14-Day Huayhuash Trek in Peru with Community Support and Hot Springs

• Make the most of this day reserved for acclimatization. During the tour, you can give donations to nearby villages.

• Make multiple stops to visit lakes, viewpoints, natural tourist places, local artisans, and observe local traditions and culture, arriving at the right person or community. The Huaraz tour guides will ensure contributors witness the real benefits directly instead of making deposits into black bank accounts.

• At the proper time, return to your hotel in Huaraz.

• Arrive by 7 pm from any place.

• Be escorted from your hotel in Lima around 7 am and drive north in a private vehicle for 2 and a half hours (147 km) to Huaura along the Pan American Highway.

• Continue east alongside huge fields of sugar cane plantations along the Rio Huaura, pass Sayan village, and enter the valley of Churin. From Huaura to Churin takes about two hours (105 km).

• Ride carefully, as this circuit has many serpentining trails.

• Arrive in Churin around 12 noon and check in at the hotel. After lunch, enjoy a free afternoon in Churin to experience the hot springs. Its natural fountains contain azufre, magnesio, cloruro, and sulfato, excellent for somebody looking to heal lung and respiratory sicknesses.

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Churin, 2258 masl.

• After breakfast at your hotel, board the private vehicle and start driving up along the Rio de Oyon through a narrow valley and rocky mountains.

• Arrive in Oyon province and appreciate the beautiful landscapes. Stop here for coffee or any other hot beverage of your choice. Oyon is at 3400 masl.

• Drive ahead to Laguna Suarasaca. A few meters farther, arrive at Laguna Surasaca, where the donkey drivers and donkeys will be waiting to load the expedition logistics.

• Arrive in Surasaca at 10 am, then start hiking along Laguna Surasaca with your first mountain views of Leon Huacana and the Siete Caballeros group of mountains that belong to Nevado Raura.

• Enjoy lunch facing the wonderful mountains, then continue hiking down to the Viconga hot springs campsite at 4200 masl.

Dinner and overnight at your camp.

• Reach the highest point of your trek after following a moderate circuit. En route, treat your senses to the awe-inspiring views of the Cuyoc Mountains (3 hr).

• Continue down the Guanacpatay Valley to have lunch. The descent from the pass is very dusty and rocky.

• Eventually reach the beautiful grasslands, a pleasant place to walk, take a breather, and enjoy your lunch.

• Proceed towards your campsite in the peaceful Valley of Guanacpatay at 4150 masl.

Trekking distance: 9.3 miles (15 km)

Estimated time: 8-9 hrs of trekking

Camp at 13,615 ft (4150 m)

Meals: B/L/D

• After a typical breakfast, start climbing to Santa Rosa Pass at 5200 masl (2 hr).

• Enjoy the beautiful views of the Siula Mountains, a historical area for cinema lovers, as the film

• Hike up for about 5 hours to reach Tapush Pass at 4800 masl.

• Then walk down the easy trail for about two hours and arrive at the campsite by late afternoon.

Distance covered: 7.5 mi (12 km)

Estimated time: 5-6 hours of trekking

Accommodation: Camp at 14,578 ft (4417 m)

Meals: B/L/D

• After breakfast, start trekking the moderate route to Yaucha Pass (4800 masl). Stay at the pass for a couple of hours.

• After resting, continue descending along the Huacrish ravine for approximately three to four hours, and suddenly you will be surprised by a beautiful panoramic landscape. Jahuacocha Lake lies at the base of the mountains Jirishanca, Yerupaja, and Rondoy, a beautiful green-coloured lake at the 4066 masl campsite.

• Enjoy the spectacular avalanches coming down from the base of Mount Jirishanca.

• Next, head to your camp.

• Find a typical mountain hut for sheepherders.

Overnight in Jahuacocha at 4050 masl
4.8 mi (7.8 km) - 4-5 hrs of trekking
Camp at 13,365 ft (4050 m)
Meals: B/L/D

• Start hiking up along Lake Jahuacocha until Solterococha (1 hr 30 min).

• Proceed to Sambunya Pass and appreciate the finest views of the mountains and lakes (3 hours; elevation: 4800 masl).

• Soak in the wonderful mountain views. If it is windy, immediately begin descending along the small Rondoy Valley.

• Hike for about 3 hours and reach the campsite of Cuartelhuain.

Dinner and overnight at 4200 masl.

• After breakfast, get your things ready and start your trek at 8 am. This hike will be a bit difficult because climbing to the pass will take about 2 or 3 hours.

• From the pass, go down and then climb again for approximately 30 minutes.

• Have lunch after the short climb.

• Take the alternative trail to reach the campsite early and avoid taking the same route the next day. Along this route, appreciate the Andean rabbits called vizcachas.

• Arrive at the campsite early, then go fishing around the lake while your cook prepares dinner.

Camp at 4170 masl

• After breakfast, start trekking at 8 am.

• Reach the pass after a 3-hour hike, where you will have lunch. Enjoy the view of white-peaked mountains such as Yerupaja, Jirishanca, and Siula.

• Arrive at the campsite around 3 or 4 pm. You will be surprised by a beautiful lake reflecting the mountains' silhouettes in its green-coloured waters.

• Set up camp at a special place facing the lake.

Camp at 4150 masl

8.7 miles (14 km) - 5-6 hrs of trekking

Meals: B/L/D

• At 8 am, after breakfast, start your trek.

• Be amazed by the three different-coloured lakes of Siula.

• Reach Siula Pass at 4850 masl and have lunch next to the Carnicero lakes.

• Hike down to your campsite at 4350 masl.

8.6 miles (13.8 km)

8 hrs of trekking

Camp at 14,355 ft (4350 m)

Meals: B/L/D

• After breakfast, trek to Portachuelo de Huayhuash Pass.

• Proceed down to your campsite at Viconga for lunch.

• Take a stroll to the hot springs, which are a 20-minute walk down from the campsite.

6.8 miles (11 km)

5-6 hrs of trekking

Camp at 14,480 ft (4390 m)

Meals: B/L/D

• Rise early and start hiking up to Portachuelo Viconga, passing close to Lake Viconga. After two hours of walking, reach Portachuelo Pass at 4500 masl.

• Continue walking down for one hour and arrive at Lake Surasaca, then walk along the lake for another two hours, arriving at the bottom of the lake around midday.

• Take your private minibus and drive through the most scenic route.

• Pass Lake Rumbrococha and travel through the villages of Quiches and Cashaucro at 3500 masl.

• Arrive in Oyon for a short break, take pictures, visit the Plaza de Armas, and continue down the valley to Churin district, full of hot springs.

• Sit down for lunch in a restaurant.

Stay overnight at your hotel.

• Begin your morning with a hearty breakfast and soak in the hot springs one last time to relax all your cramped muscles.

• Depart from Churin at 9 am.

• Drive through a narrow valley beneath rocky walls and a huge area of sugar cane farming fields. Along the way, local vendors offer tourists fresh fruits from the farms.

• Pass through the village of Sayan, where many fruit vendors will offer you fresh produce along the road.

• Arrive in Huacho around 1 pm for lunch at a recommended restaurant on the Pan American Highway to Lima.

• Drive directly to Lima and arrive by 6 pm.

• Transfer to your hotel, the airport, or the bus station.