Siula Grande and the Cordillera Huayhuash Trek

Begin your journey with a flight to Lima, followed by a Lima Airport Arrival Transfer that eases you into the city. Settle in at Hotel Allpa, a carefully selected stay in the Miraflores district, close to the ocean and within walking distance of restaurants and the artisan market. Miraflores provides a calm, safe setting for the first and last nights of the trip, giving you a comfortable base to rest after travel and a welcoming introduction to Lima.

An early flight from Lima to Huaraz brings the group to the Cordillera Blanca, followed by a private transfer to the village of Mancos and check-in at La Casita de mi Abuela. After breakfast, a short drive reaches Mamapampa, where an earth offering precedes an acclimatization walk back to Mancos beneath Huascarán. The day closes with a visit to the Archaeological and Historical Museum of Mancos before dinner and the first night at altitude.

An early private transfer heads into the Llanganuco Valley between the Huandoy and Huascarán massifs, passing emerald-green lakes before reaching Cebollapampa, the Laguna 69 trailhead. From there, the classic acclimatization hike climbs roughly 700m over about 14km to Laguna 69 at 4600m, a striking blue lake beneath Chacraraju. The descent follows the same route back to the vehicle, returning to Mancos. The day begins with breakfast at La Casita de mi Abuela, a simple inn with private bathrooms that serves as the group’s base for Cordillera Blanca foothill acclimatization.

After a transfer from Mancos to the Shansha Bridge, the day begins with the Wilcacocha Lake hike in the Cordillera Negra, climbing past cultivated plots and rural communities to the lake at 3750m, with views toward Ranrapalca and Huantsan. The route then continues by road through Chiquian, gateway to the Cordillera Huayhuash, and on to Matacancha at 4170m. There, the first trek camp is installed, marking the start of the full-support camping circuit before the Huayhuash trek begins the following morning.

The trek from Matacancha to Lake Mitucocha begins after breakfast, crossing a pass on a limestone crest to the eastern side of the Cordillera Huayhuash. A steep descent leads through vast expanses to Lake Mitucocha, set against the north faces of Jirishanca and Rondoy. The day ends with hot tea while watching the landscape before nightfall. Camp is at Laguna Mitucocha campsite in Peru’s Áncash Region, offering views of Andean peaks and serene waters for adventurous nature enthusiasts and serene seekers.

Trek from Lake Mitucocha to Lake Carhuacocha via the Yanayana Pass, climbing to 4650m for views over surrounding glaciers before descending past the Yanayana waterfalls. Arriving at Lake Carhuacocha (4100m), the route opens onto a magnificent emerald-green lake beneath the east faces of Siula Grande, Yerupaja Chico and Jirishanca. The day ends at the Laguna Carhuacocha campsite in Peru’s Áncash Region, surrounded by glacial lakes and Andes peaks.

Trek from Lake Carhuacocha over the Siula Pass to Huayhuash Village, one of the most beautiful stages of the Cordillera Huayhuash. The route climbs the Quebrada Gangranjanca past three lakes: iceberg-covered Lake Gangrajanca below the Yerupaja glacier, deep blue Laguna Siula, and turquoise Laguna Quesillococha in a glacial cirque. From the Siula pass, high summits line up beneath the glaciers, then the descent opens into the Huayhuash valley, passing Laguna Carnicero and the Carnicero, Jurau and Trapecio peaks before reaching the isolated village of Huayhuash and its campsite.

Trek from Huayhuash to Hatun Cuyoc via the Trapecio Punta Pass, climbing south along the main valley path and, near the Mitococha lakes, taking a little-frequented trail up towards Trapecio. The wild Trapecio Punta pass rewards the group with panoramic views over the Cordillera Raura’s summits and glacial domes. The descent enters the Huanacpatay valley beneath the Puscanturpa nevados, passes Lake Huanacpataycocha, and ends in the alpine pastures of Hatun Cuyoc, where you camp beneath the Puscanturpa nevados.

Trek over Paso San Antonio to Cutatambo on the Huayhuash Circuit. A steep climb reaches Paso San Antonio (5050m), opening views of the Yerupaja and Siula Grande glaciers, nevado Sarapo and distant Lake Sarapacocha, the landscape of Joe Simpson’s Touching the Void. Descend a poorly marked trail down the steep northern slope, passing flowering lupins, to Cutatambo (4265m). Cutatambo Campsite in Peru’s Áncash Region offers breathtaking views and a serene base for adventurers.

Trek from Cutatambo to Huatiac via Huayllapa and Quebrada Huancho, the longest walking day in distance at 17km. Begin with a descent of the valley to its confluence with quebrada Huayllapa, ending at the village of Huayllapa. From there, two to three hours of climbing up quebrada Huancho lead to tents pitched in alpine pastures around 4300m at Huatiac. This is a valley-floor descent followed by a sustained climb. Huatiac Campsite offers mountain views on the Huayhuash Circuit in Peru’s Áncash Region.

Trek over the Yaucha Punta Passes, crossing two small passes separated by a short descent, with far-reaching views over the north-east faces of the high summits. Descend into quebrada Huacrish to reach the twin lakes Jahuacocha and Solteracocha, described as true mirrors reflecting the glaciers of Yerupaja, Yerupaja Chico, Rondoy and the elegant Jirishanca. The stage ends at the Laguna Jahuacocha campsite in the Áncash Region, a serene resting spot on the Huayhuash Circuit with breathtaking views.

After breakfast, the final trek stage from Jahuacocha to Llamac via Macrash Punta begins with a flat trail along the rio Jahuacocha before climbing to the Macrash Punta pass at 4300m. Descending past Pampa Llamac, you reach Llamac village, where a generic lunch and dinner are available. A private vehicle then returns the group to Huaraz over mountain roads, leaving the muleteer and cook team behind. Check-in at Hotel Churup offers a hot shower and the first night under a roof since Matacancha, closing the Cordillera Huayhuash trek.

Day 13 returns from Huaraz to Lima by regular comfortable bus, a journey of about nine to nine and a half hours, with time to watch the landscapes recede as you move away from the mountains; the source notes this bus return is deliberate, for ecological reasons. On arrival in the Peruvian capital, check in at Hotel Allpa, a carefully selected hotel in the Miraflores district, close to the ocean and within easy walking distance of restaurants and the artisan market, a calm, safe frame for the trip’s final night.

After breakfast included in the package, enjoy free time in Lima’s Miraflores district, walking near the ocean and visiting its artisan market for a quiet last morning in the city. A private-vehicle transfer then takes the group from the Miraflores hotel to Lima Airport, about half an hour to an hour, for the international return flight to Paris. The day closes the journey, bookending a mountain-focused trip with a final coastal stay before flying home.