Luxury Huayhuash Trek

International Arrival in Lima

You will find us waiting for you when your international flight arrives in Lima. Look for the Kuoda sign with your name and the smile. We will escort you to your hotel adjacent to the airport, check you in, and help you get settled. You’ll then be able to rinse away the feeling of a long flight and enjoy a good night’s rest!

Flight to Huaraz / Private Transfer to Anta

You will wake up refreshed and enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast in the hotel before returning to the airport for your morning flight to Huaraz. Watch the windows as the desert coast rises into the snow-capped peaks of the Andes.

We will be waiting for you when you touch down at our small Andean airport. Then, we will bring you to your hotel in the town of Anta, about an hour away.

You will have the rest of the day to rest and explore as you see fit! The hotel staff will be able to point you in the direction of some nearby trails for some light hiking.

Private Excursion & Hike to Willcacocha Lake

After breakfast, you will meet your private driver & guide and head out towards Willcacocha.

This lagoon is located in the Cordillera Negra, about 50 minutes southwest of Huaraz at 3,470 m.a.s.l. In this place, we can see the entire Cordillera Blanca and peaks such as Huandoy, Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Hualcán, Copa, Vallunaraju, Ocshapalca, Ranrapalca, and Palcaraju.

Depending on how you are feeling, you will have the option to hike to the lake (about an hour and a half).

Afterward, there will be a short 30-minute walk to the town of Santa Cruz, where your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel. (Massage included for this evening.)

Private Excursion & Hike to Churup Lake

After breakfast, you will meet your private driver & guide and head east along a road passing through Andean villages to Pitec, approximately one hour away.

You will experience the splendid views of Vallunaraju (5,686 m.a.s.l.), Ocshapalca (5,881 m.a.s.l.), Ranrapalca (6,162 m.a.s.l.), Rimarima (5,203 m.a.s.l.), Churup (5,495 m.a.s.l.), San Juan (5,843 m.a.s.l.), Huamashraju (5,434 m.a.s.l.), Cayesh (5,728 m.a.s.l.), and Huantsan (6,113 m.a.s.l.).

Once in Pitec, you will begin the ascent to Churup Lake at the base of Mount Churup. The hike takes approximately three hours. Upon arrival at the lake, you will have time for a short walk to the northern lakeshore.

You will then return to Pitec along the same trail, where your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel. (Massage included for this evening.)

Cuartelhuaín – Mitucocha – Carhuacocha (4,100 m) 

From Cuartelhuaín, we begin the circular walk around the Cordillera Huayhuash. Here we will meet our mountain crew, including cooks, muleteers, and support staff, before beginning the trek.

Once the donkeys have been loaded, we begin the ascent to cross the first pass, Cacananpunta (4,700 m.a.s.l.), where the mountains fill the landscape. We then descend through a wide and grassy valley across to the beautiful Mitucocha Lake (4,200 m.a.s.l.), where we set up camp along the lakeshore.

We will then take an afternoon walk alongside the moraine toward Ninancocha Lake (4,400 m.a.s.l.) at the foot of Jirishanca and Rondoy. We continue ascending the Mitucocha Valley to Punta Carhuac (4,650 m.a.s.l.), with excellent views of Siula and Yerupajá. We then descend toward the beautiful Carhuacocha Lake, where we set up camp in an excellent broad grassy area beside the lake.

We will spend two nights here with splendid views of Siula, Yerupajá, and Jirishanca.

Carhuacocha – Huayhuash (4,350 m)

This day can be a free day to rest from the trekking and make an excellent side trip to the beautiful turquoise Siula Lake (4,300 m.a.s.l.) and Quesillococha Lake (4,500 m.a.s.l.), located at the base of Siula’s impressive face.

