Peru, Cordillera Huayhuash

Brief Description 

Considered one of the most spectacular trekking routes in the Andes, the Huayhuash Circuit is a breathtaking journey through towering peaks, glacial lakes, and high mountain passes ranging from 4,600m to 5,000m.

Each day brings a new sense of awe—camping beside emerald lakes nestled under snow-capped giants, following ancient trails to panoramic viewpoints, and stepping into the legendary mountaineering history of Siulá Grande, where Joe Simpson’s epic survival story Touching the Void unfolded.

Beyond the landscapes, this trek is an immersion into Andean life, where you’ll witness local mountain communities in their daily rhythm, encounter a rich diversity of wildlife and high-altitude flora, and connect with the raw, untamed beauty of one of South America’s last great wildernesses.

This is more than just a trek—it’s an experience that blends adventure with reflection, challenge with small comforts, and solitude with shared moments that linger long after the trail ends.

Trapecio high pass at 5,020m is the highest point of the entire Huayhuash adventure. It is also one of the best viewpoints.

Altitude Maximum: 5020 metres

Average Trekking days: 8 hours

Daily elevation: 600 metres

We are pleased to be able to offer staggered pricing based on the number of passengers booked on each departure: 

Price for 12    6429

Price for 10    6719

Price for 8      6999

Price for 6      7599

When you book, the price of the product is set to the higher price based on a minimum of 6 clients booking. However, once the trip is confirmed to go, if the number of people booked is above 6 and meets any of the above parameters, we will adjust the price of the trip before your final amount is due for payment. 

OVERVIEW:

Day 1: Arrival Day

A private transfer will collect GirlTrekkers from the airport for travel to Miraflores, a safe area of Lima City.

Day 2: Lima

Spend the day in Lima seeing the sights.

Day 3: Travel to Huaraz

Early morning GirlTrekkers are collected by our private transfer for travel to Huaraz. This is a long trip. The distance is 408 km and the travel time will be approximately 7 hours. The private transfer is a comfortable vehicle and we will make stops along the way.

Our local trekking guide will meet us when we arrive at the hotel in Huaraz.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 4: Churup Lake

Trek: Mount Churup 8 hours

After breakfast we go by private car to Pitec place (approximately a 1 hour drive) for an acclimatization hike up to Churup lake. We make a climb to the summit of Mount Churup at 4450m. The climb provides a good test and chance for acclimatization however the descent is easy.

We return to our accommodation in Huaraz.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Cuartelhuain

Trek: Small trek on arrival

Travel day passing through the villages of Chiquian, Llamac and finally we arrive at Cuartelhuain and our first camp at 4100m. On the way we will stop for a simple lunch. We will meet our donkey driver who will be lead the transportation of our main trekking luggage. The total travel time today is approximately 5 hours. Our altitude for tonight is 4100 metres.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 6: Mitucocha

Trek: Punta Cacanan 6 hours Elevation: 600 metres

Today we depart for our trek to Mitucocha. The highest point will be 4700m before we descend to 4150m for our overnight camp. The views today are the towering peaks of Rondoy, Jirishanca and Ninashanca.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Carhuacocha

Trek: Carhuacocha 8 hours Elevation: 600 metres

We continue today on our trek to the next pass, Carhuac (4600m) before descending to our camp at 4200m above Lagun Carhuacocha and beneath the impressive peakes of Yerupaja Grande, Yerupajo Chico and Jirishanca.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Huayhuash

Trek: Huayhuash 8 hours Elevation: 600 metres

Today is a beautiful lakes day like jewels in a crown. We pass by three lakes of different colours; Laguna Siula, Laguna Quesillococha and Laguna Cangrajanca.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9: Elefante

Trek: Elefante Camp 7 hours Elevation: 500 metres

This morning we climb to the highest point on the trek, the “Trapecio Pass” w re we have beautiful views of Trapeci and Buscanturpa mountain then continue descend into Elefate Camp.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Huatiac

