Visit the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods on a trek to K2 Base Camp in 2026.
Visit the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods on a trek to K2 Base Camp in 2026.
DIFFICULTY: Strenuous
TOTAL TREK DISTANCE: 115 km
MAX ALTITUDE: 5020 meters
TOUR DURATION: 12 days
LODGING: Mix of hotels + camping
GROUP SIZE: 8-12 people
Tucked away in the remote highlands of central Peru, the Cordillera Huayhuash is South America’s best-kept secret for high-alpine adventure. Less traveled than the famed Inca trails and more rugged than the tourist circuits of Patagonia, Huayhuash is wild, dramatic, and exactly the kind of place that calls out to those seeking true off-the-grid exploration.
This two-week expedition will carry you deep into the heart of the Andes — from the lively town of Huaraz to windswept passes above 5,000 meters, past surreal glacial lagoons, and beneath the shadow of Peru’s most iconic mountain profiles. You’ll camp at the foot of towering peaks like Yerupajá, Siula Grande, and Jirishanca, waking up each day surrounded by big peaks and even bigger smiles.
If you’re looking to ditch the crowds, push yourself physically, and uncover a different side of Peru, trekking in the Cordillera Huayhuash delivers.
Come to disconnect. Come to challenge your limits. Come to take in scenery that looks like it’s been ripped straight from the Himalaya. Come hike in the Cordillera Huayhuash — the crown jewel of the Peruvian Andes.
The Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit is for you if you want to experience…
Dates | Places | Deposit | Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1st - 12th, 2026 | $600 | $3550 |
Whether you’re just curious about this trip or are ready to make a deposit, we’re here for you.
To submit an inquiry or make a trip deposit, please fill out and submit the form below. Or send us an email to arrange a call with our adventure staff to join and learn more about how we prepare and execute such adventures as the Cordillera Huayhuash Trek.
Since 2018, Chris has been traveling to remote corners of the world leading Epic Expeditions. Every year he leads group trips to K2 Base Camp, the Everest region in Nepal, the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, and other destinations in Central/East Asia, and South America. He is the director and founder of Epic Expeditions.
Chris wanted to take the concept of an adventure holiday a step further by combining his passion for photography, trekking, and alpine environments into one-of-a-kind curated adventures for people who are as stoked on challenging adventures and discovering new cultures as he is – thus this trip was born!
Today is the day we all meet as a group for formal introductions, the expedition briefing, and gear checks.
The afternoon is spent doing any last-minute gear shopping, exploring the town, and getting things organized.
The city of Huaraz is the center for all adventurous travelers and hikers who want to hike and climb in the area of the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Huayhuash mountain range. There will be plenty of buzz around town.
Today is acclimatization day prior to entering the Huayhuash region. We will hike to Lake Churup: an awesome emerald-sapphire lake in the Cordillera Blanca that is easy to get to from Huaraz (without driving for many hours).
Located at 4450 meters, the hike to Laguna Churup is short, 3 kilometers one way, but it is a consistently steady climb uphill. We will start at 3840 meters above sea level, so we have about 600 meters to gain.
Today is an early start, with a departure at 4 am. We’ll drive 5 hours to Cuartelwain (4150 m) before beginning our trek in the Cordillera Huayhuash. Along the way, we will have breakfast in a town two hours from Huaraz.
In Cuartelwain, we’ll meet the arrieros and the pack animals. From here, we take our first challenging pass: the Cacananpunta Pass (4700 m). We’ll have views of Ninashanca (5607 m) and Rondoy (5870 m). From the pass, we’ll descend to our campsite on the shores of Lake Mitucocha (4300 m).
We climb over a second pass called Carhuac Pass (4650 m) before dropping into another beautiful valley. Our camp for the night lies on the shores of Laguna Carhuacocha (4150m). The lake is popular with photographers as the mountains mirrored in its waters make for a beautiful composition.
We leave Laguna Carhuacocha and hit our third pass before ending our day in the beautiful village of Huayhuash (4300 m). The Carnicero Pass will be challenging at 4840 m, and will once again provide impressive views of the mountains surrounding it.
The community of Huayhuash is tiny, being composed of little more than stone huts, some outcroppings, and minor crops. Still, local Quecha people make due and live here for a significant part of the year.
We leave Huayhuash and walk for around 5 hours to Laguna Viconga (4390 m). Our fourth pass of the trek is Portachuelco Pass (4790 m), and for the first time, we have views of remote peaks in the Cordillera Raura.
At Laguna Viconga, there are beautiful natural hot springs where we will bathe for the first time since leaving Huaraz. The thermal waters are great for relieving tension and aches that trekkers might have acquired over the last few days.
This is a very well-deserved rest day to let our bodies recover from the strenuous hiking so far. We have the hot springs to relax and enjoy – feel free to use them as much as you like!
Today, we cross one of the highest passes in the Cordillera Huayhuash as we move towards camp in Elefante. The Cuyoc Pass (5020 m) will be long, but rewarding.
We continue our trek by descending from the pass towards Elefante, where we set up camp for the night.
For those who still have energy, there is an optional hike up to San Antonio Pass (5,020m) from Elefante that features breathtaking views of the Huayhuash and the infamous Siula Grande. Total hiking time is around 3 hours, and the trail is quite steep.