We begin the walk following the course of the river downstream until the base of the Queropalca Valley. Turning southward, we begin the ascent toward Carnicero Pass (4,600 m.a.s.l.), with excellent mountain views of Yerupajá (6,634 m.a.s.l.), one of the highest peaks in the Peruvian Andes, and Siula (6,344 m.a.s.l.), the famous mountain featured in Joe Simpson’s book Touching the Void.

We enjoy magnificent views of the Carnicero and Trapecio peaks before descending toward the small settlement of Huayhuash, where we set up camp (4,350 m.a.s.l.).

Huayhuash – Viconga (4,500 m)

Today the trek approaches the southern end of the Cordillera Huayhuash.

We ascend to Huayhuash Pass (4,700 m.a.s.l.) and are rewarded with views of the Cordillera Raura and, on the opposite side, Trapecio Peak. Descending southward, we arrive at Viconga Lake (4,500 m.a.s.l.) and set up camp nearby.

Later, we will walk to the Putcka thermal springs to enjoy a relaxing hot bath before returning to camp.

Viconga – Huanacpatay (4,200 m)

This is the fourth day of walking and one of the longest days of the trek.

Our goal is to cross Cuyoc Pass (5,000 m.a.s.l.), the highest point of the route, from where we enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the Cordillera Huayhuash.

We then descend into the Huanacpatay Valley, surrounded by larger-than-life Andean peaks, where we set up camp at 4,200 m.a.s.l.

Huanacpatay – Huayllapa (3,550 m)

Today, we begin ascending to San Antonio Pass (5,050 m.a.s.l.). From here, you can enjoy some of the most spectacular views in the Cordillera Huayhuash, highlighting Sarapo, Yerupajá, Jurao, and Siula. The contrast between these towering snow-capped peaks and the turquoise waters of Sarapococha and Jurao Lagoons is nothing short of breathtaking.

Continuing the trek, we descend through Quebrada Huayllapa to reach the village of Huayllapa (3,550 m.a.s.l.), where we briefly stop before beginning our ascent through Quebrada Tapush toward our campsite in Huatia (4,300 m.a.s.l.).

For those who prefer not to ascend to San Antonio Pass, there is the option of continuing directly down to Huayllapa and camping there.

Huayllapa – Gashpapampa (4,400 m)

Today, you will continue ascending toward Tapush Pass (4,800 m.a.s.l.), before descending toward Susococha Lake and our campsite at Gashpapampa (4,400 m.a.s.l.).

This pleasant campsite offers impressive views of Suerococha and Diablo Mudo (Silent Devil), one of the most iconic peaks of the Huayhuash Range.

Gashpapampa – Jahuacocha (4,050 m)

Today you will face the ascent to Suerococha Pass (5,300 m.a.s.l.). Climbing experience is not required, as the route presents no technical difficulties, although conditions may require the use of equipment such as crampons, harnesses, ice axes, ropes, snow boots, and sunglasses depending on the season.

The descent through the Huacrish Valley eventually leads to the stunning Jahuacocha Lake, where we will set up camp along its shores.

Surrounded by some of the most dramatic peaks in the Peruvian Andes, this is one of the most scenic campsites of the entire trek.

Jahuacocha – Llamac (3,250 m) – Chiquián (3,350 m) –  Huaraz

This is the final day of trekking through Quebrada Huayllan. You will follow the waters flowing from Jahuacocha Lake while enjoying colorful Andean landscapes, native ichu grasslands, quenual forests, and splendid views of Rondoy, Jirishanca, Yerupajá Chico, and Yerupajá Grande.

We descend along a newly constructed irrigation canal before continuing toward Llamac (3,300 m.a.s.l.), with final views of Diablo Mudo dominating the skyline.

In this last section, we follow a high traverse before arriving in Llamac after approximately four hours of hiking, where our vehicle will be waiting to pick us up and begin the journey back to Huaraz.

We will make a brief stop in the town of Chiquián before continuing to Huaraz, arriving approximately three hours later. Upon arrival at your hotel, enjoy a well-deserved rest and a complimentary massage this evening.