Trekking

Huayhuash Trek 6 Days

Booking Overview Highlights Includes/Excludes Cancellation Faqs Services Reviews

Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Altitud: 4,700 m / 16,076 ft
Route: Circular trek through the Cordillera Huayhuash
Availability: April to October
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
People per Guide: 4

The Huayhuash Trek 6 Days is an unforgettable high-altitude adventure through one of the most remote and breathtaking mountain ranges in the Peruvian Andes. This shortened version of the legendary Huayhuash Circuit is perfect for travelers seeking dramatic alpine scenery, challenging mountain passes, and authentic cultural encounters in a limited timeframe.

During this trek, you will hike through pristine valleys, cross high mountain passes above 4,700 meters, and enjoy stunning views of iconic peaks such as Yerupajá, Jirishanca, Siula Grande, and Rondoy. Along the way, you will discover turquoise glacial lakes, crystal-clear streams, and vast high-altitude landscapes that remain largely untouched by mass tourism.

The journey also offers meaningful interaction with traditional Andean communities, where local shepherds maintain centuries-old lifestyles. Nights are spent camping beneath star-filled skies, surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains, creating an immersive wilderness experience.

Designed for adventurous trekkers with good physical condition, the Huayhuash Trek 6 Days combines natural beauty, cultural richness, and physical challenge, delivering one of the most rewarding trekking experiences in Peru.

Itinerary

Day 01: Huaraz – Cuartelhuain (4180m) – Cacanan Punta Pass (4700m) – Mitucocha (4300m).

Duration: 4-5 hours by transport, approximately 5 hours of hiking.

Distance: 10 km

Our trekking adventure begins in the Huayhuash Mountain Range. We will pick you up from your hotel and head south of Huaraz, passing through the towns of Chiquian and Llamac. During our journey, we will pass through traditional Andean villages with typical Quechua houses and rich agricultural lands. After 4-5 hours of travel, we will arrive at Cuartelhuain (4300 m).
We begin our trek in Cuartelhuain and reach the Cacananpunta Pass (4700 m) after 2.5 hours. Here, the continental divide marks the watershed from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean and the Amazon. Sometimes, if we are lucky, we may spot the Andean condor soaring overhead.

Meals: Lunch/Dinner

Day 02: Mitucocha – Carhuac Pass (4650 m) – Carhuacocha (4150 m)

Duration: 5-6 hours approx.
Distance: 12 km

This day will begin with another uphill hike to Fossil Pass at 4800 m. A short detour can be made to a viewpoint with a spectacular view of Peru's second highest mountain. We will pass by Alcaycocha Lagoon and camp at Carhuacocha.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 03: Carhuacocha – Siula pass (4850 m) – Huayhuash (4300 m).

Duration: 7-8 hours approx.
Distance: 13 km

Today we begin by ascending the challenging trail to the Siula Pass at 4800m.
This day is more demanding, but truly rewarding for the panoramic views that surround us.
On the way to the high pass, we stop at a viewpoint from where we get breathtaking views of the famous three Huayhuash lagoons with an overwhelming panorama of the summit.
Then we descend, passing near Carnicero Lagoon, and then reach our campsite in Huayhuash.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 04: Huayhuash – Trapecio pass 5000m – Cuyoc or elephant field (4400 m).

Duration: 6-7 hours approx.
Distance: 11 km

This day will be one of the most challenging, but not impossible. After breakfast, we begin our trek to the highest point, called Trapecio Pass.
Some sections of the trail are difficult to find as we walk through ichu grass (Andean grass), and as we approach the pass, the trail traverses moraine rock.
From here, looking southeast, we see a new collection of nearby snow-capped peaks.
We will stop to enjoy breathtaking views of Trapecio, Puscanturpa, and Cuyoc mountains and the surrounding valleys.
This viewpoint is considered the fourth most beautiful viewpoint in Huayhuash.
We then begin the descent from the pass along an unmarked moraine trail, passing a beautiful turquoise glacial lake along the way.
We continue the descent to our campsite at Cuyoc (Elephant).

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 05: Cuyoc pampa – San San Antonio pass (5000m) – Cutatambo – Huayllapa town (3490m)

Duration: 6-7 hours approx.
Distance: 18 km

From the campsite, we ascend to a pass on Cerro San Antonio.
This is a challenging day with some steep trails, but by this point, you should be well acclimatized and feeling strong at altitude.
After 2 hours, we reach the summit with fantastic views of all the giants of the Huayhuash mountain range and the three lakes of Sarapococha and Jurau. We can also see the Siula Glacier, where Joe Simpson famously touched the void.
Finally, in the village of Huayllapa, we have the option to recharge our batteries, rent a place to shower, and optionally book a hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 06: Huayllapa (3490m) – Cajatambo (3370m) – Barranca

Duration: Approximately 7 hours. Transportation included.

We will wake up very early this morning to take transportation to the coast of Peru, stopping briefly in the town of Cajatambo for breakfast.
The journey is long, with a winding road descending to the Pan-American Highway and continuing to the city of Barranca.
Transportation will drop you off at the bus terminal for your trip to Lima that same day.
Here, you and the staff will part ways as they begin their return journey to Huaraz.

End of services.