Grand Tour of the Huayhuash Cordillera

In the morning, transfer to the bus station to take a comfortable bus line to Huaraz. The road offers us a coastal stretch, traced in the steep dunes, most often reaching the beach itself. Arriving at Conococha (4,150m), the highest point of our route, the road will descend to the broad furrow of Callejon de Huaylas. Arrival at Huaraz, at the foot of the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Noire, in the Santa River Valley.

Accompaniment:  English speaking guide
Transport: by private vehicle to the bus station – Regular comfortable bus Lima – Huaraz (9 hours drive)
Accommodation: in hotel
Meals: free breakfast – lunch provided by bus – free dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 3,090 m

The Callejon de Huaylas separates the Cordillera Blanca, to the east, from the Black Cordillera to the west. We will dedicate this day to a relaxing walk. After a short transfer by vehicle, we hike from Shansha Bridge to Lake Wilcacocha (3,750 m), meeting villages and peasants at work in the fields. Arrived at the lake, we have a beautiful house on the peaks near Huaraz: the Ranrapalca (6 162 m), the Hualcan (6 122 m), the Copa (6 188 m). In the late afternoon, we transfer to Carhuaz.

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Transfer / Transportation: private car (approximately 1 hour)
Number of hours of walking: 4 hours
Accommodation: Night at the hotel
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 2,640 m

We drive northwards, still along Callejon de Huaylas. Arriving at Yungay, we veer to the northeast, in the famous Quebrada de Llanganuco, between Huandoy and Huascarán. We arrive at Llanganuco Lagunas, at 3,850 m above sea level, magnificent high altitude lakes with emerald colour. We walk to Cebollapampa (3,900m) and leave for 3 hours climb towards Laguna 69, a turquoise lake, in one of the most beautiful natural sites of the Cordillera Blanca: magnificent views of Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Pisco, the Chacrajaru. We then return to Cebollapampa, in 2 hours of descent and road to Huaraz.

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Transfer / Transport: private car (about 5 hours)
Number of hours of walking: 5 hours
Accommodation: Night at the hotel
Meals: breakfast – lunch – free dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 3,090 m

Departure by car towards the south, we follow the Callejon de Huayla again, but in the opposite direction. Arrived at the pass of Conococha, we leave full east. From the top of the pass, we have the first views of the Huayhuash mountain range. We wind up a valley cultivated towards the village of Chiquián. The road runs along a gorge to the village of Llamac. We then go along the right bank of Rio Llamac to arrive at our first camp at Quartelhuain (4,170 m), where we meet our team of muleteers. We are in vast pastures, at the mouth of a Quebrada descendant of Rondoy (5 870 m).

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Transfer / Transport: private car (about 6 hours)
Accommodation: Overnight in a tent
Meal: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4 170 m

A steep climb to the first pass of this trek, the Cacanan Pass (4,690 m). We are exactly on the watershed between the Pacific and the Atlantic. In the descent, we can observe the source of Rio Maranon, one of the two great tributaries of the Amazon River. We pass Jancahuayi estancias and Janca. Going up the Janca river, we reach Lake Mitucocha (4,270 m), at the foot of the enormous Jirishanca glacier (6,094 m). Camp at the edge of the lagoon. The place is ideal for watching the Andean birdlife.

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Number of hours of walking: 6 hours
Elevation gain: + 570 m / – 490 m
Accommodation: night in a tent
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4,250 m

Regular climb to the Col de Carhuaz (4,600 m), the ”golden collar”, between Jirishanca Chico and Cerro Yana Yana: superb view of the glaciers of the mountain range. Descent into Quebrada Yana Yana, then to Laguna Carhuacocha (4,138 m), where we set up our camp. The site is splendid: the emerald green lagoon is dominated by the highest peaks of the Huayhuash mountain range: Siulá Grande (6,344 m), Yerupajá (6,634 m, highest point in the massif), Yerupajá Chico (6,127 m), Jirishanca (6,094 m).

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Number of hours of walking: 6 hours
Elevation gain: + 410 m / – 530 m
Accommodation: Overnight in a tent
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4,138 m

We stay very close to the high peaks, during one of the most beautiful days of the trek. A climb of the Quebrada Gangrajanca, where we meet successively three Lagunas: Laguna Grangrajanca, covered with icebergs from the Yerupajá glacier; Laguna Siulá, deep blue, on the edge of a beautiful glacial valley that descends from the Carnicero; finally Laguna Quesillococha, turquoise green, in a beautiful glacial cirque. Sustained climb to Siulá Pass (4,834 m): magnificent view of the three lakes, at the foot of the glaciers, dominated by the highest peaks of the massif. Descent into the broad valley of Huayhuash. A vast plateau leads us to the Laguna Carnicero, frequented by many birds. Other summits appear Carnicero (5,690 m), Jurau and Trapecio (5,653 m).

