Duration

8 Days

Tour Type

Adventure
Couple
Explore
Family
Trek

Group Size

Tour Guide

Perú

Trek the Cordillera Huayhuash

The Huayhuash eight-day trek is an expedition especially designed for trekkers; who do not have sufficient time to complete the Huayhuash Circuit (12-15 days). Thus; they still want to get to the heart of the Cordillera Huayhuash and undertake some serious hiking.

In addition to the awesome natural scenery; you’ll experience Peruvian mountain life and see local farmhouses and farm animals (cattle, sheep, horses and sometimes alpacas & llamas).

Although we grade the trek as moderate; you do have to cross four passes above 14,763 ft / 4500 m. This requires a reasonable level of fitness and adequate acclimatization. You do have the option of taking a horse for part of the journey; but you would need to descend from the passes on foot. The hire of a horse requires an additional cost.

On this Peru adventure; the hiking hours mentioned in the article are estimated times; including rest breaks and lunch stop. Distances mentioned are also estimated. Prior to the start of the trek; you’ll stay in Huaraz (elevation: 10,137 ft / 3090 m) for two full days to do short hikes for acclimatization purposes. The trek is approximately 40 miles (65 km) in total – distances mentioned here are estimates.

Highlights
Explore Huaraz, the adventure town in the Peruvian highlands
Visit Huanuco Pampa ruins, once an important town of the Inca empire
Camp at Laguna Carhuacocha to view peaks that soar higher than 20,000 ft
View the Laguna Siula Lakes, which appear in various shades of blue and green
Enjoy splendid views of Yerupaja Grande, the second highest peak in Peru
Test your lungs and physical fitness on this demanding, high altitude trek

Included
Breakfast x 7
Lunch x 8
Dinner x 7
Private Transport – collection & drop-off
Professional bilingual guide
High Mountain Cook
Muleteer & Mules
All camping equipment (Sleeping bags to hire + Trekking Poles)

Not Included
International Airfare & Airport Transfers
Hotels before & after (can be organised as part of trip)
Tips for crew
Any additional extras
Domestic flights (can be organised as part of trip)
Travel & Adventure Insurance (we highly recommend some form of medical evacuation insurance)
Entrance fee to the Huascarán National Park (S./150.00 per person)
Crampons, Ice Axe, Harness, Helmet (can be hired as part of trip)
Emergency mule (can be hired for the expedition)

Joining Arrangements	There will be a pre-trek briefing held usually the evening before departure, at your hotel, to go over the details of the trek and any specific requirements not already captured.
Food & Water	Prior to setting off we recommend you steer clear of street food and only eat in good restaurants, to avoid any stomach complaints. Likewise with tap water, it is largely untreated, please only consume bottled water only or sterilised water if you have the right equipment.
Special Diets	We’ll ensure that we cater for all of your dietary needs, at the point of booking we’ll collect this information from you. We can secure special menu requests also for your trek party.
Trekking Crew	We are able to customise our treks to suit you, but usually our treks are guided by a professional bilingual guide, mountain cook, arriero (horseman) and mules to carry all equipment (passenger horses also available on request). They become a large part of your trekking expedition and it’s a great experience working together.
Acclimatisation	This is a really important part of your trip planning process, please find a link below which explains a little more about preparing for altitude. Altitude Preparation
Preparation	Attached below are a couple of links which will explain how to prepare for your trip & trek in advance of your arrival. We recommend being prepared in advance to save time & stress whilst you’re in Peru. Trip Planning \| Trek Planning
Machu Picchu	An excursion to Machu Picchu can be included as part of your trip, including professional bilingual guide, entrance tickets, return trip bus tickets, Huayna Picchu & Machu Picchu Mountains (mountain climbs to be confirmed on reservation) & your return train ticket to Cusco.
Reservation	Please contact us to reserve your trek and we will send you our deposit & payment options.
Customer Service	Please feel free to contact us at any point before your trip for any queries or problems.

¡Oferta!

High-Altitude Pack

El precio original era: $ 725.00.El precio actual es: $ 652.50.

High altitude conditions mean extreme weather conditions, use this pack to keep you warm but breathable while you’re on the move.

Fabric: 100% Alpaca Wool. Sourced, Sheared, & Sewn in Perú
*All packs can be mixed with women’s & men’s items

Categoría: Clothing

Descripción

Alpaca Wool Hoodie: 300 Lightweight Half-Zip
Alpaca Wool Jacket: 420 Midweight Full-Zip
Alpaca Wool Leggings: 300 Lightweight
Alpaca Wool Sweatpants: 420 Midweight

Información adicional

Alpaca Wool	Alpaca wool outperforms merino, offering superior warmth, moisture-wicking, and breathability, keeping you protected on any adventure. Additionally, alpaca wool is sustainable, as alpacas have a low environmental impact and their wool is biodegradable.

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Josh (USA) - Huayhuash Diablo Mudo Climb & Santa Cruz trek + Mt Pisco Climb

abril 8, 2024

As mentioned, Teo was great, can’t say enough good things about him.

Cliver was great, obviously proficient in navigation, climbing, and all else needed as a guide. Also, friendly and pleasant. The only thing to improve on is his command of foreign languages, which he is actively working on.

These were very good introductory climbs, thanks to the organization!

Joshua Cove (USA)

Tiffany & Charlotte (USA) - Mini-Huayhuash Trek, Huaraz, Perú

diciembre 16, 2023

Wonderful Experience! James is such a wonderful specialist and I had the best experience with him. Before, during, and after the trip, he was thorough in keeping contact and made sure that we were on the same page about all of our treks and events we were planning on doing while in Peru.

