TREKKING CORDILLERA HUAYHUASH

HUAYHUASH TREK

The Huayhuash Trekking is located in the Cordillera of the same name in the Andes of Peru, is the second highest tropical mountain range in the world after the Cordillera Blanca, and the hike that crosses its entire mountain system is considered among the most beautiful treks on the planet.

In its 30 kms from north to south of this mountain range, there are 7 mountains that exceed 6000 meters and 7 mountains over 5500 meters, among the most outstanding summits are the Yerupajá (6617 m), the second highest mountain in Peru and Siula Grande (6344 m), which achieved worldwide fame for being the scene of one of the most epic survival stories of mountaineering and was later captured in the book «Touching the void» by mountaineer Joe Simpson.

The Cordillera Huayhuash is also home to dozens of glacial lakes of incomparable beauty such as: Carhuacocha, Juhuacocha, Solterococha, Mitucocha, Juraucocha, among others, and a great diversity of flora and fauna.

Undoubtedly, the Huayhuash trekking is catalogued as the most beautiful alpine trekking in the world, for its beauty and the wildness of its mountains. Huayhuash is the scene of great feats of world climbing and even the history of Peru. Mountaineers from all over the world make the circuit to acclimatize and gain endurance prior to a peak of high altitude and complexity in the Cordillera Blanca.

The Huayhuash trekking is a magical and unmissable circuit for the landscapes that it offers every day and for the challenge of reaching the passes that exceed 4500 meters above sea level, even reaching 5000 meters above sea level. We have no more words to describe this impressive mountain range, come with us and discover first hand what Huayhuash has for you.

ABOUT US

In Andean Raju Expeditions, we are a team of young professionals in various areas and with extensive experience in adventure sports and mountain. We offer trekking programs and mountain expeditions in the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash (main adventure destinations). We also offer expeditions to the most emblematic mountains of Argentina, Ecuador and Bolivia.

In Andean Raju Expeditions we are proud of our work and that is why our priority is the satisfaction and safety of our clients, always taking into account the conservation and protection of the environment. Our mission goes beyond adventure, we offer a personalized experience for our clients, sharing our culture, offering our friendship, knowledge and love for nature and the mountains to ensure an unforgettable experience.

Technical Data

Max. Altitude:	5,100 masl – Santa Rosa Pass
Duration:	10 days / 9 nights
Physical Difficulty:	Moderate
Technical Difficulty:	None
Route:	Huayhuash Clásico
Season:	April – August
Date:	To be defined
Location:	Cordillera Huayhuash
Average temperature:	Between 13 °C – 23 °C during the day / night -05 °C to -30 °C.

Itinerary Overview

DATE	DAY	ITINERARY
07/07/21	1	Acclimatization day
08/07/21	2	Huaraz – Campamento Cuartelhuaín
09/07/21	3	C. Cuartelhuaín – Campamento Carhuacocha
10/07/21	4	C. Carhuacocha – Campamento Huayhuash
11/07/21	5	C. Huayhuash – Campamento Pampa Elefante
12/07/21	6	C. Pampa elefante – Campamento Cucatambo
13/07/21	7	C. Cucatambo – Huayllapa
14/07/21	8	Huayllapa – Campamento Gashpapampa
15/07/21	9	C. Gashpapampa – Campamento Jahuacocha
16/07/21	10	C. Jahuacocha – Huaraz
17/07/21	11	Rest day

ITINERARY

Day 1

HUARAZ (3100) – LAGUNA CHURUP (4450m)

Day for acclimatization

Day 2

HUARAZ – CHIQUIÁN – LLÁMAC – CAMPAMENTO CUARTELHUAIN

Our adventure begins in the city of Huaraz.

The team designated by Andean Raju Expeditions for your expedition will go to your respective hotel to pick you up with private transportation. After the pick up we head south through the Callejón de Huaylas to Conococha, from this point we turn off to the east side towards the District of Chiaquián, where we will stop for approximately 30 minutes for breakfast. We continue our journey and during the trip we will see picturesque towns such as: Llámac, Pocpa, Pacllón. The transportation will leave us in Matacancha, from here we will start a short walk along the road to our camping place in Cuartelhuaín.

Finally, after 3 hours of walking we will arrive to our campsite, in this place we will be able to see part of the mountains that surround this landscape.

Lodging: Mountain tents
Meals: Box Lunch, tea time lunch and dinner.
Transfer by car: 6 hours
Hiking time: 3 hours approximately
Difference in altitude: from 3100 masl to 3900 masl (+800)

Day 3

CAMP. CUARTELHUAIN – PASO CACANANPUNTA – PASO CARHUAC – CAMPAMENTO CARHUACOCHA.

