10 Day Circuit All The Alpine Passes - Trekking & Climbing In Huaraz, Peru

10 Day Circuit The Alpine Routes

Duration:

10 days trekking

Grade:

Very Hard

Highest Point:

5050m / 16568ft

“The Lot”
Via Trapecio Pass, Siula Pass, Cerro San Antonio & Siula Base Camp

The Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit has been nominated in several guidebooks as one of the classic trekking circuits of the world.

The Huayhuash is a compact, rugged range of jagged, vertical summits, including the second highest peak in Peru, Yerupajá Grande (6634m), as well as half a dozen other peaks above six thousand metres.

Every day on this trek, hikers are treated to awesome views of towering snow capped peaks, glaciers and turquoise-blue trout-filled lakes. There are 8 passes to cross on this spectacular trek, the highest Trapecio Pass at 5050m / 16568ft

This trek is for the truly adventurous spirits – including three of the more rugged alpine type crossings around the Huayhuash Circuit and also Siula Base Camp with the opportunity to climb up to Cerro Gran Vista for amazing views of the famous Siula Grande. The donkey trains can’t pass through Siula Pass or Cerro San Antonio – taking another less rugged route – so it will just be you and your guide on these days – giving the trek a more “remote” feel

Important Note

re 2020 trek season – there occasionally has been a dispute between the various local Huayhuash communities that control access to the trekking routes and the campsites. It is possible that access via Trapecio Pass could be blocked for 2020 season. The alternative route would be to go via Viconga Thermal Baths and Cuyoc Pass which adds an extra day to the trek. If this should be the situation – we can omit the extra day spent at Cutatambo Camp for the Siula Base Camp hike to keep a 10 day trek

We hope that the Huayhuash communities will resolve this matter promptly and advise us if Trapecio route will be open – but it is possible that we might not know the situation until close to the departure time for your trek if the dispute is ongoing.

At December 2020 we are unsure of the situation re Trapecio Pass & access in the Cordillera Huayhuash – meetings will be held with the local communities re access when hiking resumes following the Coronavirus / Covid-19 pandemic

Note 1: Acclimatisation & Fitness

This is a VERY HARD trek and it is important that you are well acclimatised to the altitude before you depart from Huaraz to start the trek.

On the first day when you travel from Huaraz to Quartelhuain 4168m / 13675ft by road you have an altitude gain of 1100m / 3609ft in a single day and on the first day trekking you cross a pass of 4680m / 15354ft

We highly recommend three days (four nights) for acclimatisation in Huaraz, doing day hikes progressively gaining altitude to above 4000m to be well acclimatised for this trek.

If you start your trek from Quartelhuain at 4168m without sufficient acclimatisation, the risk of becoming unwell with altitude related problems during the first days of the trek is high

It is important to have good physical fitness and be able to hike up to 2 hours to the top of a high pass each day during the trek.

Trails on this trek are often steep – both ascending and descending and can be slippery & rocky in places. Trails are not formed paths and are not maintained, they are dirt trails also used by animals and are uneven underfoot.

The trail over Trapecio Pass is not a formed trail. Much of the way is route finding through tussock grasses and over moraine rock. You need to be comfortable with this type of hiking

After crossing the Cerro San Antonio range via Santa Rosa / Jurau Pass towards Siula Grande Base Camp there is a section of around 200m immediately below the pass where you descend down a steep shingle scree slope and you need to be comfortable with this type of alpine descent.

You should NOT consider this 10 day trek unless you have good physical fitness and are well acclimatised to the altitude.

Note 2

Walking times are average hiking times. The altitude affects people differently. Some people will be faster than the indicated times and others will be much slower

Note 3

The Cordillera Huayhuash is becoming known to be one of the most beautiful high altitude treks in the world. Although you are trekking through a remote area, you can expect that there will also be several other groups and also independent hikers on the route

Note 4

The Huayhuash trek route is all on community owned farmland. There are small farm houses and some farm animals (cattle, sheep, horses and sometimes alpacas & llamas) all along the trekking route, included surprisingly at the top of the high passes

Note 5

All land along the Cordillera Huayhuash trekking routes is privately owned community farmland (not National Park or Government owned). The local Huayhuash communities allow trekking groups to pass through and camp on their private land and we ask that all hikers respect their goodwill in allowing us to hike in the beautiful Cordillera Huayhuash by leaving no rubbish, taking care of farm animals and respecting the local people that we will meet along the trek route and in campsites. Each community charges access and camping fees for each campsite (included in trek fee). As part of the camping fee they provide toilets in the campsites.

