Huayhuash is an extensive mountain range in the Peruvian Andes, to discover it in its entirety requires at least 10 to 12 days of walking. But many people have little time and just want to experience the best part. Here we present a 6-day program that visits the most interesting points and considered the best in the entire Cordillera Huayhuash.
The famous points to visit are: Laguna Carhuacocha, Siula viewpoint of 3 lagoons, Trapecio pass, San Antonio pass, Santa Rosa viewpoint.
Start: 4:00 am in Huaraz
Finish: 14:00 pm in Barranca
Group departures: April to October
ITINERARY
Day 1: Huaraz - Cuartelhuain (4300 m) - hike to Cacanan Pass (4700m/15416ft) – Mitucocha
Duration: 4 hours (by car) 5 – 6 hours (hiking)
Distance hiking: 12 km approx.
- We drive from Huaraz to Chiquián, enjoying distant views of the awesome Huayhuash range from afar.
- From Chiquián we descend to a cactus and scrub environment and continue to the village of Llamac (3300m)
- Then into a wide Ushaped grassy valley with rolling hills and flanked by broad expanses of quenual (polylepis sp.) forest.
- We will start to hike, we will cross our first pass, Cacanan Punta (4700m).
- Here, at the continental divide, we sometimes observe the Andean Condor flying overhead.
- We descend to the Jalca plain and on to our camp at the beautiful Laguna Mitucocha lake (4220m), located at the foot of the stunning Jirishanka Grande peak, and those of its neighbours Rondoy and Ninashanca.
- If you have the energy, there’s the option this afternoon of walking around the lake or up to one of the nearby hanging valleys.
Day 2: Mitucocha – Carhuac Pass (4500m/14760ft) – Carhuacocha
Duration: 5 -6 hours aprox
Distance: 12 km aprox
- We flank the Jalca floodplain then ascend south to the Carhuac pass (4650m).
- From here an awesome panorama suddenly comes into view; a row of Huayhuash giants: Yerupajá Grande, the second highest mountain in Peru, Yerupajá Chico (6121m) and Siulá Grande (6344m), of “Touching the Void” fame.
- From here we descend to our camp at the large Carhuacocha lake (4150m), with the chance en route of spotting Viscacha rodents among the moronic debris.
- From our camp we look directly up the lake to the peaks and ice fields of the famous Siula Grande, Yerupajá Grande and Jirishanka Chico.
Day 3: Carhuacocha – Siula Pass (4850m/15908ft) – Huayhuash
Duration: 6 – 7 hours aprox
Distance: 13 km aprox
- This day there are two optional approaches to our next camp at Huayhuash.
- We can take the normal trail to ascend the Carnicero Pass at 4600m/15,092ft
- Or the more challenging alternative by ascending the Siula Pass at 4800m/15,748ft.
- While this second alternative is more demanding, it is truly rewarding because of the surrounding panoramic views.
- We descend passing close to lake Carnicero then camp at Huayhuash 4300m/14,108ft.
Day 4: Huayhuash – Trapecio pass (5040m / 16540ft) – camping Cuyoc (4400m / 14435ft).
Duration: 6 – 7 hours approx
Distance: 11 km aprox
- We climb to the Trapecio pass (5040m) on a steady gradient.
- Some sections of the trail are difficult to find as we are walking though ichu grass (tussock) and as we are getting closer to the pass the trail is
across moraine rock.
- An optional 40 extra minutes of hiking to reach the glacier
- From here, looking southeast, we see a new collection of nearby snow peaks.
- At the pass (5050m) we will stop to enjoy stunning views of Trapecio, Puscanturpa and Cuyoc mountains and surrounding valleys.
- Then we start the descent from the pass on an unmarked rock morraine route passing by a beautiful turquoise glacial lake Huanacpatay on the way. We continue the descent to our camp in Cuyoc (4400 m).
Day 5: Huancapatay – San Antonio Pass – Huayllapa village (3485 m)
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Distance: 16 km aprox.
- From camp we climb to a pass on Cerro San Antonio.
- This is a demanding day with some steep hiking, but by now you should be well acclimatised and feeling strong at altitude.