On our second day of trekking, we will start early in the morning. We wake you up with a hot drink and provide you with warm water for your personal hygiene. Breakfast is at 6:30 am and at 7:00 am we start our hike, this day we will do two steps.

The hike begins with a steady climb with constant zigzags to reach the first pass of the day, Cacananpunta (4690m), an excellent viewpoint of the east, from the pass we are already entering the territory of the Huanuco region and where you can see the snowy Ninashanca, Rondoy and Huallanca mountain range, and where we can also observe the Quebrada Caliente with the characteristic Laguna de Pucacocha of reddish and sulfurous waters. We make a descent to the Quebrada Wayra, where is located one of the controls of the community, we make the first payment for the right of entry to the circuit. During the journey we will look for a suitable place to have lunch.

We continue the hike through easy and ascending terrain until we reach Punta Carhuac (4650m), where we can appreciate views of the highest peaks of Huayhuash as: Yerupaja (6617m), Jirishanca and the famous Siula Grande (6344m). Finally we make the descent to reach our camp at the Carhuacocha lagoon, this place is truly wonderful because the mountains are reflected in the Carhuacocha lagoon and our tea time will make the view more pleasant.

Arriving at dinner time we will feed and rest to continue with the next day’s journey.

Lodging: Mountain Tents
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch, tea time and dinner.
Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours approximately
Elevation gain: from 3900 masl to 4690 masl (+790 masl) – Cacananpunta Pass

Day 4

CAMP. CARHUACOCHA – PASO SIULA – CAMPAMENTO HUAYHUASH

On our third day of trekking, we will start early in the morning. We wake you up with a hot drink and provide you with warm water for your personal hygiene. Breakfast is at 6:30 am and at 7:00 am we start our daily trek.

This day is one of the best of the Huayhuash Circuit, because you can enjoy the spectacular sunrise and sunrise that can be seen reflected in the lagoon. After enjoying this beautiful landscape we continue with the hike and begin the ascent to the viewpoint of the turquoise lagoons: Laguna Siula, Quesillococha and Azulcocha. After a short rest we continue our way uphill to the Siula Pass, from this point we will have a view of the Raura mountain range, an incredible place to stay for a long time and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Finally we walk downhill and pass by the Carnicero Lake, where we will have lunch. We continue our descent until we reach Huayhuash Camp and we will have the afternoon free for our tea time, rest and take pictures of the Nevado Trapecio, the Jurao group and the Carnicero. Arriving at dinner time we will eat and rest to continue with the next day’s journey.

Lodging: Mountain Tents
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch, tea time and dinner.
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours approximately
Elevation gain: from 4140 masl to 4830 masl (+690 masl) – Siula Pass

Day 5

CAMPAMENTO HUAYHUASH – PASO TRAPECIO – CAM. PAMPA ELEFANTE

After breakfast and personal hygiene, we head uphill to one of the most beautiful passes of the circuit, the trapeze pass. Our way is through the wide valley heading south until we reach a small plain that will serve to replenish energy to reach our goal. After 4 hours of walking we will arrive at the Trapecio pass where we can appreciate a spectacular silhouette of the mountain and beautiful landscapes of the lagoons that are located below the mountain Puscanturpa, also from this point we can appreciate the snowy Cuyoc, Milpo and part of the Cordillera Raura.

We make the descent to the lagoons, we will pass bordering them and finally we arrive to our camp, place where there is a giant rock with the silhouette of an elephant.

Afternoon free for our tea time, rest and take pictures of Puscanturpa.

At dinner time we will eat and rest to continue with the next day’s journey.

Lodging: Mountain tents
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch, tea time and dinner.
Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours approximately
Elevation gain: from 4350 masl to 4750 masl (+400) – Trapezoid Pass

Day 6

CAMP. PAMPA ELEFANTE – PASO SANTA ROSA – CAMP. CUCATAMBO

After our usual breakfast and personal hygiene we will start our journey. This day is one of the most beautiful because we will go uphill to the Paso Santa Rosa pass, the most spectacular viewpoint of the entire trekking circuit. From this point we will be able to appreciate in its maximum splendor the Laguna Jurao, Sarapo, Siula Grande, Siula Chico, Yerupajá, Nevado Jurao and Rasac. After descending the Santa Rosa pass, we will arrive at Laguna Jurao, surround it and continue along the ravine to the viewpoint of Laguna Sarapococha, where one of the most epic stories of survival in mountaineering took place and which was later captured in the book «Touching the void» by mountaineer Joe Simpson, where he narrates the tragic accident during the descent of two climbers after crowning a virgin route on the wall of Siula Grande. From this point we will also enjoy great views of the Colossi: Yerupajá, Siula and Sarapo. Finally we descend towards the Quebrada Huayllapa until we reach our campsite in Cucatambo.