Itinerary

Day A: Arrive Huaraz (3090m / 10138ft)
Day B & C & D: Acclimatization days in Huaraz, three days (4 nights) doing day hikes

Huaraz to Llamac via Chiquián by road

We drive from Huaraz to Chiquiàn, enjoying distant views of the awesome Huayhuash range from afar. From Chiquián we descend to a cactus-and-scrub environment and continue to the village of Llamac (3300m / 10827ft) and then into a wide U-shaped grassy valley with rolling hills and flanked by some broad expanses of quenual (polylepis sp.) forest. We camp at Quartelhuain. (4168m / 13675ft)

6 hours drive, 174kms

Quartelhuain to Laguna Mitucocha via Cacanan Punta Pass

This morning we cross our first pass, Cacanan Punta (4680m / 15354ft). Here, at the Continental Divide, we sometimes observe the Andean Condor flying overhead.

From the pass we have a view of the Lake Pucacocha. Then we descend down to the Quebrada Caliente and to the Jalca Plain and on to our camp at Janca (4242m / 13917ft) located in a beautiful plateau area at the foot of the stunning Jirishanka Grande peak, and its neighbours Rondoy and Ninashanca. If you have the energy, there’s the option this afternoon of walking around the lake Mitucocha or up to one of the nearby hanging valleys.

- The local community have requested that groups do not camp next to the lake to protect the grass for their animals in the area. The campsite is now 30 minutes hike down river from the lake in a flat area

Laguna Mitucocha to Laguna Carhuacocha via Punta Carhuac Pass

We flank the Jalca floodplain then ascend south to the Paso de Carhuac pass (4620m / 15157ft). From here an awesome panorama suddenly comes into view; a row of Huayhuash giants: Yerupajá Grande, the second highest mountain in Peru, Yerupajá Chico (6121m) and Siulá Grande (6344m), of “Touching the Void” fame.

From here we descend to the large Laguna Carhuacocha (4152m / 13622ft), with the chance en route of spotting Viscacha rodents among the moronic debris. We walk around the side of the lake, passing by some shepherds huts to arrive at the campsite by the lake. From our camp we look directly up the lake to the peaks and ice fields of the famous Siula Grande, Yerupajá Grande and Chico and Jirishanka Chico

Note

If the weather is good and you are feeling strong, we can take an alternative and far more demanding route between the Laguna Mitucocha and Carhuacocha lakes via a 4800m pass, with great close-up views of Jirishanca Chico and a beautiful deep-blue high lake Alcaycocha. There is no track to follow on the alternative route, and a short section of scrambling on rock has to be negotiated, so we only use this route for very fit and experienced trekkers.

Laguna Carhuacocha to Huayhuash

Via either SIULA PASS or CARNICERO PASS

Above Laguna Carhuacocha are the three spectacular Siula glacial lakes of Gangrajanca, Siula and Quesillococha at the foot of Yerupaja and Siula Grande mountains

Beyond the lakes is an alpine pass named Siula Pass at 4800m / 15748ft which is becoming an alternative route from Carhuacocha to Huayhuash

OPTION ONE: Siula Pass

Siula Pass to Huayhuash

First we walk around half an hour alongside Laguna Carhuacocha then we turn up the valley passing by some local farmers homes, following the same route from yesterday to Laguna Gangrajanca. The trail then starts climbing, steeply at times – passing by the three lakes Gangrajanca, Siula and Quesillococha and then climbing to 4800m Siula Pass. 5 hours from Carhuacocha to the top of the pass. The views of the mountains and glaciers during the ascent are very close and spectacular, and we often see avalanche ice floating in the lakes. This is an alpine crossing – some of the way is on loose shingle scree is steep in places – both going up and descending down from the pass. The descent to Laguna Carnicero and Huayhuash takes us across – or around – a vast flood plain of “cushion grass”. Those with sharp eyes may spot the graceful, elusive Vicuña – wild relative of the Alpaca – which live in this region.

3 hours from the pass to Huayhuash Camp, set among a sprinkling of local farm homes in the open Huayhuash valley (4340m / 14239ft)

Important Siula Pass is a good weather route. If there is bad weather, the guide will be recommending to go via Carnicero Pass. It is not safe to be on a remote high alpine pass in bad weather

Important The trek donkeys and rescue horse cannot go through Siula Pass, they must travel through Carnicero Pass. This means that during the day passing via Siula Pass you are not supported by the rescue horse or trek crew. In the event of any accident or illness, rescue and evacuation will be difficult and can take considerable time to arrange. You should only pass through this route if you are feeling strong, well acclimatised and are comfortable with alpine type hiking for a long day

OPTION TWO: Carnicero Pass

Laguna Carhuacocha to Huayhuash via Carnicero Pass

We leave Laguna Carhuacocha behind heading east, then turning up a side valley, ascend southwards towards the Paso Carnicero pass (4686m / 15374ft). It is not a difficult climb, although we will still feel the altitude. We make an easy descent, first passing by another beautiful lake Carnicero, then on to our camp located among a sprinkling of local farm homes in the open Huayhuash valley (4340m)