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Number of hours of walking: 6/7 hours 
Accommodation: Overnight in a tent
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4 350 m

We follow the main valley, facing south, then turn due west towards the slopes of Trapecio (5 653 m), on a low-frequented path. The view is splendid on the peaks of the Raura mountain range, south of the Huayhuash mountain range. An aerial journey takes us on the southern shoulder of Trapecio. The pass is just at the edge of its glacier, at 5,050 m. Descent to the deep gorge of Huanacpatay, facing the massif of Pariaurco (5 590 m). We are on the western slope of the mountain range. We drive along the beautiful lake Huanacpataycocha, facing the rock faces of Puscanturpa, 600 m vertical basalt organs. Installation of the camp in the pastures of Yanapampa (4,500 m).

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Number of hours of walking: 7 hours
Altitude difference: + 700 m / – 600 m
Accommodation: Overnight in a tent
Meal: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4,450 m

Day of rest or exploration. A steep climb leads us to the Col de Paso San Antonio (5,050m), with coloured rocks. From this beautiful viewpoint, we can observe 360 ​​degrees the southern part of the Cordillera Huayhuash, the wildest. Facing us are the southern and western slopes of the Yerupaja, Siulá Grande and Sarapo glaciers. Back to camp.

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Number of hours of walking: 5 hours
Altitude difference: + 700 m / – 700 m
Accommodation: Overnight in a tent
Meal: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4,450 m

We descend the Quebrada Huanacpatay, the climate becomes more temperate. We reach Quebrada Huayllapa, the main valley of the Huayhuash mountain range (3,600 m). Arrival at the village of Huayllapa (3,600 m). Walk in the village, around the church and the Plazza de Armas. We leave due north, along Quebrada Huancho. Mounted in the pastures and camp at Huatiaq, at 4 300 m altitude.

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Number of hours of walking: 5 to 6 hours
Altitude difference: + 700 m / – 850 m
Accommodation: Overnight in a tent
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4 300 m

Stony climb to the Tapush Pass (4,770 m), dominated by the dark summit of the Diablo Mudo, ”silent devil”. A short descent to the Susucocha Lagoon and the Gashapampa Valley (4,550 m). Climb to the Llaucha Pass (4,850 m), the last obstacle before switching to the northern part of the massif. At the pass, a dazzling panorama awaits us, one of the most striking of our course. Facing us are the most beautiful western faces of the summits that we could observe a few days ago from the Mitucocha and Carhuacocha lagoons. Two hours of descent to Quebrada Huacrish brings us to the Lagunas Jahuacocha and Solterococha (4,050 m). Huayhuash’s greatest peaks are reflected here: Yerupajá, Yerupajá Chico, Rondoy, and Jirishanca. We will spend two nights in an exceptional camp on the Laguna Jahuacocha.

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Number of hours of walking: 7 hours
Elevation gain: + 850 m / – 1 100 m Accommodation: overnight in a tent
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4050 m

Descent along Rio Pacllon, then regular climb to the last pass: Pampa Llamac (4,300 m): last panorama on the Huayhuash mountain range. A steep descent to the village of Llamac (3,350 m), the endpoint of the trek. We salute the local team: cooks, muleteers, with whom we have lived this wonderful adventure. Road to Chiquián, then to Huaraz.

Accompaniment: English speaking guide
Transfer / Transport: private vehicle (around 5 hours)
Number of hours of walking: 5h30 à 6 hours
Altitude difference: + 220 m / – 1 020 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: a night at the
Altitude hotel at the end of the day: 3,090 m

Return to Lima by bus from the highlands, Laguna de Conococha to 4,100 meters and descent to the Pacific coast.

Accompaniment: English speaking assistance in Lima
Transfer / Transport: comfortable regular bus (9 hours drive)
Accommodation: Night at the hotel
Meals: breakfast – lunch provided by bus – free dinner

Free time, then transfer to the international airport Chavez according to the schedule of your international flight.

—– END OF THE PROGRAM —–
For unpredictable reasons such as poor health of the participants, extreme weather condition or any unforeseen incident, your guide may need to adapt the program for the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and guarantor of your safety. Walking times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.