Peru, Cordillera Huayhuash

Brief Description 

The Huayhuash hike via Trapecio pass in the Cordillera Huayhuash is one of the most impressive in all Peru. On this trek you will see glorious green glacial lakes surrounded by enormous granite rocks, multicoloured lagoons and dozens of snowcapped mountains soaring above you. The area was made famous by the documentary film Touching the Void (2003) about two young British climbers who become lost. Don’t worry - we won’t be climbing cliff faces or getting lost! 

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

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 treks 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.

• 14 days Fully hosted experience with GirlsTrek
• Certified Local Peruvian mountain guides - English Speaking
• Private transfers - all sectors
• All accommodation: 3* hotel (5 nights), tent (8 nights)
• Camping including bi-personal tent, dining tent with table and chairs, all utensils
• Meals as per itinerary & drinking water
• Food tour in Lima
• Entrance fees to Huayhuash
• Trek Cook
• Donkey drivers & donkeys
• Emergency horse
• Emergency oxygen
• First Aid Kits
• Small group size travel 
• GirlsTrek Gift
• Trip specific packing list with expert advice and great discounts
• Information get together to detail the trip and answer any of your questions
• Private group chat for messages and photos
• At home training programme to prepare you for your trek