When should I hike Huayhuash?

The best time to hike is the May through September dry season.

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Should I hike off-season?

There is no one to stop you trying any month.

In the wet season, snow on the high passes may force you to turn back.

Avoid February & March, normally the wettest months.

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What is the weather like?

The nearby Cordillera Blanca enjoys probably the best weather in the world for high alpine peaks, May through September. Hikers get weeks of clear skies at a time.

Unfortunately the Huayhuash has it’s own micro-climate more affected by proximity to the Amazon. Here it is entirely unpredictable, day-to-day, hour-to-hour.

We learned to wait for as long as we could at the top of each pass. Invariably the clouds hiding the highest peaks eventually blew away, allowing us to take pictures from the highest vantage.

Expect bizarre and varied weather every day. Mornings are not much clearer than afternoons as they typically are elsewhere in the Andes.

Being close to the equator, the temperature is fairly stable year round. The hiking season in the central andes is actually during the South American winter — only because this is the dry season in the Andes.

Bring clothing & sleeping bag rated to -15°C to be on the safe side. Certainly you will have mornings well below freezing.

We recommend you rent a down coat in Peru if you are unsure you have warm enough clothing. It is light weight & makes a great pillow.