Huayhuash Circuit hiking guide: route map, stages & where to stay

The Huayhuash Circuit is a high camping trek around the Cordillera Huayhuash in the Peruvian Andes, about 50 km south-east of the Cordillera Blanca. It loops around a compact range of glaciers and ice peaks, including Yerupajá (about 6,634 m, the second highest mountain in Peru), Jirishanca and Siula Grande, the mountain of *Touching the Void*. The classic route crosses eight passes between 4,300 m and 5,000 m and camps beside turquoise lakes. There are no huts or lodges: you sleep in a tent at community campsites, with one night in the village of Huayllapa. Most groups take 10 days from Huaraz, and 8 to 12 days is the usual range.

The route

The circuit starts at Quartelhuain (4,170 m), a road-end camp 5 hours by road from Huaraz, and runs clockwise. It climbs over Cacanan Punta (4,700 m) to the Mitucocha valley under Jirishanca, then over the Carhuac pass to Carhuacocha, the lake that reflects Yerupajá and Siula Grande. The next day passes the Tres Lagunas viewpoint and Siula Punta (4,810 m) to the Huayhuash camp, then the Portachuelo de Huayhuash leads south to the Viconga hot springs. Punta Cuyoc (5,000 m) is the highest pass of the classic route. From Huanacpatay the trail drops to Huayllapa (3,500 m), climbs over Tapush to Gashpapampa, crosses the Yaucha pass to Jahuacocha under the west face of Yerupajá, and ends with the Pampa Llamac pass and a steep descent to Llámac (3,300 m).

This guide follows the route mapped on OpenStreetMap, with the Siula Punta variant on day 3, and splits it into 9 walking stages of about 10.7 km each. The walking line is 96 km; the "120-130 km" often quoted includes side trips, the San Antonio variant and the road between Llámac and Quartelhuain.

Highlights

• Carhuacocha: lakeshore camp facing Yerupajá, Siula Grande and Jirishanca, best at sunrise
• Tres Lagunas and Siula Punta: three glacier lakes (Gangrajanca, Siulacocha and Quesillacocha) below the ice, then a view over the whole east side of the range
• Viconga hot springs: the only hot water on the circuit
• Punta Cuyoc (5,000 m): the roof of the classic trek, with views of the Cordillera Raura
• San Antonio Pass and Cutatambo: an optional alternative from Huanacpatay, with the most famous view of Siula Grande and a walk to the Touching the Void base camp
• Jahuacocha: the last camp, a wide lake under Yerupajá, Rondoy and Jirishanca

When to go

The trekking season is the dry season, May to September. June to August has the most stable weather, the coldest nights and the most groups. The first rains come in early October; from November to April the trails are muddy, the passes can be snowy and clouds hide the peaks. Even in the dry season expect one or two days of rain, hail or snow, nights of -5 °C to -10 °C at the camps and strong sun by day.

How many days?

The classic itinerary is 10 days: a day's drive from Huaraz to Quartelhuain, then the 9 walking stages, with the drive back from Llámac on the last afternoon. Most operators add a rest day at Carhuacocha or Jahuacocha, and the 12-day version adds the San Antonio Pass, a night at Cutatambo and a day trip to the Siula Grande base camp. Some groups split the climb from Huayllapa with a night at Huatiaq. Before you start, spend at least 3 to 5 days acclimatising in Huaraz (3,050 m) with day hikes to 4,500 m or a short trek such as Santa Cruz.

Fees, guides and the 2026 rules

There is no national park ticket. The land belongs to eight rural communities, and each charges a fee in cash at its checkpoint or campsite. The 2026 list is: Llámac S/50, Pocpa S/20, Queropalca S/40, Quisuarcancha S/30, Tupac Amaru S/30, Uramaza S/30, Huayllapa S/50 (S/10 more for the Cutatambo valley) and Pacllón S/30. Allow about S/300 per person and keep every ticket, as later checkpoints ask to see them. The fees pay for the campsites and are the reason the range has been safe since the robberies of the early 2000s, so do not haggle.

In February 2026 the communities announced that they would no longer admit independent, unguided trekkers, with a checkpoint at Llámac. How strictly this is enforced is not clear. Before you plan an independent trip, ask iPerú or a registered agency in Huaraz, and expect to need at least a local guide or an arriero (muleteer). Most trekkers already go with a Huaraz agency that provides a guide, cook, tents and donkeys, so you walk with a daypack.

Getting there and away

Fly or take a night bus from Lima to Huaraz (about 8 hours by bus; LATAM flies Lima - Huaraz). Agencies drive from Huaraz to Quartelhuain in about 5 hours, paved to Chiquián and gravel after that. By public transport, Turismo Nazario runs a daily bus from Huaraz at about 5 am to Llámac (arriving about 10:30 am), and from Llámac you walk or hitch along the mine road via Pocpa to Quartelhuain. The return bus leaves Llámac around 1 pm. Huayllapa, in the middle of the circuit, has a dirt road to Cajatambo and buses on to Lima, the usual way out if someone has to leave early.

Money and phone signal

Bring all the cash you need in soles from Huaraz: fees, tips for the crew and drinks at village shops. Chiquián has a Banco de la Nación cash machine, but do not rely on it. There is no mobile signal on most of the trek. Some guesthouses in Huayllapa and a kiosk at Jahuacocha sell wifi, but carry a satellite messenger (inReach or Zoleo) for emergencies and weather.

What to pack

A four-season tent and a sleeping bag rated to -10 °C if you go independently, plus a warm down jacket, hat, gloves, full waterproofs, sunglasses with side protection, SPF 50 sunscreen and lip balm. Bring a water filter or tablets (cattle graze everywhere), trekking poles, sandals for camp, a power bank and all your food and gas from Huaraz; village shops sell only basics.

Difficulty and safety

The Huayhuash Circuit is a hard trek. The paths are clear mule trails, but almost every day crosses a pass of 4,600 m to 5,000 m, and all camps but Huayllapa are above 4,000 m. Altitude sickness is the main risk: climb slowly, drink enough and go down if a headache gets worse or you become confused or breathless at rest. There is no mountain rescue on the circuit. In an emergency call 105 (police, ask for Alta Montaña) or 106 (ambulance) when you have signal; otherwise your guide and arriero will take you on horseback to the nearest road at Llámac, Quartelhuain, Huayllapa or Queropalca. The nearest hospital is in Huaraz. Make sure your insurance covers trekking to 5,000 m and helicopter evacuation.