PERU - Cordillera Huayhuash
One of the 'Classic Walks of the World' - Trekking on a Himalayan scale - The setting for 'Touching the Void' - Quechua Indian culture - Optional ascent of Cerro Jyamy - KE Leader and full trek crew
6 nights hotels and lodges, 15 nights camping, 16 days DEMANDING trekking, max altitude - c. 5200m. Some meals not included.
demanding
Peru’s Cordillera Huayhuash, together with its larger and better-known northern neighbour, the Cordillera Blanca, provides arguably the best trekking and climbing in the whole of South America. Only a little over 25 miles from north to south, the Huayhuash is a remarkable mountain group, which includes a host of spectacular peaks, culminating in the mighty Yerupaja, at 6634 metres, the second highest peak in Peru. The typically knife-edged ridges and fluted ice faces of the Huayhuash peaks make for some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the world. Whereas the trekking routes in the Cordillera Blanca tend to follow valley routes between the mountains, the compact and closely-packed peaks of the Huayhuash are best viewed from the stunning high-level trail which makes an improbable circuit of the massif. This brilliant, one hundred mile-long trekking route crosses 12 high passes, and provides the most complete circuit of the Huayhuash possible. Starting out with a couple of days for sightseeing and acclimatising at the pleasant town of Huaraz, our trek begins at the nearby Quechua Indian village of Quisipata. Climbing from the picturesque farmland and Indian villages of the Andean foothills, into a world of high peaks, tumbling glaciers and blue glacial lakes, this is one of the best and most varied treks in the South American continent. To provide even more variety, and also to access one of the finest viewpoints in the area, we have added the optional element of a climb to the summit of the peak known as Cerro Jyamy at around 5000 metres (16,400 feet). This straightforward ridge climb is within the capabilities of anyone who is proposing to undertake the Huayhuash trek.
This trek offers a variety of trekking conditions, ranging from good trails between villages in the sparsely inhabited high valleys on the perimeter of the Huayhuash, to steep paths across scree on the approach to the highest passes on our route. It is possible that the highest passes may have a light covering of snow. Overall, the trekking is straightforward and not very committing. However, the Huayhuash trek is at the upper end of our DEMANDING grade, on account of the overall length of the trek and the fact that there are twelve high passes on our route. We have allowed time for acclimatisation, prior to setting off on trek and there are 3 rest / exploration days built into the itinerary.
The trip pages are only a brief summary of the details available within our trip dossiers. It is important that you read the full day to day description and further information for this trip before making your booking.
Download a dossier for PERU - Cordillera Huayhuash
