Trekking the “Huayhuash Circuit” in Peru in 10 days

Join a certified mountain guide on this guided 10-day trek of the Huayhuash Circuit in Peru. Experience all the beauty this part of the world has to offer on this exciting tour!

Group

Andes

10 Days

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Open to everyone

Intermediate

Highlights

Spend the majority of this trek high above, where we will have amazing scenery
See all the local wildlife such as llamas, alpacas, condors and viscachas

Description

Are you ready for a real adventure in the Peruvian Mountains? Join me on this 10 day trek of the Huayhuash Circuit in Peru.

The Huayhuash range is 30 kilometers long and is made up of a beautiful Himalayan-like landscape. The peaks are much more challenging than those in Cordillera Blanca, for example. This is the perfect opportunity for hikers who want to challenge themselves.

The main range of twenty peaks stretches across 25 kilometers, with a subsidiary range of smaller peaks stretching out to the west for 15 kilometers. Six of these peaks exceed 6,000 meters. This means we will climb to great heights over these 10 days!

The Huayhuash circuit is an exciting trek that is physically demanding. It is a bit more challenging than the Inca Trail in the south of Peru. It is a perfect option for those hikers who want to push themselves. Each day we will cover a distance of 8 to 12 kilometers.

For the majority of this trek, we will be above the 4,000 meter tree line, which means we will be able to look out at some extraordinary views at any given moment. This area is well known for its spectacular glacial lakes. We will also come across various hot springs.

This part of the world has a unique variety of wildlife. We should see plenty of llamas, alpacas, condors and viscachas.

Join me today for this unforgettable experience in the mountains of Peru!

Want to add a few days to this trek? Try my 13-day “Huayhuash Circuit” trek in Peru

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Accommodation included

- Transportation start and back

- Transport during the trip

- Luggage transfer

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

Price details

This is the per person price to join one of my group tours. Price includes: transportation from hotel to start of the trail, professional guide, tents, foam mattresses, hot water access, horses and donkeys to carry equipment, meals and water. Huayhuash communities fees and tips are not included.

Itinerary

Day 1: Huaraz Llamac - Cuartelhuain

We will leave Huaraz for the town of Llamac. We will cross wild paramo and pass the southermost peaks of Cordillera Blanca. We will be able to look out over the Huayhuash range. At 1 PM we will arrive in Pallca where we will have lunch. Then we continue to our campsite at Cuartelhuain where we will spend the night.

Lunch and dinner included.

Day 2: Cuartelhuain - Mitucocha

We will have breakfast then start our trek at 8 AM. Climbing to the pass will take two or three hours. From there we will hike another 30 minutes to our lunch site. Then we will continue our hike along an alternate route back to camp where we will see plenty of Andean rabbits called Vizcachas. We will arrive to camp early, allowing us extra time to go fishing around the lake.

7.5 miles (12 km), 4-5 hrs of trekking, camp at 13,170 ft (4170 m) B/L/D.

Day 3: Mitucocha

We will start trekking at 8 AM. After 3 hours of walking we will reach the pass where we will have lunch. We’ll continue our trek as we look out at white peaked mountains suchas Yerupaja and Siula. We will get to camp at 3 or 4 PM.

8.7 miles (14km), 5-6hrs of trekking, camp at 13,695 ft (4150m), Meals: B/L/D.

Day 4: Caruacocha - Huayhuash

We will hike from camp to the Carnicero Pass at 4600 meters. Here, we will find some scenic places to have lunch next to the Carnicero lakes. After hiking a few more kilometers, we’ll arrive at our camping site that is just next to the breathtaking Jurau Lake.

8.6 miles (13.8 km), 7 hrs of trekking, camp at 14,355 ft (4350 m), Meals: B/L/D.

Day 5: Huayhuash - Viconga

We will continue our trekking up to the Portachuelo de Huayhuash Pass. From there we will go down to the camp Viconga to have lunch. Then, we will head to the hot springs where those who are interested can take a bath.

6.8 miles (11 km), 5-6 hrs of trekking, camp at 14,480 ft (4390m), Meals: B/L/D.