Trek: Huatiac 8 hours Elevation: 300m

Today we trek down to the Huayllapapa Village and along the way we see typical vestments of the local people and visit the small town of Huayllapa. After we climb up to the Huatiac camp at 4300 metres.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11: Jahuacocha Lake

Trek: Jahuacocha Lake 6 hours Elevation: 700 m

Today we have two passes to achieve. The first, Tapush pass at 4800m and we then go down and back up again to the Yaucha pass also at 4800 metres. The campsite tonight is at 4100 metres.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12: Huaraz

Trek: Llamac 4 hours Elevation: 200 metres

We have our last views of the inspiring mountains of this region on the Llamac pass before we descent down to the Llamac village and our private transfer back to Huaraz. The driving time is approximately 3 and 1/2 hours.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 13: Lima

Today we travel back to Lima by private transfer retracing the journey we took on Day 3 of this GirlsTrek. How different the stories will be now we are forever changed by our wild experience in the Cordillerah Huayhuash. Drive time approximately 7 - 8 hours.

We overnight in the hotel in Miraflores from the start of our journey.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 14: Departure Day

After breakfast we wave good bye to each other for our onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast

Level 5: Walks are 8-10 hours per day on rough tracks with rock scrambling and altitude. There will be multiple steep sections and during the trek the accommodation is camping.

GirlsTrek trips are graded according to the length of hours out on the trails, the type of trails underfoot and the fitness required to comfortably walk longer distances, on tougher terrain, for several days in a row. 

For our Level 5 trips, we request that you have the following experience/fitness to join:

Experience hiking a multi-day trek in the last 4 years that required you to walk for up to 8hrs per day on steep terrain.

OR Experience hiking 2 x  GirlsTrek Level 4 trips in the past 4 years. 

AND 6 - 8 hours a week of regular consistent exercise that involves hiking / running or fast walking.

EXTENSION: (optional extra) ADDITIONAL COST
MACHU PICCHU: 4 day extension that begins on the last morning of the Huayhuash trip. Those doing the extension will go to the airport to catch an internal flight to Cusco. You will be well acclimatized for this extension! There is no GirlsTrek host on this extension but you will be well looked after by our local ground operator and guide. It will also involve booking an internal flight Lima-Cusco-Lima. 

Day 14: Lima - connect flight to Cusco- free time in Cusco, overnight in hotel

Day 15: Cusco - Sacred Valley - Agues Calientes: drive to  the town of Ollantaytambo, located in the Sacred Valley, where we'll board our train to Aguas Calientes. You'll arrive into Aguas Calientes at approximately 2:30 p.m. We will then check into your hotel, and you have a free afternoon to visit the Machu Picchu Museum, the orchid exhibit, and the butterfly exhibit, located a 40-minute walk outside the town. You can also choose to relax in the hot springs, located just a 5-minute walk from the town center.

Day 16: Visit Machu Picchu - return to Cusco: Early morning bus to Machu Picchu. Enjoy the tranquil morning hours with a complete guided tour and a visit to the Inca citadel (approximately 2 hours) then you will climb up to Huayna Picchu Mountain, to experience a spectacular view of all of Machu Picchu, the valleys and mountains that surrounds it. Visit the temple of the moon, or the fabulous Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, travel back to Aguas Calientes from where we take the train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy, then to Cusco to the hotel.

Day 17: Flight from Cusco to Lima to connect for international departures. 

INCLUSIONS on Extension:
Certified Local Peruvian mountain guides - English Speaking

All accommodation
Meals as per itinerary
Guided Tour

All internal transfers in Lima and Cusco
All lunch during the tours

Private transfer during the tours

First aid kits

All entrances for Machu Picchu
Entrance to Huayna Picchu

Train Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu roundtrip
Hotel 3* in Cusco (2 nights), hotel Aguas Calientes 1 night

Bus to Machu Picchu round trip

All breakfast is included in the hotel

Tour to Machu Picchu
Small group size travel
Trip
* You may request a single supplement and we will confirm if this is available
for the duration of the trip

Exclusions:
Meals in Cusco
Lima Internal flight from Lima - Cusco - Lima
Extras Tips