Regional discussion and conditions reports for South America. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the South American Climbing Partners section.
I am weighing my options for some time off I have over the week of Easter. I would like to do either Ecuador or Peru. I was down in Ecuador six months ago and therefore would prefer Peru. However, I have it from a source in Ecuador that the weather is good and he thinks it will be ok in April for climbing (Illiniza Sur). Does anyone have any recent weather beta for Cordillera Blanca, or past experiences with weather in April for Peru?
Although climbing is possible year round, April is typically the worst month to climb in Ecuador.
The Cordillera Blanca isn't typically in condition either is usually plagued with powder snow and avalanches. Mid May is typically when routes just begin to get in condition there.
If you still wanted to go to Peru, April is usually a pretty good month to climb around Arequipa, but those mountains aren't the fluted ice sculptures of the Blanca, though they do have a different kind of beauty.