Breakfast
Porridge, quinoa or cereal, with eggs, pancakes or toast and marmalade.
Huayhuash Short Trek to Laguna Jahuacocha, 4 or 5 Days
A special short trek to Laguna Jahuacocha, one of the most beautiful sites on the entire Cordillera Huayhuash circuit, for those who want the grandeur of the range but do not have time for a longer trek.
From the camp at the head of the lake you look across to the dramatic west faces of Jirishanca, Yerupajá and Rondoy — one of the best panoramas in the Andes. A horse-trek option is available for a more relaxing holiday.
A short trek to the range’s finest lake
- Grade: Medium to Hard
- Duration: 4 days (option 5)
- Highest point: Rondoy pass 4750m
- Highlight: Laguna Jahuacocha
- Horse-trek option available
Although not technical, the altitude makes it medium to hard: you need above-average fitness and to be comfortable with a sustained two-to-three hour climb and long descents. It is a perfect short escape into the Huayhuash and a lovely place to mark a special occasion. A horse-trek option suits those who would rather ride the climbs.
High Altitude Tactical Itinerary
Review the route day by day: altitudes, distances and acclimatisation.
Huaraz to Quartelhuain via Huallanca, afternoon hike
Walking time
4½ hours drive + 1½ to 2 hours hikeHighest point
4600mWe drive the paved highway towards La Unión, turning off at Huallanca onto a dirt road that climbs to the Cuncush pass (4600m) for lunch. A relaxing afternoon hike descends the hillside, with first glimpses of the Huayhuash, for 1½ to 2 hours to camp at Quartelhuain (4200m).
How your Huayhuash trek runs
A private trek with your own crew, from the drive out of Huaraz to the day you walk back into Llamac. The community access and camping fees are included.
Included in your trek
-
A licensed trekking guide, a cook and an assistant (one for 3 or 4 clients, two for 5 or more)
-
Donkeys and donkey drivers to carry your bag, the tents and the food
-
Five meals a day, from fresh produce; vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free on request
-
Twin-share tents, dining tent with table and chairs, foam mat and inflatable Thermarest
-
Private transport to the trailhead and back
-
Community access and camping fees
Not included
-
Hotels in Lima and Huaraz, and meals in town
-
Getting from Lima to Huaraz and back
-
Sleeping bag (we can arrange hire)
-
Acclimatisation day hikes before the trek
-
Travel, rescue and cancellation insurance
-
Tips for the crew
Plan your trek
Ask about this trek
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are. You will hear back from the family that runs the trip, with honest advice on acclimatisation and the route, and a full price for your group.
How we price this trek. It depends on how many of you there are and how many days you trek, and the price per person comes down as the group grows. The community fees are included, and our quote is valid for 31 days.
When I started inquiring about trips many companies either didn’t respond or took a week or more, but right from the first prompt email Peruvian Andes Adventures was professional and thorough.
Essential Trekking Notes & Rules
Grading
Although not technically difficult, the high altitude makes the trek medium to hard. You need above-average fitness, comfort with a sustained two-to-three hour climb and the ability to manage long descents on unformed, uneven trails.
Horse-Trek Option & 5 Day Option
This route suits horse riding for those who would rather not climb the passes on foot — ask us for details. An optional fifth day can be added to relax at Laguna Jahuacocha or take one of the day-hike options.
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.
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.
Five meals a day, at 4,000 metres
Good food is how your body keeps going at altitude. Every year, before the season starts, our cooks spend a course learning new trekking dishes, and on the trail they cook from fresh vegetables, fruit, chicken and meat. All drinking water is boiled. Menus change with each cook's favourite dishes; this is a typical day.
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten-free
Lactose-free
Trail snack box
Nuts and dried fruit, biscuits, chocolate or sweets, a piece of fruit and a small fruit juice.
Cooked lunch
Protein, carbohydrate and vegetables — say a tuna and tomato salad with carrot, cauliflower, broccoli and rice — with herbal tea.
Afternoon tea
Popcorn, crackers, cheese, spreads and nuts, with extra treats like wontons and guacamole.
Dinner
A fresh soup (never from a packet), a main of chicken, fish, meat or a vegetarian dish with pasta, rice or potatoes and vegetables, and dessert.
What our Huayhuash trekkers say
"We were very particular about the itinerary and they work with us to make our specific desires happen… Our cook made the most amazing Peruvian food, and it may be the only trek where I gained weight."
Brian (USA) — Cordillera Huayhuash Trek, May 2018
"Our guide David is very knowledgeable in the history, flora, fauna and peaks. It’s amazing how he remembered the exact elevations of all the peaks we saw!"
Carolyn (Canada) — Cordillera Huayhuash Trek, June 2018
"Giovanni always making sure that I had protein at every meal! … I have been vegan for 16 years… I can’t believe that over 10 days I didn’t touch my emergency supply!"
Tamsin (UK) — Cordillera Huayhuash Trek, September 2017
What to pack for the cold
On a clear night in the Huayhuash the air can drop to between −5 and −12°C, and the sheltered campsites are the coldest. The ground is colder still, so bring a good four-season sleeping bag rated to at least −20 to −25°C, and a down jacket for the evenings.
- Your trek bag travels by donkey: a soft duffel or backpack, never a hard suitcase, up to 15kg.
- Line it with a waterproof bag so your sleeping bag stays dry if it rains.
- We provide the tent, a foam mat and an inflatable Thermarest. If you have a good Thermarest of your own, it is worth bringing.
- No sleeping bag? We can arrange one for hire in Huaraz.
Getting there & when to go
From Lima there is one LATAM flight a day, leaving at 7am and landing in Huaraz at 8.10am, or an eight-hour tourist-class bus with Cruz del Sur or Movil Tours, by day or overnight.
The best months are May to September. June and July are the busiest. May and September are quieter, and May is green and full of wild flowers after the rains. Weather in the Andes is changing, so come ready for cloud and rain in any month.
Ready for the Huayhuash?
Tell us your dates and group size, and we will send you a full price and everything it includes.
Related routes
More routes in the same spirit — the same range or the same kind of trip. Tap any one for the full itinerary, or write to us and we will tailor your own.
4750m
Moderate
Huayhuash Mini Trek (ex Huánuco) — 8 Days
Duration
8 Days trekkingBest Season
May - Sept
4750m
Moderate
Inti Raymi Sun Festival & Huayhuash Mini Trek — 9 Days
Duration
9 Days trekking (departs Huaraz 26 July)Best Season
May - Sept
5000m
Very Hard
Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit via Viconga & Cuyoc — 9 Days
Duration
9 Days trekking (no rest days)Best Season
May - SeptFrequently Asked Questions: Huayhuash Short Trek to Laguna Jahuacocha, 4 or 5 Days
Essential answers about this high-altitude route.
Yes. It reaches Laguna Jahuacocha — arguably the most beautiful site on the whole circuit — in just four days, ideal for those without time for a longer trek.
Yes. A horse-trek option is available for those who would rather ride the climbs to and from the passes while still enjoying the beauty of the Huayhuash.
Graded medium to hard: not technical, but the altitude and the Rondoy pass (4750m) demand above-average fitness and comfort with a sustained climb and long descents.
Trusted by Mountaineers Worldwide
