WHO WE ARE

I’m Chris, a transplanted Minnesotan who, together with my wife and partner Isabel, run La Cima Logistics. We’re a licensed and legit adventure travel agency in Huaraz, Peru. We’ve been providing logistical services to climbers and trekkers since 2003, when it became obvious that some visitors wanted custom expeditions at local prices.

We make arrangements for adventures in the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash, which are places that both of us (and all of our staff) know well, from the valleys to the summits. We’re honored to work with the best staff (guides, cooks, porters, and arrieros) and service providers (hotels, transport companies, equipment rental) to provide you with exactly what you need, from “everything” to “minimalist”. We use great care with each trip we operate, to manage risk and maximize adventure and success.

THE EXPERIENCE

We’re coming to Huaraz, and we want to climb/trek – can we join one of your groups?

It cannot be done, as we don’t sell space on climbing or trekking trips. There are plenty of local agencies that sell space, but we aren’t one of them. We arrange custom logistics for groups of any size, but they’re all private trips.

We don’t want to haul our mountaineering/trekking equipment to Peru – is there good quality rental equipment available in town?

At La Cima Logistics, you can rent the very highest quality equipment for your adventures. We have excellent tents for trekking, mountaineering, and basecamp, sleeping bags and pads, kitchen equipment, and technical climbing kit. We also have access to emergency communications equipment such as satellite phones, as well as water filtration tools, and first aid/portable oxygen.

Do I need to hire a Guide?

Legally, in many cases the answer is yes. In some cases this rule can be bent, but it should be understood by visiting trekkers and climbers that the Peruvian Gov’t has decided that you must hire a Guide for trekking or climbing trips in the Cordillera Blanca (Huascaran Nat’l Park) In the Huayhaush, there are no such regulations. If you think you might want to hire a Guide – do so as EARLY in the year as possible.

Can La Cima Logistics make all of our arrangements?

We can arrange as little or as much as you require. We have access to the best staff working in this area – many Guides speak multiple languages and some have wilderness medical response training, as well as plenty of experience in the hills. The Cooks we work with are second to none, and can accommodate different dietary needs and preferences. Porters and Arrieros (pack animal handlers) can help move equipment if needed. Any kind of transportation, hotel or equipment requests can be arranged.

What can we do near Huaraz?

Many fun things! The mountain areas of Parque Nacional Huascaran, located in the Cordillera Blanca, and the nearby Cordillera Huayhuash, attract many international mountaineers and trekkers. Climbing and trekking options are plentiful, from moderate to difficult/expert, and similar possibilities are rarely so close at hand. Ski mountaineering, technical mountain biking, rock-climbing (bolt-clipping and “trad”/alpine) are also popular reasons to visit. Cultural tourism, including community-based “homestays”, guided visits to pre-Incan ruins, and supported trekking on historically significant trails are gaining in popularity. High altitude horse riding, trout fishing, bird watching, and guided day hikes are some of the activities that have become popular while people acclimatize to the altitude. Because we know the area, and the options, let us help you make the most of your trip!

WHAT WE DO

Trekking & Climbing

Logistics & Equipment

We charge a flat fee per person in your group to provide custom logistical arrangements for your trip. This fee is paid in advance, to hire La Cima Logistics to help plan and manage your trip.

We work closely with our client groups to plan exactly the logistics needed, anticipate the budget and schedule, and make sure the details happen as planned. When the unanticipated happens, as it can, we deal with it. We live here, we know how things work, and we know how to make things happen. Everything starts with an email from you telling us what you want to do on your “dream trip”. Then, we’ll ask you a few questions and shortly send you a spreadsheet of cost estimations and timeline. Together we can refine that until you’re happy with the result. The actual costs of the trip that you agree upon are to be paid upon arrival to Huaraz. Tourism in this area of Peru operates largely in cash, and we accept wire transfers and/or cash for trip cost payments.

OUR CLIENTS

Our valued clients, both new and returning, have led us to great success at La Cima Logistics. Steady growth every year shows how popular it's become to create your own trip - instead of fitting into the programs offered by other, more expensive agencies. Custom trips, local prices..

