Ascent to Huascaran South Face in 6 days

Day 1: Huaraz - Transfer to Musho (3000 m) - Trekking to Huascarán Base Camp (4250 m)

Transfer from Huaraz, through the Callejón de Huaylas, to Musho. Here we will load our luggage on the donkeys and start a 4-or-5-hour hike to the Huascarán Base Camp, where we’ll spend the first nigh (-/L/D).

Day 2: Huascarán Base Camp - High Camp I (5350 m)

Today we‘ll climb to High Camp 1 with the help of porters, who will carry our camping equipment and food. From this point we will see both the south and north peaks of Huascarán. Dinner and lodging in tents on the glacier (B/L/D). At this altitude, the temperature at night falls to -13°C.

Day 3: High Camp I - High Camp II (Garganta, 6000 m)

This morning we will continue to the Camp 2 climbing over the steep section of the glacier with crevasses, avalanches in the chutes and an area of icefall. Our porters will accompany us to Camp 2 in La Garganta (“The Throat“) between the North Summit and the South Summit. We will sleep in tents on the glacier (B/L/D).

Day 4: High Camp II (Garganta, 6000 m) - Ascend to Huascarán Summit (6768 m) - Trekking descent to Base Camp

Summit day! We begin our ascent very early this morning to the South Summit (6768 m). The trail takes us abruptly up, continues through many crevasses and avalanche zones until we will arrive at the flat summit ridge. From here you can see all the Cordillera Blanca. The unforgettable view from the summit makes us forget all our effort to get there! After enjoying the summit and taking some pictures, we must descend back to High Camp II. If everyone feels fine and weather is good, we can descend to the Base Camp. On the contrary, we will stay in High Camp II.

The ascent takes 6-7 hours, the descent to High Camp II around 3-4 hours and the descent from High Camp II to Base Camp other 3-4 hours (B/L/D).

Day 5: Extra day

We will reserve this day in case of bad weather or to rest in High Camp II (B/L/D).

Day 6: Base Camp - Trekking to Musho (3000 m) - Transfer to Huaraz

Our last day. Early in the morning the donkey drivers will load the luggage so we can descend to the village of Musho for 3-4 hours. Here our private transport will be waiting to take us to Huaraz, our final destination. Here we say goodbye to the local team and have dinner at my home (a special dish called Pachamanca). Lodging in the hotel in Huaraz (B/L/-).