Where does the trek start?

Either at Quartelhuain (4168m), reached by road, or lower at Llamac (3300m) with an extra acclimatisation day hiking up to Quartelhuain. Good acclimatisation is essential given the early high pass.

What is the Viconga highlight?

Open-air thermal hot springs beside Laguna Viconga, a welcome hot soak midway through the circuit. Bring a swimsuit and a small entrance fee.

Expedition Dossier

Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit via Viconga & Cuyoc — 10 or 11 Days

Q: Siula pass or Carnicero pass?

The Siula pass (4800m) is a spectacular good-weather alpine route on scree, unsupported by the donkeys and rescue horse. Carnicero (4686m) is easier and the bad-weather choice. Your guide decides with you at Carhuacocha.

Repeatedly named one of the classic trekking circuits of the world, the Cordillera Huayhuash is a compact, rugged range of jagged, vertical summits — among them Yerupajá Grande (6634m), the second highest peak in Peru, and half a dozen others above 6000m.

Every day brings towering snow peaks, hanging glaciers and turquoise, trout-filled lakes.

There are 8 passes to cross, the highest at Cuyoc (5017m), and the route passes the open-air thermal baths of Viconga for a well-earned hot soak.

Duration

10 or 11 Days trekking

Grade

Hard

Highest Point

5017m

Cordillera Huayhuash · Viconga thermal baths

The classic circuit, hot springs and Cuyoc

Grade: Hard
Duration: 10 or 11 days
Highest point: Cuyoc 5017m
Passes: 8
Highlight: Viconga hot springs
Above 4000m throughout

Not technical, but the length and the number of high passes make it Hard: you need above-average fitness and to be comfortable with sustained two-to-three hour climbs and long descents. There are two start points (Llamac or Quartelhuain) and rest days at Laguna Carhuacocha to enjoy the Siula lakes.

Expedition Logistics

Essential Trekking Notes & Rules

Trek Start Point & Acclimatisation

There are two start points. Starting at Quartelhuain (4168m) means a 1100m road gain in a day and a 4680m pass on day one, so three days of acclimatisation hikes in Huaraz are strongly recommended. Starting lower at Llamac (3300m) adds a valuable acclimatisation day hiking up to Quartelhuain.

Siula Pass or Carnicero Pass

From Laguna Carhuacocha to Huayhuash you can cross the spectacular alpine Siula pass (4800m, good weather only and unsupported by donkeys/rescue horse) or the easier Carnicero pass (4686m). Your guide decides on the day with you.

10 or 11 Day Option

The 10-day trek has one rest day and the 11-day two; the extra rest day is taken at Carhuacocha or Jahuacocha with spectacular optional day hikes.

Community-Owned Land

The entire Huayhuash circuit crosses privately owned community farmland, not a national park. Communities allow groups to pass and camp and charge access and camping fees (included in the trek fee), providing toilets at campsites. Please leave no rubbish and respect the local people and their animals.

Trails & Terrain

Trails are unformed, unmaintained dirt paths also used by animals and uneven underfoot, often steep both ascending and descending and slippery or rocky in places.

Hiking Hours & Kms

Hiking hours are estimates including breaks and the lunch stop, for our average groups; the altitude affects people differently, so some are faster and others much slower. Distances are estimated. Access roads are unpaved and bumpy, so road travel is slower than the distance suggests.

Route Progression

High Altitude Tactical Itinerary

Review the route day by day: altitudes, distances and acclimatisation.

Technical Timeline // Day 01

Huaraz to Quartelhuain via Chiquián and Llamac by road

Distance

174 km drive

Time Window

6 hours drive

Max Altitude

4200m

Delta Profile

We drive from Huaraz to Chiquián, then past Llamac (3300m) into a wide U-shaped grassy valley flanked by quenual forest to camp at Quartelhuain (4200m).

Bespoke Cross Selling

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