Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit
Peru, Trek & Walk, 21 days - from $3,125 (land only)
- One of the `Classic Walks of the World`
- Trekking on a Himalayan scale
- The setting for `Touching the Void`
- Quechua Indian culture
- Fantastic trekking holiday in Peru
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 and the perfect area for a high level trekking holiday. The compact massif of the Huayhuash is famed for its dramatic mountain scenery, typified by fluted ice faces and knife-edge ridges. A stunning high-level trail makes an improbable circuit of this mountain group and provides trekking on a Himalayan scale. The area of the Huayhuash is also abundant in mineral wealth and every year new mining roads appear in the mountains. Our local knowledge and contacts in this area from more than 12 years of continuous operation, mean that we can adapt and maintain a flexible itinerary to avoid these roads. Presenting a rewarding challenge to regular hillwalkers, KE’s unique variation of this classic trek crosses a succession of high passes and takes us into remote valleys for views of Peru’s highest peaks, including Yerupaja (6634m) and Huascaran (6768m). We also visit Siula Grande, scene of Joe Simpson’s 'Touching the Void' epic. Towards the end of the trek, there is the option to make the straightforward ascent of Cerro Jyamy (5200m), which affords views of the entire range. With superb campsites beside green glacial lakes and the charming company of our Quechua Indian crew, this trip offers a fantastic South American experience.
Is this holiday for you?
This trekking holiday offers a variety of 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 particularly committing. However, the Huayhuash trek is a challenging trek on account of its overall length and the fact that there are several high passes on our route. We have allowed time for acclimatisation, prior to setting off on trek and there are rest / exploration days built into the itinerary.
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