hotels and live music. We spent most of our day resting, exploring the Miraflores and sampling the food before reconvening to enjoy a meal as a team.

Two members of our team enjoying Lima's delicious food offerings before heading off to climb the Cordillera Blanca outside Huaraz

Two members of our team enjoying Amore, one of Lima's delicious food offerings, before heading off to climb the Cordillera Blanca outside Huaraz. Photo: Zeb Blais.

Loving life in Peru! Eating well is a huge part of our preparation for climbing in the Cordillera Blanca - and it's of the most fun parts of the trip!

Loving life in Peru! Eating well is a huge part of our preparation for climbing in the Cordillera Blanca - and it's one of the most fun parts of the trip!

Dinner at a nearby restaurant, Amore, was delicious! A beautiful terrace seating and a simple, tasty menu featuring local dishes made this a perfect place for dinner that was also Covid friendly.

Well, enough for now, we’re off to Huaraz first thing in the morning!