Day 6: Viconga - Huanacpatay

This day we will hike up the highest pass in our whole trip. We will hike up approximately 3 hours to be close to the Cuyoc Mountain. After this, we will go down to Guanacpatay Valley for lunch. After a few hours more of walking, we will find our camping site in the peaceful valley of Cuanacpatay.

9.3 miles (15 km), 8-9 hrs of trekking, camp at 13.615ft (4150m), Meals: B/L/D.

Day 7: Huanacpatay - Huatiac

This day our trekking will be down-hill. We will stop for lunch at Huayllapa, a small isolated village at 3700 meters above shore line. Here, we can explore the shops and pick up some trinkets from the locals to remember our time here. We will have lunch then continue hiking up for 3 hours to our camp site of Huatiac.

11.2 mi. (18 km), 7-8 hrs of trekking, camp at 11,520 ft (3490 m), Meals: B/L/D.

Day 8: Huatiac - Cashpapampa

We will hike up 3 hours to the Tapush pass. We will then walk down an easy trail and arrive at camp in the early afternoon. Here, we will have plenty of time to relax for the rest of the day.

7.5 mi (12 km), 5-6 hrs of trekking, camp at 14,578 ft (4417 m), Meals: B/L/D.

Day 9: Cashpapampa - Jahuacocha

We will begin our trekking going up the Yaucha Pass where we will stay for two hours or so. We will be able to rest and take pictures. Then we will continue going down along the Huacrish ravine for 3 or 4 hours where we will find a beautiful panoramic landscape. We will see the Jahuacocha lake at the base of several tall mountains. We will set up camp here where we can enjoy spectacular views as the avalanches come down from the base of Jirishanca mountain. Next to our camp, we will have a typical mountain hut for sheepherders and its owner will welcome us kindly. His name is Mr. Delaos and he is full of first-hand knowledge about life in these mountains which he is happy to share with us.

4.8 mi (7.8 km), 4-5 hrs of trekking, camp at 13,365 ft (4050 m), Meals: B/L/D.

Day 10: Jahuacocha - Llamac Huaraz

We will trek up to the Pampallamac where we will say good bye to the Huayhuash Mountains. A few meters down we will have lunch then go down to Llamac town. We will arrive in town at around 1 or 2 PM then leave to drive down along the Llamac river until Timpoc. We will arrive in Chiquian around 12 PM, where we can walk around the village for a bit then continue to Huaraz and we can all return to our hotels.

4.8 mi (7.8 km), 4-5 hrs of trekking, camp at 13,365 ft (4050 m), Meals: B/L/D.

Details

Accommodation

Double tents

Meeting point

Jiron Juan Bautista 847 - small street front of SUNAT Huaraz

Equipment you will need to bring

Poles

Sunglasses

About the guide

Peru Bergsport

4.50

(2)

Tour Operator

Languages

English

What people are saying about this trip

Andreya Dart

5.00

June, 2022

We had such an amazing time on this Trek! From the beginning to the end we had wonderful service through “Wild Huayhuash - Tomas Operator”. It is an amazing, beautiful, take your breath away hike. The guides are knowledgeable, kind, and extremely helpful. We had guide/cook Rosmel, guide Angel, operators Edgar and Tomas. Rosmel made us food every day(breakfast, lunch, snacks (popcorn), and dinner), woke us up to a fresh cup of tea every morning in our tent, and guides us through the first few days of our hike. He was like Superman carrying our lunch on his back every day of the trek (think heavy food in pots, with juice). Angel was the guide the rest of the way through the trek and was also very kind and professional. He was funny, paced us well through the hard sections, and let us have breaks whenever we needed. Both Rosmel & Angel were always working to get us to the best viewpoints, and best camping spots first, before the other groups. They also both helped when I had an asthma attack during the trek. From the operator side, Tomas and Edgar were amazing. Going through all the information we would need, allowing us to leave extra things in their office, allowing us to rest and shower in one of their rooms at no extra charge when we got back from the trek, and Edgar helped us find a map of Huayhuash so we could document our journey when we got back (finding a map of Huayhuash in Huaraz was not easy). This was a well put together group, and always seemed to be one step ahead of the other Huayhuash trekking groups. I highly recommend!