Is this trek suitable for families?

Yes. It is one of our less demanding treks and is ideal for families and children, with both pony-trek and llama-trek options available.

What is Chavín de Huántar?

It is the religious and administrative centre of the Chavín culture (around 1000–300 BC), Peru’s oldest major culture, famous for an underground labyrinth of chambers, tunnels and canals.

Do I need to plan around opening days?

Yes. The Chavín ruins are closed on Mondays, so plan your dates so the trek does not finish there on a Monday.

Expedition Dossier

Olleros to Chavín Trek — 3 Days

A short, relaxing cultural trek following an ancient pre-Inca pathway through a remote area of the Cordillera Blanca, far from the busier circuits, where local communities still live much as their ancestors did.

It ends at the enigmatic ruins of Chavín de Huántar, the feline-worshipping religious centre of Peru’s oldest major culture (around 1000–300 BC), with its labyrinth of underground chambers and tunnels.

Duration

3 Days

Grade

Easy to Medium

Highest Point

4700m

Pre-Inca trails · Cordillera Blanca

A short cultural trek to Chavín

Grade: Easy to Medium
Duration: 3 days
Highest point: Punta Yanashallash 4700m
Highlight: Chavín de Huántar
Family-friendly: pony & llama options

This is one of the less demanding treks we offer, ideal for families and children as well as more energetic walkers who want to stay away from busier trails. Pony-trek and llama-trek options are available, making it a memorable introduction to trekking and to living Andean culture.

Expedition Logistics

Essential Trekking Notes & Rules

A Trek for Families

This trek suits everyone, and is ideal for families and children as well as more energetic walkers. We offer both a pony-trek option and a llama-trek option.

Visiting Chavín — Closed Mondays

The Chavín ruins do not open on Mondays. Plan your trek dates so you do not finish at Chavín on a Monday. Two acclimatisation days in Huaraz are recommended beforehand, with one essential.

Access Roads

Access roads to and from the trek are generally unpaved mountain roads and can be bumpy, so road travel times are 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

Drive Huaraz to Quisuar, hike to Sacracancha

Distance

9 km

Time Window

5 hours

Max Altitude

4080m

Delta Profile

A 45-minute drive south past Olleros to the trailhead at Quisuar (3686m). An easy pre-Inca path gently climbs the wide Quebrada Uquian past traditional thatched homes, with views of Shaqsha (5632m) and Cashan (5716m), to camp at Sacracancha (4080m).

Bespoke Cross Selling

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.