PARTNERS

TESTIMONIALS

I worked with Chris Benway from La Cima Logistics to a ski mountaineering trip to the Cordillera Blanca in spring of 2015. Chris was easy to work with, leading up to the trip, he always responded promptly and thoroughly. I especially appreciated how he took the time to go over the budget in advance with openness and transparency. He went above and beyond the call of duty, even meeting us at the bus station when we arrived in Huaraz to assist with our luggage and make sure the transition went smoothly (I especially appreciated that, after traveling for so long to arrive in Peru). When we needed to reorganize some of the logistics mid-trip due to weather, he helped take the stress out of the decision-making. I can’t tell you how much it improved our trip to have Chris as a resource and a point person. He made us feel like we were family. It was very comforting to have his expertise and resources. Planning an international trip can be overwhelming, especially to a country like Peru. Having a local who knows the area adds so much to the experience. I highly recommend using La Cima Logistics to help make your trip more memorable and enjoyable.

I've used La Cima Logistics on both personal and professional trips to the Cordillera Blanca, and have always been exceptionally happy with the service. International expeditions can be stressful, and it's great to have a local in your corner. Chris Benway is the classic example of a "fixer": lost luggage? He fixes it. Forget gear? He'll fix it. Chris provides personal service and logistic help that allows me to just go climbing without having to deal with cultural and language barriers if I don't want to; it's great peace of mind and very worth it". -Tico Gangulee, IFMGA/UIAGM Mountain Guide

"In 2016 we finally made it to Peru and trekked the Huayhuash Circuit in the beautiful Andes. We had an incredible trip and knew without a doubt we would be back. Turns out it was sooner than we thought - I guess we just couldn’t resist! Two years later we were back for another trek, this time the Alpamayo Circuit in the Cordillera Blanca. Chris Benway at La Cima Logistics in Huaraz did a terrific job organizing our Huayhuash trek and we contacted him again for the Alpamayo Circuit. He helped us craft an itinerary based on our input and took care of all the logistics and details. Chris was great to work with and we also had a terrific team on the trek, once again".

I have worked with La Cima on over a dozen separate expeditions into the Cordilleras Blanca and Huayhuash. Through all those, Chris has expertly managed all the logistics and arrangements for everything from simple treks to month-long remote cutting edge climbing expeditions of various types. He has attended to the special requests of finicky professional athletes and scientists, film and photo crews, seasoned travelers, and newbies alike, bringing a rich Peruvian experience to all. He understands the social landscape and network of transportation and support staff like no one else and I have seen him deftly maneuver and negotiate around obstacles and unexpected hiccups with aplomb. There's no other logistical coordinator I contact for my most important expeditions to the area.

La Cima Logistics, owned and managed by Chris Benway, is simply one of the best logistics firms out there. Over the past three years, Chris has worked with our organization, the American Climber Science Program, to make possible very large, complicated scientific research and mountaineering expeditions in the Cordillera Blanca. Our annual expeditions usually last two months and involve upwards of 30 participants. We generally have a massively complicated set of logistics including such things as taking large groups to five or six different valleys for standard climbs, attempting extremely difficult climbs on non-standard routes, managing half a dozen different research projects from mountain tops to valley bottoms (each one with its set of special needs), and coordinating dozens of permits and meetings with local authorities and community leaders. I could easily fill up several pages describing all of the different ways in which Chris and the wonderful staff at La Cima have gone above and beyond to make all of this successful. But to put it more simply: La Cima has done a fantastic job of keeping our expeditions running smoothly from start to finish and making our time in the Cordillera Blanca an outstanding experience.

As unexperienced as I was, I still thought I had a clue. Looking back, it’s always a bit of a leap of faith to head deep into the mountains of Peru, and even with a crew of members who’s trips to the Andes added to nearly 50 trips, we most definitely couldn’t have done it without Chris Benway, his wife Ysa, and La Cima Logistics. Everything was well thought out and the pace of getting to Huaraz, gathering supplies, and acclimating was gentle yet brisk. Chris has a calmness that exudes experience. While he organized 26 burros to carry food and supplies for 8 people for 30 days, we bouldered at local spots in the mornings and spent the evening comfortably soaking in the last few hours of Wifi and filtered coffee at the outstanding Café Andino. From gear to people, transportation to food, work to pleasure, Chris and La Cima have it ALL!

