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| Quick Facts | |
| Means of travel: | Hiking |
| Country: | Peru |
| Grade of expedition: | Strenuous |
| Group size: | 1-10 |
| Next departure: | 21 June 2010 |
| Days: | 9-14 |
| FAQ: | View |
| Terms & Conditions: | Download |
Introduction
Are you up for the challenge?
The LEF factor
Price
Itinerary
Departure dates
Our guides
Photo Gallery
Introduction
The Huayhuash trekking is without doubt the most rewarding hike in South America and considered as one of the best alpine trekking in the world. The entire circuit is above the tree line allowing non-stop panoramic views over snow-capped mountains. High mountain passes are crossed on almost daily basis and ancient Inca staircases can be found along the way. Natural hot pools welcome you halfway through and impressive wild life such as condors and alpacas accompany you.
This trekking is isolated, remote and challenging. The Cordillera Huayhuash has limited access roads and few people live there. This remoteness combined with high altitude makes it a serious hike not for the ill fainted. Almost on daily basis you go over a mountain passes up to 4800m height. For the people who want to challenge themselves further there is an optional climb to the summit of Mount Diablo Mudo at 5350m.
Some parts of the Huayhuash circuit make use of staircases built by the Incas. The communication of messages, commuting between villages and transport of goods were all done via Inca trails. The circuit in the Cordillera Huayhuash reveals a few of these ancient trails. Hiking the same trails as the Incas once did looking at never-changing scenery of impressive mountains makes time appear to stand still.
The cordillera Huayhuash got world famous through the remarkable story of mountain climbers Joe Simpson & Simon Yates. Simon Yates had to cut the robe between him and his climbing partner Joe Simpson in order to survive. Joe Simpson survived the fall and managed the crawl out of the mountain into safety. Both a book and film named ‘Touching the Void' tell this true story.
The LEF factor
The LEF Factor makes this expedition a LEF expedition. That means that this expedition is a challenging route for hikers only and considered one of the best in its class. The combination of high altitude hiking above 4000m in an isolated area make it challenging. It is not recommended to hike this circuit without local mountain guides due to its remoteness and difficulty of emergency rescues; some people who have lost their way have lost their lives . A circuit not for the faint-of-heart. The high altitude also provides the high reward for doing this trekking. The views are outstanding, ever changing and unlimited due to the many passes we cross. Everything in this hike makes it world class from the Inca staircases and hot pools to the alpine pastures and glaciated mountain peaks. Hiking this track is a lifetime experience.
Itinerary
Three options are possible with the Huayhuash circuit namely the full circuit with climbing mount Diablo Mudo (14 days), without climbing mount Diablo Mudo (13 days) or the short version with climb Diablo Mudo (9 days). The itinerary is based on the full circuit with climb of Diablo Mudo.
Day 1 Bus to Llamac and trek to Cuartelhuain
The first day of the expedition starts. Early in the morning we depart from Huaraz (3300m) and drive in private transport to the start of the trek in Llamac. This is where we will meet the rest of the expedition team, the donkey driver and his donkeys and horses who will carry our equipment for the next two weeks. We will have lunch while the donkeys are packed with our trekking bags. After lunch we will start the first amazing part of the Huayhuash circuit following the Quero River to Cuartelhuain (4150m) where we will stay camp the night. Walking time is 5-6 hours.
Day 2 Across Cananapunta Pass
Today we will hike the Cacananpunta Pass (4700m). This remarkable pass lies at the Andean Continental Divide that marks the watershed from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean and the Amazon. Rivers on the west of the divide flow into the Atlantic Ocean whilst those to the east flow into the vast Amazon basin. We will have impressive views from the pass over mountains such as Ninashanca (5607m) and Rondoy (5870m). A steep descend brings us into the broad Quebrada Caliente which we follow to our campsite at the blue glacial lake Mitucoche (4300m). This is a spectacular campsite with an inspiring view on the snow-capped peak of Jirishanca (6094m). Walking time is 5-6 hours
Day 3 Trek to Carhuacocha
Today we follow the Quebrada Caliente until we begin our climb up to the second pass, the Carhuac Pass (4600m). Our hard work is rewarded with fine views on the mountain peaks of Yerupaja (6634m) and Siula Grande (6344m). The Siula Grande is renowned for the mountaineering story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates told in the book and film ‘Touching the Void'. Descending the pass into a grassy valley allow for more views on
high peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash, each more spectacular than the other. We make camp at the turquoise-green coloured Lake Carhuacocha (4150m) with mountains Yerupaja and Jirishanca prominent at the background. This lake offers great photo opportunities when still conditions transform the lake into a mirror sharply reflecting the snow-capped mountains. Walking time is 6-7 hours.
