11 Days/10 Nights Season: May to November Difficulty: Moderate
Huayhuash Circuit Trek: The Huayhuash trek route involves a circular route of 120 km around the mighty Huayhuash mountain range with several peaks above 6,000 m. The highest point in the trek, Yerupajá (6,617 m), is the second highest mountain in Peru, while another peak, Siula Grande (6,344 m), achieved notoriety as the setting for Joe Simson’s gruelling ordeal in his book Touching the Void. The Huayhuash Circuit trekking trails are less visited than the popular trekking trails of Cordillera Blanca, but the Huayhuash mountain range offers a challenging trek in a remote and sparsely inhabited part of the Andes where few trekkers venture.
Overview: Huayhuash Circuit trek around the Cordillera Huayhuash takes around 10 or 11 days to complete. There are several possible routes and the circuit can be tackled in either direction, but all Huayhuash Circuit treks include the same major features. As the trek progresses, participants need to dig deep into their reserves of endurance to conquer numerous high passes but are rewarded by the sight of magnificent, remote mountain vistas, including views of Yerupajá and Siula Grande, along the way. This is one of the toughest treks out of Huaraz that requires no technical mountaineering skills but the exquisite scenery along the way sets it apart from other challenging treks in Peru. The knowledge of having conquered such a demanding trek is ample recompense for the exertion required to reach the end.
Many guiding books: They say that Huayhuash trekking is the most beautiful in all of America (and the second best trekking in the world).
Day 1: Lima – Huaraz (3,090 masl)
Day 2: Acclimatization activities
Day 3: Huaraz - Chiquián - Llamac - Matacancha
Day 4: Matacancha - Cacanan Pass (4,700 masl) - Lake Mitucocha
Day 5: Mitucocha - Carhuac Pass (4,600 masl) - Lake Carhuacocha (4,200 masl)
Day 6: Carhuacocha - Siula Pass (4,800 masl) - Huayhuash (4,250 masl)
Day 7: Huayhuash - Portachuelo Pass (4,650 masl) - Viconga (4,300 masl)
Day 8: Viconga (4,300 masl) - Cuyoc Pass (5,000 masl) - Viconga (4,300 masl) *Option to climb Pumarinri* After breakfast
Day 9: Viconga - Trasfer bycar to Cajatambo Pass (3,700 masl) - Cajatambo Village
Day 10: Cajatambo - Pativilca - Lima
Day 11: Lima - Airport
Day 1: Lima – Huaraz (3,090 masl)
Your journey begins with a smooth 8-hour bus ride from Lima to Huaraz, the mountaineering capital of Peru. Head north through the coastal desert before turning east for a steady ascent into the mountains, reaching Lake Conococha Pass (4,100 masl) before descending into the Callejón de Huaylas. You will check-in to your hotel upon arrival in Huaraz (3,090 masl).
Day 2: Acclimatization activities
We always prioritize proper acclimatization before sending our guests into the mountains. Today you will have the option of taking a 6-hour day hike to the nearby glacial lake, Churup (4,450 masl). We will leave in the morning and arrive back at the hotel in the evening.
Day 3: Huaraz - Chiquián - Llamac - Matacancha
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will meet your group and you will head south, making brief stops in the rural communities of Chiquián and Llamac before arriving at Cuartelwayin, the start-off point for our trek. Here we will meet our team of local donkey drivers that will accompany our group throughout the journey. We will make camp at Cuartelwayin and begin our trek the following day. Total travel time: ~4 hours
Day 4: Matacancha - Cacanan Pass (4,700 masl) - Lake Mitucocha
We will begin the day with an ascent to Cacanan Pass (4,700 masl) before heading down to Lake Mitucocha where we will make camp. Once at the lake, we’ll be surrounded by excellent views of snow-capped peaks such as Rondoy, Jirishanca and Ninashanca. Total hike time: ~5 hours
Day 5: Mitucocha - Carhuac Pass (4,600 masl) - Lake Carhuacocha (4,200 masl)
We will begin with an ascent to Carhuac Pass where we’ll get up-close and personal with the glaciated peak of Siula Grande. We will then descend to camp at Lake Carhuacocha (4,200 masl), surrounded by the peaks of Yerupaja Grande, Yerupaja Chico and Jirishanca. Time hiking: ~5 hours
Day 6: Carhuacocha - Siula Pass (4,800 masl) - Huayhuash (4,250 masl)
Make sure to eat plenty at breakfast, because today will be physically demanding. Choose between crossing into the next valley via Siula Pass (4,800 masl) or Carnicero Pass (4,600 masl). From there, begin a descent until reaching the campsite in the small hamlet of Huayhuash (4,250 masl). Time hiking: ~8 hours
Day 7: Huayhuash - Portachuelo Pass (4,650 masl) - Viconga (4,300 masl)
Today we begin with an ascent to Portachuelo Pass (4,650 masl) where we will be able to see Cordillera Raura, a neighboring, remote mountain range to the south. We will then begin a descent into the next valley, making camp near the natural hot springs of Viconga (4,300 masl). Time hiking: ~ 6.5 hours
Day 8: Viconga (4,300 masl) - Cuyoc Pass (5,000 masl) - Viconga (4,300 masl) *Option to climb Pumarinri*
After breakfast we will make our way to Cuyoc (5,000 masl), the highest pass of the trek. Afterwards, we will return to our camp in Viconga and enjoy another night of hot springs. Time hiking: ~6 hours
*If interested, please ask us for more information about the optional Pumarinri climb!*
Day 9: Viconga - Trasfer bycar to Cajatambo Pass (3,700 masl) - Cajatambo Village
Our final day on the trail, after breakfast we will make a 1-hour hike to where private transport will be waiting to take our group through the Pumarinri Valley to the village of Cajatambo. In Cajatambo we will enjoy a celebratory dinner with the entire team.
Day 10: Cajatambo - Pativilca - Lima
After a final breakfast together, we will take private transport to the town of Pativilca where we will say goodbye to the crew who will then head back to Huaraz. Your group will continue on to your hotel in Lima or directly to the airport. Travel time: ~6 hours
Day 11: Lima - Airport
Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner
Season: May to November
Difficulty: Moderate
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