Imagine spending 2 months in the high Cordillera Blanca on and off the beaten track with scores of scientists, climbers, and volunteers from many countries. That is what we, the American Climber Science Program, do every Peruvian Winter. We could not succeed at our field work without great ground support that we get from Chris and La Cima Logistics. They deliver a team, not just one-off services, which is why we have employed them for four years and plan to do so in the future. Chris is experienced, direct, and handles the inevitable crises, schedule changes, adds and drops with aplomb. He keeps the numbers straight. On the mountain, we depend on our support team headed by veteran climber Joaquin to have smooth operations and serve tasty meals. The food and menus are great, and so is the friendship. I would be pleased to talk/connect directly with anyone who wants more info. Ellen Lapham co-founder/director, the American Climber Science Program http://climberscience.wordpress.com/

“I have worked with logistics teams all over the world - planning expeditions from the high peaks of Nepal to the jungles of Costa Rica. Chris and La Cima Logistics are the best prepared and easiest to work with as anyone in the world. He gets it done and done well with minimum fuss. With this type of service, you would expect to spend a lot of money, but La Cima is also one of the most cost effective operations I have used. I can’t recommend them enough.” John All Executive Director, American Climber Science Program

La Cima Logistics coordinated and set into motion a 30 day bouldering and alpine climbing expedition I took with a group of five other athletes into the Cordillera Blanca. As a corporate expedition for the outdoor brand Marmot, our team had very specific needs - La Cima didn't even flinch, and pulled the logistics together with ease, catering to professional athletes with dietary needs, a photographer who needed fragile equipment hurriedly packed into base camp mid trip, and the comfort requests of a young girl on her first expedition (that's me). Our camp chefs were phenomenal - serving hot meals, frequent snacks, helping me practice Spanish, and assisting in my request to kill and cook a chicken for dinner - a cultural adventure in itself. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or new to the expedition terrain, La Cima will take care of your needs. Chris and his wife Ysa are the kindest of hosts and deeply care about each individual's well being. They take every measure to ensure that each team member enjoys their trip to the fullest. Highly recommended! (Paige Claassen is a professional rock climber, climbing since the age of 9. Her trip with Marmot to the Cordillera Blanca was her first mountain expedition, with many more to come!)

I’ve been in Huaraz in 2014 and 2012 with climbing teams from the Alpine Club of Canada. Both times we’ve used Chris as the main service provider in the area. Working with La Cima Logistics was easy and effective. I had the pleasure to discover a person (Chris) well blended in with the locals but with western knowledge about quality and safety. The staff he hired for us was qualified and enjoyable to work with: cooks, porters, and guides. Transportation was done with good, reliable vehicles, in an effective and timely manner. His gear is well maintained and clean. An important factor for us was flexibility to changes, inherent with large groups and long stays. Emergency evacuation for one of our members suffering of altitude sickness was flawless arranged and executed. Accommodation in Huaraz and around was perfect for a climbing team wanting to enjoy a few days before and after the climb. All in all, an experience with Chris and Cima Logistics I would recommend with no hesitations. For questions: leo.bzm@gmail.com (two-time leader of mountaineering trips to the cordillera blanca for Alpine Club of Canada)

On my first trip to the Cordillera Blanca I chose La Cima as my logistics agency. What made me choose La Cima for the next three trips was Chris Benway’s attention to detail and business ethics. He handled two more shoestring trips planned on cocktail napkins and a big-budget commercial expedition. Whatever the size, Chris always gives his personal best so we can find ours. An American expat, Chris understands our needs as climbers, trekkers and travelers to this mountain paradise. He helps navigate the potentially bewildering and time consuming journey from Lima, through Huaraz and to the mountains -- saving us precious time and money. Plus he has the best coffee in town... (Universally loved climber, author, raconteur)

Contact with us!

Links of interest

Huascaran National Park / License 2021

Manual of Operation / Covid 19