Day 4 Exploration Day Lake Siula
Today you can choose to have a day to relax or join the exploration hike to Lake Siula. This hike will give you splendid views on the Siula Mountains and beautifully coloured lakes nestled in the front drop. Walking time is 3-4 hours.
Day 5 Trek to the village Huayhuash
We leave Lake Carhuacocha early in the morning to start a rough climb up to the poorly defined Carnicero Pass (4600m). The pass will reveal the beautiful lakes of Atocshaic and Carnicero in between the impressive mountains of Trapecio (5653m) and Carnicero (5960m). The Carnicero Mountain is known as ‘the Butcher' in English, due to the many fatal attempts to climb the summit. An impressive landscape change occurs after the pass where green alpine pastures become a dry terrain of black rocks and grey lakes. We continue our walk to the small village of Huayhuash (4350m) home to herders of Alpaca and Vicunia and set up our camp for the night. Walking time is 6-7 hours
Day 6 Natural hot pools at Viconga
We leave the Huayhuash village in the early morning and hike over the Portachuelo de Huayhuash Pass (4750m). This pass offers great views on the remote peaks such as Puscanturpa, Cuyoc and Millpo of the Cordillera Raura located to the southeast of the Cordillera Huayhuash. We will set up our camp and let our bodies soak in the well deserved natural hot pools at Lake Viconga (4400m). Walking time is 5-6 hours.
Day 7 Across Cuyoc Pass
We leave Lake Viconga and ascent to the Cuyoc Pass (5000m). This is the highest point of the 13 day full circuit for those who opted out to climb the summit of Diablo Mudo. From the pass we will have a spectacular panorama view on the Huayhuash peaks in the north and the Raura peaks in the south. Further a stunning view of the glacier of Puscanturpa (5650m) completes this awe-inspiring experience. We continue our hike by descending from the pass towards Quebrada Huanactapay and set up camp in Rinconada (4350m). Walking time is 5-6 hours.
Day 8 Across San Antonio Pass
A stunning part of the trek hiking over the San Antonio Pass (4900m) with splendid views on the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash and the valley of Quebrada Calinca. We will set up our camp at Quebrada Calinca (4250m). Walking time is 5-6 hours.
Day 9 Trek to Huatiac
Today will be easy hiking through the valley downwards until reaching the village of Huayllap (3700m). We continue the trek climbing gradually up a narrow valley to reach the pastures of Huatiac (4300m). We will set up camp here for the night. Walking time is 4-5 hours.
Day 10 Across Tapush Pass
We leave Huatiac in the morning and continue our hike crossing the Tapush Pass (4800m). We set up camp at Gashgapampa (4400m) from where we will start early in the morning our climb to the mountain summit of Diablo Mudo (5350m). Walking time is 4-5 hours.
Day 11 Climb Diablo Mudo
We will have a nocturnal rise early in the morning and start our climb to the summit of Diablo Mudo. At this hour of the day the snow is frozen and will allow us climbing the mountain with better grip. We will have amazing views when the sun rises and enjoy awe-inspiring summit views on the entire region. We will return to our camp before lunch time and rest in the afternoon still energized from an impressive climb.
Day 12 Hike to Jahuacocha
We will continue our trek and cross the Punta Yaucha (4800m) before descending to the spectacular Lake of Jahuacocha (4400m). This lake nestles between a great number of snow-capped mountains with cloud piercing peaks such as Jirishanca, El Toro (6100m), Yerupaja, Siula Grande, Rondoy (5885m) and Sarupo (6127m) and cascading glaciers. This is arguable the best campsite of the trek. Walking time 5-6 hours.
Day 13 Exploration day
The location of the campsite offers a great opportunity for an exploration day to nearby lakes or you can benefit from a relaxing day and soak in the inspiring alpine scenery. Walking time of the day hike is approximately 4 hours.