Tiffany & Charlotte

Details

Itinerary

Ruins of Huanaco Pampa. Following a couple of days in Huaraz for acclimatization, the journey begins with a bus ride of five to six hours (143 miles / 230 km) from Huaraz to Huanuco Pampa (12,275 ft / 3736 m). Along the way, you'll have your first distant views of the breathtaking Cordillera Huayhuash.

You'll stop briefly to take in the amazing views and marvel at the vastness of the surrounding countryside. You'll then set up camp at Huanuco Pampa, near the Inca ruins of Huanuco Viejo. Huanuco Viejo was an important Inca settlement, probably a tambo (major stopover point and storage site) built on the main Cuzco-Quito route.

The site covers several hundred hectares and substantial ruins remain, including the main temple Usnu, accommodation for the Inca elite, women’s quarters and a garrison, as well as private quarters and baths for visitors.

You'll see intricate stonework, as good as any found in Cusco, with solid walls of precisely interlocking stones that have withstood centuries of earthquakes.

Overnight: Huanaco Viejo

Camping on the shore of Laguna Carhuacocha. Today you'll drive for three to four hours (65 miles / 105 km) between two high altitude villages, from Huanuco Viejo via Baños to Queropalca at (12,467 ft / 3800 m). In Queropalca you'll meet your donkey drivers, load packs on the donkeys and start the trek with a relaxing uphill hike on a gentle gradient to Laguna Carhuacocha (13,779 ft / 4200 m). From the camp, you'll have astonishing views across the lake to the Yerupaja Grande (21,768 ft / 6635 m), Yerupaja Chico (20,082 ft / 6121m), Jirishanca (20,098 ft / 6125 m) and Siula Grande (20,814 ft /6344 m).

Distance: 7 miles / 11 km hiking
Duration: 4 hours

View of Laguna Siula, a group of lakes of varying shades of green and blue Tonight you'll overnight again at Carhuacocha in order to enjoy the mountain surroundings. You'll take a day hike up a side valley past the base of Yerupaja and Siula Grande. Here you'll find three glacial lakes, each one a different shade of blue or green. Avalanches coming off the glaciers into the lakes are sometimes seen here.

Note: For the fit and adventurous, it is possible to continue by hiking a circuit past the Siula Glacier to a pass at (15,748 ft / 4800 m), and then return along an unmarked trail through a high hidden valley where we often see wild vicuña grazing, before descending back to Laguna Carhuacocha (a total of eight hours hiking for the day). Alternatively, you may prefer a quiet afternoon trout fishing or rest at the spectacular campsite.

The route through Punta Carhuac A steady ascent on a good path takes us to Punta Carhuac Pass (15,255 ft / 4650 m), with good opportunities en route for spotting the elusive viscacha, a rodent endemic to the high Andes. From here, weather permitting, you’ll enjoy excellent views of the Yerupaja and Siula Grande peaks. Next, you’ll descend on grass to the Janca Plateau then head southeast to reach tonight’s camp at another large, trout-filled lake — Laguna Mitucocha (13,943 ft / 4250 m). After lunch, you have the option of walking around the lake. From camp, you’ll have superb views of the sheer face of Jirishanca (19,993 ft / 6094 m) and Jirishanka Chico. Groups are not permitted to camp next to the lake, due to a request by local people in order to protect the grass for their animals. The campsite is now a 15-minute hike downriver from the lake in a flat area.

Distance: 7.5 miles / 12 km hiking
Duration: 4-5 hours

Awesome views on the way to the Rondo Valley In the morning, you'll continue anti-clockwise across puna grasslands (paramo) and cross the pass — indeed the Continental Divide — at Cacanan Punta (15,419 ft / 4700 m). You'll then descend to the Quebrada Cuncush, a broad valley flanked by vast expanses of forest, and pass a collection of small farms known as Quartelhuain, the site of tonight’s camp (14,271 ft / 4,350m) at Rondo Valley.

Distance: 7.5 miles / 12 km hiking
Duration: 6-7 hours.

Hikers make their way over the Rondoy Pass, which reaches a height of 15,583 ft. Following a long traversing ascent to the Rondoy Pass (15,583 ft / 4750m) you'll enjoy yet more awesome views of the nearby peaks, the highest being Yerupaja (21,768 ft / 6654m), Rondoy and others, dominating the panorama. The descent from the pass takes you first past a stunning, milky-blue glacial lake, Solteracocha, and then along the shore of the beautiful Laguna Jahuacocha to a picturesque camp at the head of the lake (13,615 ft / 4150m).

Distance: 8.6 miles / 14 km hiking
Time: 7 hours

Snowy peaks reflecting off the waters of Laguna Jahuacocha The awesome setting, together with options for side-trips, means staying an extra day at Laguna Jahuacocha. you can take a day hike up to the Yaucha Pass (15,902 ft / 4847m) to take a look at the western side of the Cordillera Huayhuash range or head up the Quebrada Rasac Valley to the Rasaccocha glacial lake. Alternatively, you could enjoy a rest day and go fishing for trout! Why not visit the farmhouse just behind our camp and buy a beer to go with your trout?

The small settlement of Llamac marks the end of the journey. After an early start and gentle descent for an hour, we start our gradual climb to the final pass, Pampa Llamac (14,107 ft / 4300 m), from where we have our final views of much of the Huayhuash range. Then it’s a long descent back to the Llamac valley and the village of Llamac.

Distance: 8.6 miles / 14 km hiking
Duration: 5.5-6 hours

In Llamac, the bus will be waiting to take you back to Huaraz and your hotel for that long-awaited hot shower. You’ll arrive in Huaraz at about 6 pm.