Huayhuash Circuit Hiking, Peru

Recommended Route

There are many ways to hike the Huayhuash area. The quickest is Llamac to Cajatambo — 5 or 6 days. You could hike this short version with your own pack.

But the best route is the long, difficult classic Huayhuash Circuit — a minimum of 10 nights in a tent — described below:

Night zero — sleep Huaraz 3090m

... early morning bus to Chiquian town 3400m
... connect by bus to Llamac village 3300m
... meet your arriero / guide. Load the animals.
... hike via Pampa Llamac pass (Macrash Punta 4272m)
... note the altitude gain from Huaraz
Night 1 — tent Inacahuain, Laguna Yahuachocha 4050m
... also called Laguna Jahuacocha

... hike via Punta Rondoy pass 4750m
Night 2 — tent Quartelhuain 4170m

Night 3 — tent Laguna Mitococha 4230m

... hike via Carhuac (Yanapunta) pass 4640m
Night 4 — tent Carhuacocha 4138m

... hike via Siula Punta pass 4834m, the most difficult day, or ...
... easier alternative via Punta Carnicero 4600m
Night 5 — tent Huayhuash 4345m or Laguna Carnicero
... at Huayhuash say hello to Armando, a good man. Check with him before crossing the pass next day. Most robberies occur on this the Eastern side of the Huayhuash.

... hike via Portachuelo de Huayhuash pass 4785m
... this is where 4 hikers were shot September 2004
Night 6 — tent near Atuscancha hotsprings 4365m

... hike via Punta Coyoc pass 4950m
Night 7 — tent Quebrada Cuyoc 4500m
... get ready to climb San Antonio pass next day, or ...
... skip San Antonio pass & camp further down the valley

... via San Antonio pass; difficult, beautiful, 5000+m
Night 8 — tent Cutatambo 4265m
... from Cutatambo side trip to Siula Grande (Touching the Void)

... long day via Huayappa village
Night 9 — tent Huatiaq 4253m
... or any of similar alternatives along Quebrada Huancho

Night 10 — tent Inacahuain, Laguna Yahuachocha 4050m
... same spot you camped night 1
... many groups spend 2 nights here, fishing & feasting

... hike back via the easier water irrigation pipe
Night 11 — sleep Llamac village hostel
... some hikers rise early, hustle back to town to catch the buses to Huaraz. It is possible.

... morning bus to Chiquian, connect to Huaraz
Night 12 — sleep Huaraz 3090m

Huayhuash is a very complicated hike. We suggest you print this page & compare it against other suggested routes. Buy the Lonely Planet Trekking guidebook in advance.

Our route is very similar to Lonely Planet. The major difference is we recommend you try San Antonio pass, LP avoids it.

In Patagonia we could hike until 11PM at night. But here close to the equator it gets dark early year round.

Many arrieros prefer you hike the route which is easiest for their animals, easier than our recommendation. Many days we sent the animals on the easier route while we hiked more difficult high routes with day packs.

You might change this itinerary based on local advice. For example, we camped at Huayhuash campsite rather than Laguna Carnicero because horses had been stolen at Carnicero in 2004. Huayhuash was considered safer by our arriero.