10Days /09 Nights Season: April to November Difficulty: Moderate
Huayhuash Circuit Trek: The Huayhuash trek route involves a circular route of 120 km around the mighty Huayhuash mountain range with several peaks above 6,000 m. The highest point in the trek, Yerupajá (6,617 m), is the second highest mountain in Peru, while another peak, Siula Grande (6,344 m), achieved notoriety as the setting for Joe Simson’s gruelling ordeal in his book Touching the Void. The Huayhuash Circuit trekking trails are less visited than the popular trekking trails of Cordillera Blanca, but the Huayhuash mountain range offers a challenging trek in a remote and sparsely inhabited part of the Andes where few trekkers venture.
Overview: Huayhuash Circuit trek around the Cordillera Huayhuash takes around 10 or 11 days to complete. There are several possible routes and the circuit can be tackled in either direction, but all Huayhuash Circuit treks include the same major features. As the trek progresses, participants need to dig deep into their reserves of endurance to conquer numerous high passes but are rewarded by the sight of magnificent, remote mountain vistas, including views of Yerupajá and Siula Grande, along the way. This is one of the toughest treks out of Huaraz that requires no technical mountaineering skills but the exquisite scenery along the way sets it apart from other challenging treks in Peru. The knowledge of having conquered such a demanding trek is ample recompense for the exertion required to reach the end.
Huayhuash Circuit trek around the Cordillera Huayhuash takes around 10 or 11 days to complete. There are several possible routes and the circuit can be tackled in either direction, but all Huayhuash Circuit treks include the same major features. As the trek progresses, participants need to dig deep into their reserves of endurance to conquer numerous high passes but are rewarded by the sight of magnificent, remote mountain vistas, including views of Yerupajá and Siula Grande, along the way. This is one of the toughest treks out of Huaraz that requires no technical mountaineering skills but the exquisite scenery along the way sets it apart from other challenging treks in Peru. The knowledge of having conquered such a demanding trek is ample recompense for the exertion required to reach the end.
Pumarinri is one of the lesser-known peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash, a remote and rugged mountain range of Peru that is world-renowned for its scenic trekking routes. The summit of Pumarinri provides incomparable panoramic views of glaciated peaks of the Huayhuash and more distant Raura Mountain Range. The climb begins from the Viconga Campsite and you will descend through the Huanacpatay Valley to the San Antonio Campsite.
This climb includes a visit to the Siula Grande Basecamp, made famous by the Simpson-Yates expedition that inspired the novel and feature-film, “Touching the Void.” If you prefer to organize a shorter expedition more focused on the climb with less trekking days, please let us know.
Many guiding books: They say that Huayhuash trekking is the most beautiful in all of America (and the second best trekking in the world).
Day 1: Lima - Pativilca - Cajatambo (3,200 masl) - Hotel
Day 2: Acclimatization activities
Day 3: Cajatambo Pass (3,600 masl) - Pumapampa - Viconga (4,300 masl)
Day 4: Viconga - Pumarinri Summit (5,450 masl) Paso Cuyoc (5,000 masl) - Elefante Campsite (4,300 masl)
Day 5: Elefante Campsite (4,300 masl) - San Antonio Pass (5,020 masl) - Cutatambo (4,250 masl)
Day 6: Visit Basecamp of “Touching the Void”
Day 7: Cutatambo (4,250 masl) - Huayllapa (3,600 masl) - Huatiac (4,300 masl)
Day 8: Huatiac (4,300 masl) - Tapush Pass (4,800 masl) - Yaucha Pass (4,800 masl) - Jahuacocha (4,100 masl)
Day 9: Jahuacocha (4,100 masl) - Jahua Punta Pass (4,650 masl) - Pocpa (3,600 masl) - Huaraz
Day 10: Huaraz - Lima
Day 1: Lima - Pativilca - Cajatambo (3,200 masl) - Hotel
We will take a 5.5-hour bus ride from Lima to the town of Cajatambo where we will spend the night in a local hotel before starting our acclimatization activities the following day.
Day 2: Acclimatization activities
Day 3: Cajatambo - Cajatambo Pass (3,600 masl) - Pumapampa - Viconga (4,300 masl)
After breakfast, private transport will take our group to the rural village of Viconga, the starting point for our expedition. We will spend the night in Viconga, enjoying the local hot springs and views of the snow-capped peak, Pumarinri. We will go to bed early in order to get plenty of rest before our summit bid the following morning.
Day 4: Viconga - Pumarinri Summit (5,450 masl) Paso Cuyoc (5,000 masl) - Elefante Campsite (4,300 masl)
Breakfast will be served at 2:00am and we will depart from camp no later than 3:00am, arriving at the summit of Pumarinri by 9:00am. After summiting, we will then begin a steady descent towards Cuyoq Pass where we will continue our descent to out campsite at Elefante, arriving around 3:00pm.
Day 5: Elefante Campsite (4,300 masl) - San Antonio Pass (5,020 masl) - Cutatambo (4,250 masl)
After a good night’s rest, we will eat breakfast at 7:00am before beginning our ascent to San Antonio Pass. From the pass, we will enjoy excellent views of the snow-capped peak Siula Grande. We will then descend to our next campsite at Cutatambo.
Day 6: Visit Basecamp of “Touching the Void”
Today we’ll take a day hike to the base of Siula Grande, the site of British Climber Joe Simpson’s historic mountaineering accident that inspired the novel and film, “Touching the Void”.
Day 7: Cutatambo (4,250 masl) - Huayllapa (3,600 masl) - Huatiac (4,300 masl)
Breakfast will be served at 8:00am before beginning a steady descent through the Cutatambo Valley until we reach the rural village of Huayllapa. We then have the option of staying the night in Huayllapa or continuing on to the next campsite at Huatiac (4,300 masl).
Day 8: Huatiac (4,300 masl) - Tapush Pass (4,800 masl) - Yaucha Pass (4,800 masl) - Jahuacocha (4,100 masl).
After breakfast at 8:00am, we will continue our trek with an ascent to Tapush Pass, followed by a descent before tackling Yaucha Pass. Yes, today we will make TWO passes! From these highpoints we will have spectacular views of the peaks of Yerupaja, Jirishanca, Ninashanca and Rondoy. We will continue our descent until reaching our campsite at Lake Jahuacocha. Will will hike for approximately 10 hours today.
Day 9: Jahuacocha (4,100 masl) - Jahua Punta Pass (4,650 masl) - Pocpa (3,600 masl) -Huaraz
Our final day on the trail, we will eat breakfast at 7:00am before beginning our ascent to Jahua Punta Pass, followed by a steady descent to the rural village of Pocpa where private transport will be waiting to take our group back to Huaraz.
Day 10: Huaraz - Lima
Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner
Season: May to September
Difficulty: Moderate Urus and Ishinca but Tocllaraju demanding / difficult
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