- After 2 hours we are on the top of the pass at 4800m, with fantastic views of all the giants of the Cordillera Huayhuash and the 3 lakes of Sarapococha, Santa Rosa & Jurau.
- We can also see the Siula Glacier which Joe Simpson crawled down in his epic battle for survival, and we see Siula Base Camp quite clearly in the distance.
- 15 km of walking which takes approximately 9 hours with breaks and lunch. The campsite is in the village of Huayllapa at 3487m.
Day 6: Huayllapa – Cajatambo - Barranca city
Duration: 8 hours aprox
- This day we will get up very early to take the transport that will take us to the coast of Peru, before passing by the city of Cajatambo where we will make a brief stop for breakfast.
- The trip is long and the road descends in endless curves until it reaches the great Pan-American highway and reaches the city of Barranca.
- Transportation will leave you at the bus terminal so that you can travel to Lima that same day.
- Here you and staff will separate, as they will take the return trip to Huaraz.
End of our Services
INCLUDES
- Pre-departure briefing: You will meet your guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. The meeting will be at the afternoon before the trip begins.
- Transport: You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and will travel by private transportation to the starting point of the trek.
- Experienced Guide: English speaking, professionally educated, and official tour guide. Your guide will explain the culture and surroundings along the entire route! He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!
- All camping & cooking equipment (sleeping, Dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and cooking equipment (all carried by the donkeys).
- Cargo Mules: For to carry the all camping equipment and your allowance of personal baggage (6 kgs/13.2 lbs).
- Trekking Cook: A chef specialized in cooking on the trail, with an assistant (if the group is more than 8 people), will prepare all of your delicious meals along the journey to replenish your energy. You will never go hungry!.
- Meals: 5 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 5 Dinners (Vegetarian or special menus are available at no extra cost).
- Wake up tea: Every morning at the campsite, you will woken up with a cup of coca tea! Our staff will bring the tea to your tent so that you will be warmed from inside out before you start your day.
- Tea time daily: Every afternoon before dinner, the cook will provide popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, teas, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you will not have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up, and enjoy a bite to eat!
- Snacks on the trail daily: Our snacks consist of local fruits, biscuits, chocolate, caramels, etc. We will give this snack to you at the beginning of each day in your cloth bag.
- Entrance fee to all the communities in Huayhuash.
- Medical kit: Our crew will bring a first-aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle.
- Transport: Private transport from end of trek to Barranca city (where you can take you buss to Lima).
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
- Hotel accommodations for specified time in Huaraz.
- Sleeping Bags: Considered a personal equipment, but you can rent one from our company if you do not have your own. Our sleeping bags are effective and durable to protect from temperatures as low as -10ºC. They are mummy form and include a sleeping liner. The bags are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips.
- Walking Sticks: You can rent a set from our company if you would like.
- Day 1 breakfast and last day dinner.
- Travel, Personal, and/or medical insurance
- Personal clothing and gear
- Tips for our staff: Please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish.
- Additional expenses as a result of leaving the tour early or additional expenses as a result of an emergency rescue or evacuation.
- Additional costs or delays out of control of the management (landscape, bad weather condition, itinerary modification due to a safety concern, illness, change of government policy, political instability/strike, etc.)
RESERVATIONS
For availability of spaces for this service, please contact us info@salkantaytrek.org or by WhatsApp (+51) 970 506 205 and we`ll send you detailed information, prices, terms and conditions.
Please keep in mind that significant price reductions are available for groups. All our tours are fully guaranteed, departure every day. Contact us for more information for the tour that you are choosing, or to begin customizing your own itinerary. recommendations:
"Inka Trail Expeditions Perú is a tour operator travel agency in Peru and the city of Cusco, We really know what we do and offer, We are well managed, with several offices in Peru and a long list of travel destinations, offering all travel alternatives in Perú, from family trips, honeymoon trips and luxury travel, including adventure tours and exploring trips to the jungle, for almost any budget”
NOTE: Inka Trail Expeditions Perú, specializes in organizing the ideal travel plan to Peru, with hotels and destinations that you choose, because we have all confidential and promotional rates. For guidance on how to organize your custom package. Please write us.
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