- Your guide will discuss with you when you arrive at Carhuacocha which option you prefer to take – it is possible for some people to decide to go via Siula Pass with your trek guide, while others can go via Carnicero pass with your trek cook

Huayhuash over Trapecio Pass to Elefante Campsite in Huanacpatay Valley

From Huayhuash camp we start a steady uphill climb towards Trapecio Pass. As we climb we have nice views of Mitococha and Barroso lagoons. Some sections of the trail are difficult to find as we are walking though ichu grass (tussock) and as we are getting closer to the pass the trail is across moraine rock. At the pass (5050m / 16568ft) we stop to enjoy stunning views of Trapecio, Puscanturpa and Cuyoc mountains and surrounding valleys. We then start the descent from the pass on an unmarked rock moraine route passing by a beautiful turquoise glacial lake Huanacpatay on the way. We continue the descent to our camp (named Elefante) in the Huanacpatay Valley at 4350m / 14272ft

This is one of the longest and toughest days of the trek – we recommend starting early

Approximately 8 hours

Elefante Camp to Cutatambo, via Cerro San Antonio & Santa Rosa Pass

From camp we climb to a pass (named Santa Rosa or also Jurau Pass) on the mountain range of Cerro San Antonio. This is a demanding day with some steep hiking, but by now you should be well acclimatised and feeling strong at altitude. After 2 hours we are on the top of the pass at 5000m / 16404ft, with fantastic views of all the giants of the Cordillera Huayhuash and the 3 lakes of Sarapococha, Santa Rosa & Jurau. We can also see the Siula Glacier which Joe Simpson crawled down in his epic battle for survival, and we see Siula Base Camp quite clearly in the distance.

The descent is initially steep on alpine scree for around 200m. It is good to have trekking poles for this section if you are not very comfortable with descending alpine scree. We then traverse & follow a cattle trail winding down to Lake Jurau and finally to our camp in the Quebrada Calinca at Cutatambo in Calinca Valley (4260m / 13976ft).

Free day for exploration

An extra day at Cutatambo. Today we can walk past the base camp of Siula Grande (Joe Simpson – “Touching The Void”) and visit the glacial lakes of Sarapococha and Santa Rosa with the option to climb to a view point on “Cerro Gran Vista” at around 5000m on the summit from where there are amazing views of Siula Grande and other mountains. Return to camp at Cutatambo

Cutatambo to Huatiac via Huayllapa Village

A harder day today as it is the only day on the trek where we make our climb UP to a campsite in the afternoon. We walk easily back down the Quebrada Calinca valley, which becomes the agricultural Quebrada Huayllapa valley (the first sign of crops for over a week). We continue until, just before the tiny village of Huayllapa 3600m / 11811ft (the first village since Llamac and last before we return to Llamac), we begin a hard climb in the afternoon of about 3½ hours to our campsite high up on the flat pasture of Huatiac (4265m / 13993ft).

Huatiac to Laguna Jahuacocha, via the Tapush & Yaucha Passes

A long, tough day, today sees us cross two passes. First we complete the climb to the Punta Tapush pass (4838m / 15872ft), then descend past Laguna Susucocha for one to 1½ hours to 4528m / 14856ft before turning east and climbing again to the Punta Yaucha (4800m / 15748ft) pass. During the descent the peaks of Rondoy, Jirishanca, Yerupajá, Rasac (6017m) and Sacra come into view. We follow the Quebrada Huacrish valley to its confluence with the Quebrada Jahuacocha valley and descend on zig-zags to our picturesque camp at the head of the beautiful Laguna Jahuacocha (4060m / 13320ft). Across the lake from our camp we enjoy one of the best panoramas in the Andes; the west face of the highest peaks in the range rising dramatically skyward. There are Jirishanca, Yerupajá Grande with its vast snaking glacier, Yerupajá Chico and Rondoy.

Walk from Jahuacocha to Llamac via the Llamac pass. Drive to Huaraz

After an early start and gentle descent for an hour, we start our gradual climb to the final pass, Pampa Llamac (4289m / 14072ft), from where we have our final views of much of the Huayhuash range. Then it is a long descent back to the Llamac valley and the village of Llamac (3300m / 10827ft). In Llamac the bus will be waiting to take us back to Huaraz and your hotel for that long-awaited hot shower!! We arrive in Huaraz at about 06:00pm.

- In Llamac the bus will be waiting to take us back to Huaraz and your hotel for that long-awaited hot shower!! We arrive in Huaraz at about 06:00pm.

Hiking Hours & Kms Hiked

Hiking hours are estimated times including rest breaks and lunch stop. Times are for our average groups based on past experience. Some people may be much faster and others slower.

Kms hiked are estimated.

Trek Roads

Access roads to and from treks are generally dirt mountain roads (not paved) and in some places can be bumpy. Road travel times are slower than you may expect for the kms travelled.

Print Copy / PDF trek description & more photos