Huayhuash trek - 10 Days - Classic Version

Maximum altitude: 5187 meters (San Antonio Pass).

Difficulty: 6/10

Duration: 10 days – 9 nights.

Best Season: March to October.

Location: Cordillera Huayhuash.

Overview:
The Huayhuash mountain range provides one of the most beautiful destinations for trekking in the world – and if you see it for yourself, it is easy to believe.

The Cordillera Huayhuash spans only 30km, but within this compact area lie many amazing towering peaks. At every turn in the trail you will come face to face with glistening vertical walls of ice, snow and rock, beautiful lakes and amazing wildlife. Highlights include the chance to see massive Andean Condors and spectacular views of the Siula Grande (6,344m), the site where the popular book and motion picture “Touching the Void” took place!

The trek usually begins in the villages of Pocpa or Llamac. Transport will be provided from Huaraz on the first day of the trek

Price:

3-5 people: 3000 soles per person

6-8 people: 2400 soles per person

9-15 people: 2000 soles per person

Entrance Fee:

Camping fees (This varies per year, please ask current rate, approx. 260 soles)

DAY 01: HUARAZ – CHIQUIAN – LLAMAC – POCPA – CUARTELHUAIN 3100 – 3600 – 4180 meters

We will start the trip at 5:00am, southbound from Huaraz. The bus journey will take us through the towns of Recuay, Ticapampa, Catac and Conococha before stopping at Chiquian to buy something for lunch. We will then continue to the village of Pocpa from where the trek will start (3,600m). In total the bus journey will take around 4 hours.

In Pocpa we will meet the local guides and begin the walk to the campsite at Cuartelhuain. The walk will take around 4-5 hours to reach an altitude of 4,180m. Enjoy views of the Ninashanca mountain to the south.

DAY 2: CUARTELHUAIN – CACANAN PUNTA – MITUCOCHA (4,180 – 4,700 – 4,230m)

After breakfast we will begin the walk to Cacananpunta pass, which sits on the continental divide at 4,700m. Here we will have views of deep valleys, hills and snow-capped peaks. We will then descend to our next camp which has amazing views of the peaks of Jirishanca and Ninashanca. Total walking time for this day is around 5-6 hours, to camp at Mitucocha.

DAY 03: MITUCOCHA – PUNTA CARHUAC – CARHUACOCHA ( 4,230 – 4,650 – 4,140 mt)

Today´s trek is on easy terrain until we reach Punta Carhuac pass at (4650m), from this pass we will have breath- taking views of the highest peaks of Huayhuash such as: Yerupaja (6617m) and the famous Siula Grande (6344m). We will then start walking down to lake Carhuacocha, which is a truly gorgeous place – a scenic campsite with an astonishing mountain view. This day will involve 5-6 hours of walking.

DAY 4: CARHUACOCHA – SIULA PASS – HUAYHUASH CAMP (4,140 – 4,830 – 4,350 mt)

The fourth day is one of the highlights of the Huayhuash Circuit. We will start early and see the sunrise on the lake then walk up to the Siula viewpoint. Here we can enjoy a spectacular view of three glacial lakes before continuing up to the Siula Pass. The descent will take us past the Laguna Carnicero and we will camp at Huayhuash, at 4,330m. Today´s trek will comprise around 6-7 hours of walking.

DAY 05: HUAYHUASH – PORTACHUELO PASS – VICONGA CAMP (4,350 – 4,750 – 4,360 MT)

The fifth day will begin walking up to the spectacular pass of Portachuelo de Huayhuash. En route we will have spectacular views of the Puscanturpa and Trapecio mountains. We will camp beside Lake Viconga where you can enjoy a shower and swimming in a nearby hot spring. The day will involve 4-5 hours of walking.

DAY 06: VICONGA – CUYOC PASS – SAN ANTONIO – HUANACPATAY (4,360 – 5,000 – 4,200 mt)

This day we will hike the second highest pass on our trek, Punta Cuyoc, now that your body is well acclimatised. The descent from this pass is quite steep until we reach the valley floor. We will then climb up to the San Antonio view point, at 5,100m to be rewarded by splendid views of the surrounding mountains, glacial lakes and deep valleys. After visiting the viewpoint we will descend to the Hunacpatay campsite at 4,200m. The day will involve 7-8 hours of walking in total.

DAY 7: HUANACPATAY – HUAYLLAPA – HUATIAC (4,200 – 3,600 – 4,300 mt)

After breakfast we will start walk down the Huanacpatay valley until reaching the isolated Huayllapa village. Here it is possible to buy some basic supplies if you wish. We will continue our walk along the Huatiac valley to reach our campsite for the night. The day will involve around 6-7 hours of walking.

DAY 8: HUATIAC – TAPUSH PASS – ANGOSCANCHA (4,300 – 4,750 – 4,450 mt)

We will start the 8^th day by walking up towards the Tapush pass. The descent from the pass will take us close to the Quenual forest, where we will camp for the night at Angoscancha. The day is slightly shorter with 4-5 hours of walking in total.

DAY 09: ANGOSHCANCHA – YAUCHA PASS – JAHUACOCHA ( 4,450 – 4,830 – 4,050 mt)

The 9^th day provides some of the most beautiful views of the trek. After breakfast we will start walking up towards the Punta Yaucha pass, at 4,830m. The walk down from the pass provides beautiful views of the Laguna Jahuacocham, where we will camp for the night. We will make camp around lunch time and you will have the opportunity to walk around the lake.

DAY 10: JAHUACOCHA – PAMPA LLAMAC – LLAMAC HHUARAZ (4,050 – 3,300 – 3,100 mt)

On the final day we will walk up to the Pampa Llamac pass at 4,300m. This is the perfect spot to grab your final photos of the trip before descending into the village of Llamac. In Llamac we will meet our transfer bus back to Huaraz. The walk for this day will take 4-5 hours, followed by 4 hours of driving.

3 Meals per day + 2 snacks.
Breakfast: omelet, pancake, fruit salad, serial, scrambled eggs… coffee, tea, milk, chocolate, butter, jam, cheese etc.…
Snack: fresh fruit, chocolates, crackers, cookies, sweets drinks.
Lunch: salads, soups, rice, chicken, coca tea.
Tea time: different hot drinks, coffee, tea, milk, chocolate, crackers, popcorn, pizza, and Tequeños.
Dinner: different kind of soups, salads, main courses, pasta, chicken, trout, beef, vegetarian options available, dessert, hot wine.
Sleeping tent: Salewa, Doite & King Camp (3 Persons tent, used for 2 persons)
Sleeping mat: Size, 200 cm X 60 cm X 5 cm
Kitchen tent
Dining tent
Toilet tent
Sleeping bag, synthetic.
Certificated Trekking guide (Speaks English/Spanglish)
Certificated cook
Donkeys
Donkey driver
5 Kilos personal Luggage for the Donkeys
Kitchen and dining full utensils. chair, table, stove, gas, plates, caps, forks.
First aid kit
Private transport (if it’s only 3 or 4 people, we us public transport to trailhead)
Hot water every day in the morning to clean up your hands and face.
Boiled water to fill your bottle every day.