The Cordillera Huayhuash is part of the Andes Mountain Range located in central Peru. Lesser known that the Inca Trail in southern Peru, the Huayhuash mountain range is breathtaking ! Regarded as one of the greatest alpine trek, it’s a 100 km circuit that goes around the mountain range.
It’s home to Peru’s the second highest peak after Huascaran, Yerupajà (6,634m), & also Siula Grande (6,344m).
I do not have the words to describe all the emotions I felt on trail: the altitude, the passes, the pain, the glaciers, the lakes, the rivers & streams, the natural beauty… exquisite !
How challenging, but oh so rewarding!!
A truly humbling experience & I am so gratefull that I got the see a glimpse of it’s beauty. No picture can ever do it justice. You need to be there in person & feel it.
Itinerary overview
The whole circuit was done in 9 days:
- Day 0: Huaraz – Quartelhuain (drive)
- Day 1: Quartelhuain – Janca, via Cacananpunta (4,690m)
- Day 2: Janca – Incahuain, via Pucapuca (4,640m)
- Day 3: Incahuain – Huayhuash, via Punta Carnicero (4,600m)
- Day 4: Huayhuash – Atuscancha
- Day 5: Atuscancha – Campamento “Elefante”, via Punta Cuyoc (5,000m)
- Day 6: Campamento “Elefante” – Huatiaq
- Day 7: Huatiaq – Susucocha, via Tapush Punta
- Day 8: Susucocha – Incahuain, via Yaucha Punta (4,847m)
- Day 9: Incahuain – Llamac
Highlight of each day on trail
Day 0: Huaraz – Quartelhuain (drive)
Day 1: Quartelhuain – Janca, via Cacananpunta (4,690m)
The day started of with the climb to the Cacananpunta pass. It was hard with my pack filled with camera equipement. That night after dinner, I was sick. I remember the beautifull night sky, but that’s when I really felt the altitude sickness for the first time 🙁
Day 2: Janca – Incahuain, via Pucapuca (4,640m)
The second day was difficult. I was exhausted, even on the downhill… But is was so beautifull, I enjoyed it, even in pain. Once arrived at camp, I was so happy to relax and admire the view.
Day 3: Incahuain – Huayhuash, via Punta Carnicero (4,600m)
That day, I woke up disapointed because I wanted to take the alternate route via Ciula Punta (4,834m) to see the iconic view of the 3 lakes. It was a hard lesson of humility not to push to far my body and take an easier route so my body could recuperate. I know it’s a valuable lesson for the mountains I dream of summitting one day. Sometimes, the mountains are just not meant to be climbed or hiked.
Even if I started my day sad, the trail made me happy. It reminded me to be gratefull & to enjoy every moment.
Looking back, it was definetly one of the day on trail I appreaciated the most.
Day 4: Huayhuash – Atuscancha
At the end of this day, we were greated by a natural hot spring near camp ! I did not take pictures of it, but I remember almost taking a bad fall with my ultralight sandals…I never whore them afterwards.
I saw my first condor. Also no good pictures of the condor to share 🙂
Day 5: Atuscancha – Campamento “Elefante”, via Punta Cuyoc (5,000m)
This day is the highpoint of the trek. Wake-up time: 5h30 AM. Starting in the valley then slowly making our way up to the highest point on trail: Punta Cuyoc at 5,000 meters (16,404 feet).
I heard multiple avalaches & I got to see a small one 🙂 🙂
What a day ! The feeling of being so high in elevation & so close the the peaks, WOW !!!
At camp:
Day 6: Campamento “Elefante” – Huatiaq
It was a nice & relaxing day up untill reaching the village of Huayllapa…. Then, a continous step uphill to camp. It was HARD !!! My breathing from the altitude was deep & rapid. I was coughing a lot. I was feeling the muscles in my legs. I just kept telling myself “one more step” again and again.
When I saw camp in the distance, I was releaved.
On the bright side, the vegetation around Huayllapa was different: a green dense vegetation ! So different from the past few days. How beautifull & refreshing it was.
Even got to put my feet in a nice and cold stream before the hike up 🙂
Day 7: Huatiaq – Susucocha, via Tapush Punta
An other amazing day with a nice sunrise 🙂
Day 8: Susucocha – Incahuain, via Yaucha Punta (4,847m)
What a day high in emotions ! This day was truly magical.
No words can describe my emotions that day.
Going up the pass was hard, but WOW what a view. After 8 days of being in the mountains, my breathing affected by the altitude, pushing my body & my mind day after day…the peace, the magnitude, the force & beauty of the mountains touched my soul for ever. They humble you like nothing else.
I’m so proud of myself.
After reaching the pass, we took a ridge line to approach camp. Then, a step downhill to camp from the end of the ridge line ! It was very steep.
Day 9: Incahuain – Llamac
Last day on trail ! Woke-up before sunrise !!! It must of been somewhere around 4AM. It was a nice easy day, but with a lot of downhill to Llamac.
Once arrived in Llamac around noon, the bus ride back to Huaraz was relaxing 🙂
Topo Map of the trek
Quartelhuain – Huayhuash:
Huayhuash to Huatiaq:
Huatiaq to Llamac:
A few more pictures for your eyes 🙂
I love taking pictures…there is so much beauty to capture.