Afternoon free for our tea time, rest and take pictures of the surrounding landscape.

At dinner time we will eat and rest to continue with the next day’s journey.

Lodging: Mountain tents
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch, tea time and dinner.
Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours approximately
Elevation gain: from 4350 masl to 4750 masl (+400) – Santa Rosa Pass

Day 7

CAMP. CUCATAMBO – PUEBLO DE HUAYLLAPA

After breakfast we start the hike along the Huanacpatay valley to the isolated village of Huayllapa, where if you wish, you can buy some of the basic staff such as drinks, batteries, etc.. This picturesque village is our camping place. Afternoon free for our tea time, rest and take pictures of the surrounding landscape.

At dinner time we will feed and rest to continue with the next day’s journey.

Lodging: Mountain tents
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch, tea time and dinner.
Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours approximately
Elevation gain: from 4350 masl to 3600 masl (-750)

Day 8

PUEBLO DE HUAYLLAPA – PASO TAPUSH – CAMP. GASHPAPAMPA

This day after breakfast we start our journey uphill from Huayllapa to Tapush Pass, the road is very marked trails where the vegetation predominates during the journey. After 5 hours of walking we will arrive at the Tapush pass, from this point we will enjoy our lunch and the view of the Diablo Mudo Mountain (5350m) and the Susococha lagoon. After our rest we continue our descent to our camp Gashpapampa, located at 4600m, being this the highest of the entire circuit.

Afternoon free for our tea time, rest and take pictures of the surrounding landscape.

At dinner time we will eat and rest to continue with the next day’s journey.

Lodging: Mountain tents
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch, tea time and dinner.
Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours approximately
Elevation gain: from 3600 masl to 4750 masl (+1150 masl) – Gashpapampa Pass

Day 9

CAMP. GASHPAPAMPA – PASO YAUCHA – CAMP. JAHUCOCHA

After breakfast and personal hygiene of every day, we will start walking towards the Yaucha pass, considered as another of the beautiful views of the circuit, from the pass we will enjoy the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world of hiking, In front of us we will see an imposing group of mountains, Yerupajá, the second highest mountain in Peru, Jirishanca, Rondoy, Siula and Rasacque, we continue descending and the landscape surprises us once again with the view of Lake Jahuacocha and Solterococha, a beautiful contrast of turquoise lagoons.

Afternoon free for our tea time, rest and take pictures of the scenery that surrounds us in the lake of Jahuacocha.

At dinner time we will eat and rest to continue with our last day of the day.

Lodging: Mountain tents
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch, tea time and dinner.
Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours approximately
Elevation gain: from 4600 masl to 4830 masl (+230) – Yaucha Pass

Day 10

CAMP. JAHUACOCHA – PUEBLO DE LLÁMAC – CHIQUIÁN – HUARAZ

The last day of our trek has arrived and we will start early in the morning. We wake you up with a hot drink and provide you with warm water for your personal hygiene. Breakfast is at 7:30 am and at 8:00 am we start our trek towards the Pampa de Llámac pass where we can see for the last time the northern part of the Cordillera Huayhuash, we descend to Llámac where the transport awaits us for the transfer to the city of Huaraz.

Type of lodging: Mountain tents
Meals: Breakfast
Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours approximately
Elevation gain: from 4050 masl to 3100 masl (-950)
Transfer by car: 6 hours back to Huaraz.

Day 11

DAY OF REST

This day will be used for the clients to rest in the chosen camp after planning with the guide and the rest of the Andean Raju Expeditions team.

Our Service Includes

Certified trekking guide
Certified cook for the entire circuit
Private transportation Huaraz – Matacancha
Private transportation Llámac – Huaraz
Muleteers and donkeys for the transfer of the logistic camping equipment (10 Kg per passenger)
5 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, box lunch, tea time and dinner).
4-season tent with double occupancy.
Tent kitchen, dining room and bathroom
Complete kitchen and dining tent.
First aid kit.
Boiled water to fill your bottle every day.
Warm water for your personal hygiene every morning.
Tips to get to Huaraz.

Our Service Does Not Include

Air ticket to Lima and to the country of origin.
Payment of entrance fee to the campsites in the Cordillera Huayhuash: estimated value 80 USD approx. (it is recommended to change to Nuevos Soles to make the payment).
Accident and rescue insurance.
Travel luggage and trip cancellation insurance.
Personal expenses.
Hotel.
Costs generated by the abandonment of the expedition.
Sleeping and insulating mattress.
Extra days in hotels in case of early arrivals out of schedule.
Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary.
Transfers out of schedule to Huaraz, in case of premature abandonment of the expedition.
Sleeping bag -15° / -25°.
Tips guide / staff