Trekking in the Cordillera Huayhuash

Arrive in Lima

Arrive at Lima airport in the evening and make your way to your hotel for the night. The hotel links directly to Jorge Chavéz International Airport, and is easy to navigate to. Tonight is yours to relax and recover from your flight, or perhaps order room service.

Fly to Huaraz

Take a short morning transfer back to the airport and board an early morning flight to Huaraz (10,013ft). Meet your MT Sobek representative outside of baggage claim and transfer to the Hotel Andino, where we'll have lunch before an afternoon of leisure to help acclimatize to this higher elevation. Later, meet with the group for a welcome dinner.

Hike to Huilcacocha Lake

Transfer to Huillcacocha Lake (12,303') and set out on your first acclimatization hike surrounded by astounding views of the white-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. Along the way, meet and interact with the local Quechua people who still wear colorful, traditional Andean clothes. Pass close to their traditional adobe houses and see how they have lived for countless centuries. Climb to a spectacular viewpoint and stop for lunch before descending back down to the lake via a different route with beautiful views of the valley below.

Explore Huascaran National Park

After breakfast, travel into Huascaran National Park and discover the unusual beauty of the Puya Raimondi trees, relative of the pineapple and the largest member of the bromeliad family. Continue to Yanashayash pass, then onward to Cuartelwain (13,779'), your camp for the night.

Cross Cacanampunta Pass & Trek to Janca

Start the day crossing the Cacanampunta Pass (15,387') at the northern end of the range, keeping an eye out for Andean condors soaring overhead. From here, descend through a multicolored landscape to the beautiful, flat, and grassy campsite at Janca (13,943'). This is a short walking day to aid our acclimatization, but if you're still feeling energetic, you can take the short walk to Lake Mitucocha in the afternoon.

Hike Scenic Mountain Trails to Lake Carhuacocha

Today's pass, the Carhuac (15,091') is longer but not too steep, with splendid views of Yerupaja (21,765'), the highest mountain in the Huayhuash. Descending to the rim of the hanging valley, look down on a lake of deep turquoise. Our campsite below Lake Carhuacocha (13,549) offers an incredible vista of peaks and hanging glaciers, proving you don't need 26,000-foot peaks to have the most inspiring mountain scenery.

Full-Day Hike to Siula Pass

Wake up before dawn if you'd like to watch the sun rise over the lake. The sun's first rays catching the peak of Mount Yerupaja (21,765') certainly make the effort more than worthwhile. After breakfast, set off on a long but gradual climb up a beautiful valley surrounded by the snowcapped peaks and serene glacial lakes. Then, climb steeply to the top of the rocky Siula Pass (15,748') before descending to your camp for the night (14,271').

Hike to the Viconga Thermal Bath

Start your day with a gradual, three-hour climb towards the Portachuelo de Huayhuash pass (15,589'). From this beautiful vantage point, descend along the valley, passing grazing llama and sheep. After a walk beside the large Viconga Lake, take a short climb up to reach Viconga Thermal Baths (14,435'), a natural hotsprings, and your camp for the night.

Climb to Cuyoc Pass

Tackle a long, challenging day ascending the highest pass on the trek, Cuyoc Pass (16,404'). Stop to take in the marvelous views of the surrounding high mountains before descending down over a rocky section. Finally, hike along the valley to camp at Cuyoc (14,763).

Hike to Calinca Valley

Descend and then turn up the Sarapococha Valley to reach lakes Jurau and Sarapococha (14,704'). Set up camp in Calinca Valley (13,450'), not far from the base camp of author Joe Simpson before his climb of Siula Grande that resulted in the 1988 book, Touching the Void.

Climb to Huantiac

Retrace your steps down the Sarapococha Valley and drop to warmer climes, continuing to the remote village of Huayllapa (11,811), with beautiful views of the waterfalls. In the afternoon, climb steeply again to spend the night at Huantiac (14,271'), a high grazing meadow under the shadow of Diablo Mudo (the 'Mute Devil'). This is probably the hardest day, but tomorrow will be shorter and easier.

Cross Punta Tapush Pass

Enjoy an easy day crossing the Punta Tapush pass (15,583'), then descend to camp near Lake Susucocha (14,763'). Watch the sun set in the Mount Diablo Mudo.

Hike to Beautiful Laguna Jahuacocha

Walk down to Angoshcancha Valley, with its forest of quenual trees, then ascend to the steep and scree-covered Yaucha pass (15,748'). On a clear day, you'll get magnificent views of the highest peaks of the Huayhuash range and long-distance panoramas to the peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. After a long descent, reach Laguna Jahuacocha (13,451'), which lies beneath the glacier-covered west faces of Jerupaja, Jirishanca, Rasac, Rondoy, and El Toro and is widely held to be the scenic gem of the whole range.

Enjoy a Rest Day at Camp

Take a break from hiking in the indescribably beautiful setting of Laguna Jahuacocha. Enjoy the abundant bird life, spotting puna ibis, Andean geese, and more. There are some fine walks nearby, and you can choose to explore the area more if you wish.

Return to Huaraz

After breakfast, depart early to return to Huaraz. Ascend a steady but gradual climb up to Shullca Pass (14,763') and take a brief rest, taking in the surrounding Andean ranges. Then, descend down a steep, gravelly trail to Pocpa (11,482') to meet your private transportation to transfer back to Huaraz.

Tour Lima & Depart

After a short flight to Lima, take a tour that includes imposing colonial churches and mansions. Stop by the Larco Museum — located in an impressive 18th-century colonial mansion built over a 7th-century pyramid — to see a remarkable collection of pre-Columbian art. Enjoy lunch in the museum's restaurant, then return to the airport for your flight home.