Camping Multi-day trek Huayhuash Classic Trek

Departure from Huaraz town in a private vehicle  at the scheduled time ( 8-9 am) toward our first camping spot, "Cuartelhuain." After 2.5 hours of tarred road, we turn onto the dirt road with our first views of the Cordillera Huayhaush in the distance. After a further 3 hours, we arrive at Cuartelhuain campsite. We set up camp on the riverbanks. The relaxed afternoon closes our first-day journey enjoying the sunset moments in Huayhuash.

Our journey begins with a 3-4 hour ascent, culminating in crossing the Cacanapunta Pass at 4,690m. From this vantage point, we will receive rewarded breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and mountains of Cuncush Valley. As we descend, we see the Caliente Valley, including its marshes and hot springs that flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Continuing, we traverse the granite block of Cerro Chincana and pass through the Tuctupampa plain, arriving at the picturesque shores of the Janca River (4,720m). Here, we will set up camp.

Trek to our next campsite, "Carhuacocha 4,138m," after enjoying a delicious breakfast at our second campsite. Our trek takes us through Wayac Valley, a gradual ascent to the Carhuac Pass/Yana Punta at 4,630m. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to stop and appreciate the stunning alpine landscapes of Huayhuash. After the ascent, we continue our trek through Yanayana Valley, where we will pause for lunch and may even catch a glimpse of the local vizcachas. From here, we begin our descent to the turquoise waters of Carhuacocha Lake, situated at an altitude of 4,270m. This idyllic location serves as our next campsite and offers unparalleled views of the surrounding mountains  

As dawn breaks, the sun rises slowly, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the icy giants reflected in the smooth waters of Carhuacocha Lake. While the packed mules depart along a separate trail, we embark on today's trek, following the edge of the lake as we ascend the valley wedged between three lakes (Gangrajanca, Siula, and Quesillacocha) to the base of Mount Siula Grande. Along the way, we'll have panoramic views of the valley, with its rugged mountains and shimmering lakes. After reaching the Siulapunta Pass at 4,830m, we'll have a vast, sweeping vista. Continuing, we descend with views of a verdant marsh teeming with Andean birds, eventually arriving at Carnicero Lake. From there, it's just a few more kilometers until we reach the Huayhuash campsite, at 4,350 m—night near the local farming Quechua families, a testament to the area's rich cultural heritage.  

After breakfast, we embarked on a gentle ascent that led us to the Portachuelo de Huayhuash pass at 4,350m. We enjoyed stunning views of the Raura mountain range with its softly carved peaks and immense glaciers. Although Raura is not a heavily visited area, it will give us great mountain scenes. We descend briefly through a small swamp and a grass-covered plain before reaching Lake Viconga, the largest lake of our trek, at 4,453m. Here we encounter some Andean wildlife, such as Llamas and Alpacas, and a local family specializing in sheep farming. We continued with a light ascent that would afford us even better views of this impressive lake. After a few switchbacks and some level stretches, we arrived at the Viconga hot springs, ideal for a relaxing and therapeutic bath. We camp here for the night.  

Our day's journey commences with a 3-hour ascent to the Cuyoc Pass at 4,950m, where we are rewarded with a sweeping panoramic view. Two mountains, Pumarinri (5,465m) and Cuyoc (5,550m) flank us on either side, while the iconic Siula Grande comes into view in the distance. After a brief respite to navigate a sandstone slope, we traverse a plateau blanketed in this region's typical Ancush plant species. Our descent leads us to the juncture of the Huanacpatay and Cuyoc Valleys, situated at 4,495m, where we will spend the remainder of our day relishing in the stunning sunset vista.

We begin our ascent towards the San Antonio Pass after a short flat section. The trail is steep and rocky, but as we make our way up through the channeled valley, you will have stunning views of the colorful Antushcancha hill. Once we reach the highest point of the pass, we are rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view of the western side of the snow-capped Siula Grande, Yerupaja, and Sarapo mountains, as well as the Jurao and Sarapococha lakes shimmering at the base of these immense peaks. Descending from the pass, we make our way down a steep slope to the tranquil Jurao Lagoon at 4,343m, where we can take a well-deserved break. From there, we continue towards our Cutatambo camp.

We will descend through the Calinca Valley, following the path of the Calinca River. This part of the trek will take us away from the mountain range and into the small town of Huayhuash, where we will have the opportunity to interact with the locals. As we descend, the slightly sloping trail will give our legs a well-deserved break. Along the way, we will pass through several livestock areas and posts before finally reaching Huayllapa village at (4,390m), the place where we will camp.

The trek to Gashpapampa campsite begins with a gradual but lengthy ascent through the Milo Valley, during which we will cross some streams. After a few hours of challenging uphill hiking, the trail will become less steep as we progress through the Huatiac Valley, and we begin to see the snow-capped peaks of Rajucollota and Tapush. We will continue up the rocky slope to reach Tapush Punta High Pass at 4,770 meters, a remote and picturesque spot. From there, we will descend through the Gashpampa Valley, and on our way downhill, we can appreciate the SusuCocha lagoon (4,740 m) and its diverse species of birds before continuing to our final destination Gashpapampa campsite  

After breakfast, we continue our journey through the Angocancha Valley to ascend to the last highest pass of our journey. After several hours of steep walking, we arrive at the Llaucha Punta pass, located at 4,850 meters, from where we can enjoy impressive views of the mountains on the northwestern side of Huayhuash. Next, we continue along the crest of the hill, which offers us a panoramic view all the way until we reach the Huacrish Viewpoint (4,750 m). After enjoying the impressive views, we descend a steep slope to our camp in Jahuacocha (4,050 m)  

On our final day in the Huayhuash and we leave the campsite trekking east via the Jahua Valley trail that continues along a water pipeline. Before descending, we enjoy our final panorama of the Huayhuash glittering in the distance and bidding us farewell. The descent is to the village of Llamac at 3,250m from where we return to Huaraz with private transport (5 hours).