PERU: The Cordillera Huayhuash Photo Trek (13 Days)

Lima – Huaraz

After breakfast, you will be picked-up at 9 AM for a private shuttle service that will go overland to Huaraz, arriving at 4 PM. Upon arrival in Huaraz (3,052m/10,010′) you will check-in to San Sebastian Hotel and settle in. It’s very likely you will feel the altitude once you get to the highlands so we highly recommend drinking water constantly in order to help your body acclimatize properly. We highly recommend drinking mate de coca (coca tea) as it works wonders. Rest and water are key as well as some mild activity and eating lightly so your body has time to adjust to the altitude. We will have a short excursion to Puka Ventana for the sunset, a great viewpoint of the Peruvian Andes, so try to get some rest before our initial outing. Dinner on your own. Overnight at San Sebastian Hotel (3*). (B,L)

Huaraz – Laguna Churup – Huaraz

As we continue to acclimatize today we head out to the Cordillera Blanca and hike up to Laguna Churup (4,500m/14,760′) for some spectacular and up-close views of glaciers, alpine lakes, moraine and rugged peaks. Lunch en route. We will return in the afternoon to the hotel for more rest and preparation for the upcoming trek. It is very important to drink plenty of water and rest as necessary in order to give your body the time required to acclimatize, as well as to see how you are handling the local flora and fauna in your system. Dinner on your own. Overnight at San Sebastian Hotel (3*). (B,L)

Queropalca – Laguna Carhuacocha

This is our first day of the trek and it’s a slow and gradual climb that is about 5 hours at a calm pace from Queropalca to Laguna Carhuacocha (13,710’/4180m) which is located at the foot of a massive cirque of peaks – some of the most impressive on the trek. This is the first of many up-close and personal interactions with the rock spires of the Huayhuash range which leaves you panting for air. Many of the biggest peaks rise from 17,860’/5446m to over 21,700’/6634m and create a massive wall of impenetrable rock and ice cut by obvious avalanche paths, waterfalls and extensive moraine and talus fields. Below this spectacle of white summits and multi-colored rock lies the mint-green frigid waters of Laguna Carhuacocha surrounded on three sides by the yellow puna grass that covers the rolling hills that creates a spectacle that is crying out to be photographed. We will spend 2 nights here so you will have plenty of time to make stunning images! There are families that live in the valley and we will make sure to meet them and share stories and make images of the locals as they tend to their high-altitude crops and animals like alpacas and sheep – all hardy enough to live here year-round. This is one of the most stunning places on the trek so make sure to maximize your opportunities while here. We will set up camp and settle in before heading out for the sunset light. Dinner and overnight camping. (B,L,D)

3 Lakes – Carnicero

The early risers should take advantage of sunrise before breakfast. Today could be a long day, due to the altitude gain, so we need to depart soon after breakfast. We will take what we need with us for the remainder of the day as the burros and horses cannot climb up this trail, and will take a different trail to camp (circumnavigating this small ‘hill’ we’re walking up. We will not see them until we reach camp in the late afternoon. Our trail heads directly to the peaks themselves and slowly rises through rolling hills of yellow ichu grass and puna bogs as we walk next to these lakes, reflecting the snow-capped summits of some of the biggest peaks in the Cordillera Huayhuash. We will be just below Jirishanca, Yerupaja Chico, Yerupaja, Siula, Sarapo and Carnicero all of which range from 17,860’/5446m to over 21,700’/6634m above sea level. They are jagged, steep and imposing. It’s a spectacular sight! We will be working hard to get across the pass at 15,744’/4800m but will take a break partway up the trail to take in a view from a lateral moraine and further up the hill by some house-sized boulders next to a crystal-clear stream before we have lunch at the pass. The views of the peaks reflected in the trout-filled lakes is a photographer’s nirvana. There are ample opportunities for making great images during the trek on this side of the pass. After lunch we drop into eastern side of the cordillera and head down into a wide and long valley. Loosing altitude quickly, we will pass some very photogenic bogs with green and yellow ‘puffy’ formations that reflect a few more huge peaks – Carnicero, Jurau & Trapecio – that form the perfect natural frames for outstanding photos. The trail heads down more and more until we come to a couple of lakes where local Quechua people have their homes and tend to their alpacas, sheep and pigs. They often catch trout with rudimentary tools and we may luck out and have fresh trout for dinner. Our campsite is located near these lakes and is called Carnicero (13,700’/4,177m) and be surrounded by tall, rugged snow-capped peaks on one side, steep limestone rock walls on another and ichu-covered peaks on the other. There is a creek near our camp to freshen-up before dinner. Sunsets can be very interesting here especially when there are clouds. Dinner and overnight camping. (B,L,D)

Viconga – Cuyoc Pass – Viconga – Alpayacu

We spend the morning going to Cuyoc Pass (one of the highest in the area at 5,000m/16,400′) and a stunning location right at the foot of Mt. Cuyoc and Mt. Pumarinri – both over 17,700’/5400m and will be right above our heads. There are condors in the area so keep an eye out in the sky as you trek through the region. We take our time as the views are fantastic. We’ll have lunch en route. We return to Viconga hot springs for one last soak, then depart down valley to Alpayacu where we will camp for the night. We need some time tomorrow to get out of the mountains and we’re going to cut the walking time as much as possible. Dinner and overnight camping at Alpayacu. (B,L,D)

Cajatambo – Huaraz

After an early breakfast we get picked-up in private transport and begin the long drive back to Huaraz, approximately 8-9 hours, but the scenery should be gorgeous and enjoyable. We will have lunch en route and arrive in Huaraz in the late afternoon. After a nice hot shower and some clean clothes we will get together and have dinner. We’ll enjoy our last night together after a great photographic trek. Overnight at San Sebastian Hotel (3*). (B,L,D)

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