Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit

THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL

The wildest circuit in the Andes.

The Cordillera Huayhuash is barely thirty kilometres long yet holds six summits above six thousand metres, among them Yerupajá (6,617 m) and Siula Grande, the mountain of ‘Touching the Void’. The circuit rings the massif over eight passes, with camping throughout and donkeys carrying the load. One of the most serious treks in South America.

• Yerupajá, 6,617 m, the second summit of Peru
• The east face of Siula Grande
• The Punta Cuyoc pass, 5,000 m
• Jahuacocha lake and the Tristes viewpoint

1. 01
   DAY 1 · Acclimatisation and briefing

   Huaraz, 3,050 m

   A flight or the overnight bus from Lima to Huaraz, the capital of Peruvian mountaineering. A day to recover from the journey, then a briefing and a kit check for minus ten.

   Overnight: Hotel in Huaraz
2. 02
   DAY 2 · 14 km, up to 4,600 m

   Laguna 69, acclimatisation

   The classic acclimatisation walk in the Cordillera Blanca: 14 km there and back with 800 m of climb to a lake at 4,600 m below the wall of Chacraraju. Back in Huaraz by evening.

   Overnight: Hotel in Huaraz
3. 03
   DAY 3 · A five-hour drive

   Drive to Cuartelhuain

   Five hours by four-wheel drive through Chiquián and Llámac to the trailhead camp at Cuartelhuain (4,170 m). We meet the arrieros and the donkeys and divide the loads, then walk a little way uphill to acclimatise.

   Overnight: Tents at Cuartelhuain, 4,170 m
4. 04
   DAY 4 · 12 km, a 4,690 m pass

   Cacanan Punta and Mitucocha

   The first pass of the circuit, Cacanan Punta (4,690 m), and beyond it the whole Huayhuash range appears at once. Down to Mitucocha lake (4,230 m) below Jirishanca. Around 12 km.

   Overnight: Tents at Mitucocha, 4,230 m
5. 05
   DAY 5 · 10 km, a 4,650 m pass

   Carhuac pass and Carhuacocha

   Over the Carhuac pass (4,650 m) and down to Carhuacocha (4,138 m), widely held to be the loveliest lake in Peru, with Yerupajá, Yerupajá Chico and Siula Grande above the water. Around 10 km.

   Overnight: Tents at Carhuacocha, 4,138 m
6. 06
   DAY 6 · 14 km, a 4,830 m pass

   Three lakes and the Siula pass

   The finest day on the circuit: the path threads three turquoise lakes, Gangrajanca, Siulacocha and Quesillococha, directly beneath the icefalls of Siula Grande's east face, then crosses the Siula pass (4,830 m) down to Huayhuash.

   Overnight: Tents at Huayhuash, 4,330 m
7. 07
   DAY 7 · 12 km, a 4,750 m pass

   Portachuelo pass and Viconga

   The Portachuelo de Huayhuash (4,750 m) looks across to the Cordillera Raura, then a descent to Viconga lake. Beside it are hot springs, the only chance to wash in ten days.

   Overnight: Tents at Viconga, 4,407 m
8. 08
   DAY 8 · 14 km, a 5,000 m pass

   Punta Cuyoc, 5,000 m

   The high point of the route: a long climb to Punta Cuyoc at exactly 5,000 m, with the whole southern half of the range in view. A steep 800 m drop into the Cuyoc valley towards Huayllapa. Around 14 km.

   Overnight: Tents at Guanacpatay, 4,250 m
9. 09
   DAY 9 · 15 km, down and up

   Huayllapa and the climb out

   Down to Huayllapa (3,500 m), the only village on the circuit, with a shop and cold beer. Then 1,100 m of climbing straight back up to camp at Huatiaq. The biggest vertical range of the trek.

   Overnight: Tents at Huatiaq, 4,300 m
10. 10
    DAY 10 · 16 km, two passes

    Two passes to Jahuacocha

    The Tapush (4,800 m) and Yaucha (4,750 m) passes lead to Jahuacocha (4,070 m), the lake with the classic view of the west faces of Yerupajá and Rondoy. The best camp on the circuit.

    Overnight: Tents at Jahuacocha, 4,070 m
11. 11
    DAY 11 · 14 km and a transfer

    Pampa Llámac pass and out

    The last pass, Pampa Llámac (4,300 m), with a viewpoint back over the whole range we have walked, then a drop to Llámac (3,300 m) and four-wheel drives to Huaraz. Dinner and a shower in the evening.

    Overnight: Hotel in Huaraz
12. 12
    DAY 12 · Transfer

    Departure from Huaraz

    Breakfast, an optional trip to the ruins of Chavín de Huántar, and the bus or flight to Lima. The road takes eight hours, the flight one.

    Overnight: —