03 Days/02 Nights Season: May to November Difficulty: Moderate
Huayhuash Circuit Trek: The Huayhuash trek route involves a circular route of 120 km around the mighty Huayhuash mountain range with several peaks above 6,000 m. The highest point in the trek, Yerupajá (6,617 m), is the second highest mountain in Peru, while another peak, Siula Grande (6,344 m), achieved notoriety as the setting for Joe Simson’s gruelling ordeal in his book Touching the Void. The Huayhuash Circuit trekking trails are less visited than the popular trekking trails of Cordillera Blanca, but the Huayhuash mountain range offers a challenging trek in a remote and sparsely inhabited part of the Andes where few trekkers venture.
Overview: Huayhuash Circuit trek around the Cordillera Huayhuash takes around 3 days, 4 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 12 days or 14 days to complete. There are several possible routes and the circuit can be tackled in either direction, but all Huayhuash Circuit treks include the same major features. As the trek progresses, participants need to dig deep into their reserves of endurance to conquer numerous high passes but are rewarded by the sight of magnificent, remote mountain vistas, including views of Yerupajá and Siula Grande, along the way. This is one of the toughest treks out of Huaraz that requires no technical mountaineering skills but the exquisite scenery along the way sets it apart from other challenging treks in Peru. The knowledge of having conquered such a demanding trek is ample recompense for the exertion required to reach the end.
Many guiding books: They say that Huayhuash trekking is the most beautiful in all of America (and the second best trekking in the world).
Day 1: Huaraz - Transfer by car to Chiquián - Llamac - Pocpa - Matacancha (4,100 masl)
Day 2: Matacancha - Sambunya Pass (4,700 masl) – Jahuacocha
Day 3: Jahuacocha - Pampa Llamac Pass (4,300 masl) - Llamac - Huaraz
Day 1: Huaraz - Transfer by car to Chiquián - Llamac - Pocpa - Matacancha (4,100 masl)
After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will meet your group and you will head for the rural community of Chiquián, the starting point for trekking in the Huayhuash Mountain Range. You will continue driving, passing through the village of Llamac and finally arriving in the community of Pocpa (3,400 masl) where our team of donkey drivers will be waiting for us. We will camp here the first night, resting up before beginning our trek tomorrow.
Day 2: Matacancha - Sambunya Pass (4,700 masl) – Jahuacocha
After breakfast, we will begin the ascent towards the Sambunya Pass (4,700 masl), surrounded by impressive peaks such as Jirishanca, Jerupaja and Rasac. After breaking for lunch at the pass, we will descend to our campsite right above the glacial lake Jahuacocha (4,100 masl) with excellent views of Yerupaja Grande, Yerupaja Chico and Jirishanca.
Day 3: Jahuacocha - Pampa Llamac Pass (4,300 masl) - Llamac - Huaraz
Our last day on the trail, we will continue descending for 30 minutes before making our way towards the last pass at Pampa Llamac (4,300 masl) and taking in our final up-close views of the Huayhuash. From the pass, we will descend to the rural community of Llamac where transportation will be waiting to take us back to Huaraz.
Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner
Season: May to November
Difficulty: Moderate
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