9-Day Huayhuash Trek from Huaraz with Community Support Program

• Meet your guide and spend the day settling in. You can also choose to make donations to the nearby villages.

• Head out and stop at attractive places such as lakes and other natural tourist sites, or visit local artisans to learn about local traditions and culture.

• Arrive at the community area to make donations. The Huaraz tour guides will make the donation in the presence of the contributors.

Return to the hotel by 7 p.m.

• Leave Huaraz for Llamac on a 5-hour drive and head to the wild Puna Conococha Pass (4500 m), passing the southernmost peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. The Huayhuash range, containing seven of the highest and most dramatic summits in a single cluster in Peru, reveals itself on your descent to the small town of Llamac.

• Continue up through the Pocpa Valley and reach a peasant town, where you can buy some soft drinks for the sunny journey.

• Trek onward and, at approximately 1 p.m., arrive in Pallca for lunch.

• Continue walking to your campsite at Matacancha (4100 masl). Here, appreciate the scenic views of Ninashanca Mountain (5607 masl) and Rondoy (5870 masl).

Overnight camping at Cuartelhuain (4200 masl). (Distance covered - 167 km; time taken - 6 hours)

Meals: L/D included.

• Start your trek at 8 a.m. after breakfast. This is a challenging day, as the climb to the pass will take about 2 to 3 hours.

• Descend and then ascend again for approximately 30 minutes from the pass, and look out for the Andean rabbits called Vizcachas along the way.

• Walk for 3 hours to reach the next pass. Enjoy views of the white-peaked mountains such as Yerupaja, Jirishanca, and Siula.

• Reach the campsite at approximately 5 or 6 p.m. near a beautiful lake and prepare your tent.

(Campsite at 4150 masl; distance covered - 18 km; time taken - 10 hours of trekking)

Meals: B/L/D included.

• Start ascending after breakfast and, after approximately one hour, witness the three different colour lakes of Siula.

• Reach Siula Pass (4850 masl) and continue to a scenic place next to the Carnicero lakes.

• Descend for a few kilometres to reach the campsite (4350 masl) and have lunch.

(Campsite at 4350 masl; distance covered - 13.8 km; time taken - 8 hours of trekking)

Meals: B/L/D included.

• Ascend to the highest trekking pass, Trapecio Pass (5100 m/16,404 ft), and enjoy the marvellous views of the surrounding high mountains.

• Descend over a rocky section and hike along the valley to camp at Huanacpatay (4300 m/14,108 ft).

(Time taken - 7-8 hours of walking)

Meals: B/L/D, tea-time snacks included.

• Set out at 8 a.m. and begin climbing for roughly two hours to San Antonio Pass, where you will behold a great view of the southwest Cordillera Huayhuash, including the mountains of Sarapo, Siula Grande, Yerupaja, Carnicero, Los Juraos, and Trapecio. You can also see the lakes of Jurao.

• Descend to Jurao Lake and stop for lunch.

• Continue to Huayllapa, a small isolated peasant village (3700 masl). Here, small Andean shops provide soft drinks, beers, and basic necessities, and you will stay for the night in the village.

(Camp at 3490 masl; distance covered - 18 km; time taken - 7-8 hours of trekking)

Meals: B/L/D included.

• Reach Tapush Pass (4800 masl) in about 5 hours and then walk down an easy trail for about two hours.

• Arrive at the campsite late in the afternoon.

(Camp at 4417 masl; distance covered - 12 km; time taken - 5-6 hours of trekking)

Meals: B/L/D included.

• Have breakfast and trek to Yaucha Pass (4800 masl). Stay at the pass for a couple of hours.

• After resting, continue down the Huacrish ravine for approximately 3 to 4 hours and be surprised by the beautiful Jahuacocha Lake at the base of Jirishanca, Yerupaja, and Rondoy. This beautiful green-coloured lake lies at the 4066 masl camp area.

• Enjoy the spectacular avalanches coming down from the base of Jirishanca and then head to your camp.

• Find a typical mountain hut for sheepherders.

(Camp at 4050 masl; distance covered - 7.8 km; time taken - 4-5 hours of trekking)

Meals: B/L/D included.

• Take the easy walking route to Pampallamac, where you will say goodbye to the Huayhuash Mountains.

• Descend, stop for lunch, and then continue descending to the town of Llamac.

• Leave Llamac and drive along the Llamac River to Timpoc, where the Llamac and Pacllon rivers join.

• Continue up to Chiquian along the Ainin River, arriving at Chiquian.

• Walk around the village, then continue to Huaraz on a 3-hour drive.

(Distance covered - 10 km; time taken - 6 hours of trekking)

Meals: B/L included.