Cordillera Huayhuash Mini Trek

This short circuit takes us through the finest views and most beautiful campsites of the Cordillera Huayhuash circuit. We spend a night camping on the expansive open pampa of Huanuco Pampa and visiting the Inca Ruins of Huanuco Viejo. Huanuco Viejo was an important Inca settlement and was a major stopover point on the Inca route that runs from Cuzco through the north of Peru.

Trip Information
Grade: Moderate
Length: 8 Days Walk
Distance: 65 Km
Maximum Altitude: 4850m/15912ft
Average: 4100m/13451ft
Season: April – September

Itinerary
Day 1: Huaraz – Huallanca – La Union – Huanuco Pampa
You are picked up at your accommodation and begin the journey with a spectacular scenic drive along the Callejon de Huaylas Valley to our camp at the Inca ruins of Huanuco Viejo 3700m/12139ft. There are opportunities for photo stops along the way. We spend the afternoon exploring the Inca ruins. 5 hours drive.

Day 2: Huanuco Pampa – Queropalca – Laguna Carhuacocha Lake
Drive to Queropalca 3830m/12565ft which is the starting point of the trek, passing through the villages of Santa Rosa, Jesus, Banos. From Queropalca we start ascending gently to our camp at the beautiful Laguna Carhuacocha 4150m/13615ft with magnificent views of Nevados Jirishanca, Yerupaja and Siula Mountains. 3 hours drive and 4 hours walk.

Day 3: Extra Day at Laguna Carhuacocha Lake
We stay another night at Carhuacocha to enjoy the mountain views. We take a day hike up to the base of Yerupaja and Siula Grande where there are 3 mountain lakes. Sometimes we see avalanches coming off the glaciers into the lakes. 4 hours walk.

Day 4: Carhuacocha – Carhuac Pass – Janca 
A steady ascent on a good trail to cross our first pass Paso Carhuac 4630m/15190ft and then descend to our next camp at Janca 4150m/13615ft. 5 hours walk. From our camp we have close views of the big peaks Ronday, Jirishanca, Ninashanca

Day 5: Mitucocha – Cacananpunta – Matacancha
In the morning we cross Cacananpunta 4690m/15387ft and descend to Quebrada Cuncush valley with wide expanses of rolling grassy hills and camp at Matacancha 4100m/13451. 6 to 7 hours.

Day 6: Matacancha – Rondoy Punta Pass – Laguna Jahuacocha Lake
We ascend towards Paso Rondoy Punta 4750m/15583ft pass from here there are awesome panoramas of the big mountains of the Cordillera Huayhuash with Yerupaja dominating the skyline. We then descend to our camp at the beautiful Laguna Jahuacocha 4050m/13287ft lake passing Laguna Solterococha. 7 – 8 hours walk.

Day 7: Rest Day
We stay an extra day at Laguna Jahuacocha. We can take a day hike up to Yaucha pass 4850m/15912ft to have views of the other side of the Cordillera Huayhuash Range.

Day 8: Jahuacocha – Pampa Llamac – Llamac – Huaraz
We descend the valley before ascending to our final pass Paso Pampa Llamac 4300m/14107ft from where we have our last close views of the Huayhuash range. We then descend to Llamac where our vehicle will be waiting to take us back to Huaraz. 5 hours walk and 4 hours drive.

For more information and prices contact us.

Three of us undertook the Huayhuash Mountains mini trek in August 2013, what an experience and what a place – truly awesome! The trip came together with thanks to Rodolfo; he assisted with pre-trip arrangements and upon us arriving in Huaraz that assistance continued. His extensive local knowledge helped us with acclimatization walks and public transport. Rodolfo’s guidance and pace during the trek was excellent, as was his back up team (donkey driver & cook) who provided a great service! Perminder, England