Day 14 Trek to Llamac
Today is the last day of the trek hiking from Jahuacocha to the village of Llamac. One more time we can enjoy the awe inspiring mountain range of the Cordillera Huayhuash where we have walked through for the past two weeks and which has been become a part of us. Walking time is 5-6 hours.
And then arriving in Llamac: Congratulations! You completed one the most inspiring alpine trekking in the world. You have challenged yourself crossing multiple high passes up to 5000m and climbed the summit of Diablo Mudo. You will leave the Huayhuash overwhelmed and inspired by the rewarding alpine views you have witnessed. A life time experience you will never forget.
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Our guides
We use official mountaineering guides if you include a summit climb to Mount Diablo Mudo in your trekking. If you do the alpine hiking without the mountaineering part then a trekking guide will join. All the guides we use are local and some were even born in the Cordillera Huayhuash. They have great knowledge of the region, know the mountains like the back of their hands and are passionate hikers and climbers.
The mountaineering guides are trained and associated with Casa de Guias, which is the international recognized institution for mountain guides in Peru. The guides have a vast experience of mountaineering having climbed many of the summits in the Andean mountain ranges. Their knowledge on mountaineering is refreshed annually with training sessions organised by Casa de Guias. They are highly skilled and great people to spend time with.
We are proud to introduce to you Aldo. Together with his brother Marco he organises the complete expedition and often joins when people want to climb the summit of Mount Diablo Mudo. Aldo has been born and raised in the mountains and has a vast experience in trekking and climbing. Aldo is an official mountain guide associated with Casa de Guias. He will guide you safely through the mountains, is a great person to be with and will show you his Peru.
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Are you up for the Challenge?
The total distance of the circuit is 168 kilometres including the optional climb of Diablo Mudo. This means that you will walk between 4 and 7 hours a day and will cover between 10-17 kilometres on daily basis. You need to be physically fit to walk this distance over a 14 day time period. It becomes especially demanding walking these distances at high altitude. The entire circuit is above 4000 meters and you will hike over 9 passes up to 4800 metres high. Altitude sickness is your greatest concern so it is important to be adjusted to height before you start this circuit. Your ability to hike the circuit will be positively affected by acclimatising multiple days in Huaraz at 3300m. As the hike is demanding in terms of length and altitude it is common to have the gear carried by donkeys. You need to be an experienced alpine hiker to join the expedition but do not require mountaineering experience to climb Diablo Mudo.
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The price
The price for the classic Huayhuash circuit of 13 days is 1053 Euro. The price for the full Huayhuash circuit with summit climb to Diablo Mudo of 14 days is 1134 Euro. The price for the short Huayhuash trekking with summit climb to Diablo Mudo of 9 days is 729 Euro. Prices are based on the USD exchange rate therefore please contact us to see if prices are still accurate. All pricing includes taxes.
Included
The Huayhuash expedition includes an English spoken local trekking guide and an English spoken local and official mountain guide to climb Diablo Mudo. A local cook will join when you go with more than four people otherwise the guide or donkey driver will be the cook. Don't worry they are good cooks! All meals and snacks are included. Further the road transport between Huaraz and the start/end of the trekking in private vehicles. All camping gear such as trekking tents, mattresses, cooking/dinner tent and kitchen and table services and a toilet tent. Finally the price includes the donkey driver and his donkeys and horses. An emergency horse is always part of the expedition and radio contact is possible with Huaraz.
Excluded
The expedition excludes the fee to enter the Cordillera Huayhuash which is never more than 150 Soles depending on the length. This amount can be paid cash to your guide. Furthermore you have to bring your own sleeping bag that keeps you warm in cold night below zero (-4 to -6 is common) for the expedition.
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Next Departure Dates
The Huayhuash trekking is offered on fixed departure dates. If the departure dates are not suitable for your party then please contact us to organise the expedition at a different date. The following departure dates are active for 2009
Classic Huayhuash Circuit (13 days)
• Monday 21 June till Saturday 3 July 2010
Huayhuash Circuit and summit climb Diablo Mudo (14 days)
• Monday 5 July till Sunday 18 July 2010
Huayhuash Short and summit climb Diablo Mudo (9 days)
• Monday 2 August till Tuesday 10 August 2010
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