Best time:
May to September
Timing: 12 days
Grade: moderate / difficult
The fantastic ice range of the Cordillera Huayhuash
is one of the classic Peru trekking circuits of
the world. Seven of Peru's highest peaks rise from
this dramatic massif, whose awesome beauty can be
seen in the gripping adventure, film Touching the
Void. The complete Huayhuash trek crosses seven
high passes as we circle the entire range, with
nearly continuous panoramas of towering Andean giants,
including Yerupaja (6617m), second highest mountain
in Peru.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival
in Huaraz (3090m).
Day 2 & 3: Acclimatization
days in Huaraz.
Day 4: Drive to the village
of Llamac and set up our first camp (3300m).
4 to 5 hours drive. We camp near the village
football field.
Day 5: Walk up the valley,
following the Rio Llamac, passing through
the villages of Pocpa and Pallca. After Pallca
the way opens up into a wide grassy valley
with rolling hills.
Day 6: In the morning we
cross our first pass Punta Cacanan (4700m)
then descend to our camp at the beautiful
lake Laguna Mitucocha (4220m).
Day 7: We cross the pass
Paso de Carhuac (4650m) then descend to our
camp at the big lake Laguna Carhuacocha (4150m).
From our camp we look directly up the lake
to the peaks and ice fields of Siula and the
two peaks of Yerupajá.
Day 8: Rest Day at Laguna
Carhuacocha, take a half day hike around the
lake, or visit Siula Lake. Catch trout for
dinner!!
Day 9: We cross the pass
Carnicero (4600m) that is not difficult, and
make an easy descent to our camp at isolated
Laguna Carnicero 4300m. Weather permitting,
we can take an alternative more demanding
route, which climbs to a 4800m pass, the views
of the mountains and glaciers from here are
very close and spectacular.
Day 10: We climb to the pass
Portachuelo (4750m) from where you look across
to the Cordillera Raura and the snow-topped
peak Leon Huacanan. There are some hot springs
near Viconga lake, we camp at Viconga camp
site at 4480m
Day 11: We cross our highest
pass Punta Cuyoc (5000m) then descend to our
next cam at Quebrada Huanacpatay (4300m)
Day 12: We continue down
the Quebrada Huanacpatay. We then climb steadily
to our campsite high up in the flat pasture
of Huatiac (4350m)
Day 13: A tough day as we
cross two passes today. First we climb to
the Pass Punta Tapush 4750m, then pass by
Laguna Susucocha before climbing again to
Punta Yaucha (4800m). Then we descent our
next camp at Laguna Jahuacocha (4150m)
Day 14: We stay at Jahuacocha.
Climb up Cerro Amarrillo Peak 5000m for views
over the whole Huayhuash range Or you make
like an easier walk to visit Soltera Cocha
Lake, OR take a rest and try trout fishing.
Day 15: An early start.
We leave early, starting with a gradual climb
to our final pass Pampa Llamac (4300m) from
where we have our final views of the Huayhuash
range. Then it is a long descent back to Llamac
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