Today, we first walk down through the valley towards the village of Huayllapa. Huayllapa is a larger settlement than Huayhuash and actually has some basic amenities, like shops. We won’t be sticking around too long.
From there, we ascend a steep slope up a narrow valley to reach the campground of Huatiaqm.
From Huatiaq, we move towards our last camp in Jahuacocha and climb one of our last passes of the trip, Yahucha Pass (4750 m). From this pass, we will have spectacular views of high peaks, including
Yerupaja (the second-highest peak in Peru).
This is our last day of hiking. We will descend from Jaguacocha to the small village of Llamac Corral at 3,400 m. We will enjoy the last views of the Cordillera Huayhuash and will see the change in vegetation as we descend.
From Llamac, we will travel by vehicle back to Huaraz. We will arrive at approximately 5 pm to enjoy a great dinner and have a celebration afterwards.
Today marks the final of the trip, which is dedicated just for onward travel. Clients can leave for Lima by plane first thing in the morning, at night by bus, or stay one more day to rest and recover, hang out with friends, and eat delicious food in Huaraz before departing.
If you’re traveling from Lima, which is where most international flights arrive, there are a couple of ways of transferring to Huarez:
By plane: LATAM is the only airline that flies to Huaraz, and it offers only one flight per day:
By bus: We recommend using Cruz del Sur. The ride takes around 8 hours, and there are options available in the morning and at night. We recommend the ride at night (the 9 pm or 10 pm option) so you can arrive in Huaraz first thing in the morning
The Huayhuash trek is definitely one of the best mountain hikes in the world. This remote part of the Andes feels very similar to other superlative alpine areas, in particular, the Himalaya. There will be moments where you might feel like you’re trekking to Annapurna Base Camp.
Over the course of eight days and 115 kilometers, we will traverse the base of large snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, and breathtaking Andean landscapes. Crossing the passes and seeing the surrounding peaks will be major highlights of the trip.
For this trip, we stay in a mix of 3-star hotels and established campgrounds. One of the campgrounds also features natural thermal pools, so bring a swimsuit!
The tents we use are robust, 4-season tents built to battle the high-altitude elements.
Prices are based on same gender room sharing (two people to a room and tent).
Yes you can! The single supplement charge for both a single hotel room and tent during the trek is + $500 USD.
We will be undertaking the Huayhuash Circuit during the Andean dry season, which runs from April to September. During this time, the weather is typically stable, with clear skies, minimal rainfall, and sunny days. Daytime temperatures at high altitudes can range from 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F), though it can feel much warmer under direct sun due to the thinner atmosphere.
Nights, however, can get quite cold, often dropping below freezing, especially at higher campsites above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). Snow is unlikely but always possible, especially at high passes.
Wind can also pick up in exposed areas. Be prepared with proper layers for warmth, sun protection, and sudden shifts in weather. Like most mountainous areas, afternoon thunderstorms are quite common and start developing in the late afternoon.
This hike is not technical, therefore, it does not require any special alpine gear or skills.
Trekking in the Cordillera Huayhuash does require good physical condition, though, as well as the ability to recover from accumulated physical exertion, especially at higher altitudes.
Additionally, a willingness to camp for over a week staright and willpower to endure cold temperatures are required
Please consult our aclimatization resource for tips and tricks on avoiding altitude sickness in the Cordillera Huayhuash (or anywhere for that matter).
Trip participants need to be in good shape and capable of trekking over mixed terrain for long distances (maximum 8 hours). We will be trekking between six and seven hours per day at an altitude of 4000 meters, with passes of up to 5000 meters.
Local porters will be present in some cases to help us carry the supplies that will make trekking in the Cordillera Huayhuash a comfortable and rewarding experience.
For more information, please refer to our trekking fitness guide.
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The Cordillera Huayhuash is one of the most remote and mesmerizing mountain ranges in all of South America. Once a secluded stronghold tucked deep in the Central Andes, it has long captured the imaginations of climbers, trekkers, and explorers in search of raw, untouched beauty. Though overshadowed for decades by the more accessible Cordillera Blanca to the north, Huayhuash has slowly risen from obscurity to become a pilgrimage site for those seeking true alpine adventure.
For much of its history, the Huayhuash range was rarely seen by outsiders. The high valleys and glacial basins were home to Quechua-speaking communities who lived traditional pastoral lives, largely disconnected from the rest of Peru. In the late 20th century, however, the region became even more isolated due to the presence of Shining Path guerrillas, whose violent insurgency deterred climbers and trekkers for years. Only after the group’s decline in the 1990s did Huayhuash begin to open up again, allowing adventurers to rediscover its wild beauty.
That resurgence was fueled in part by growing interest in mountaineering. Foreign climbers had already begun arriving in the mid-20th century, lured by the razor-edged ridgelines and the promise of first ascents. The legendary 1985 expedition of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates on Siula Grande — later immortalized in Touching the Void — brought global attention to the range, not only for its technical climbing but also for the raw, unforgiving nature of the terrain.
Unlike many alpine regions that have been tamed by tourism, the Cordillera Huayhuash has retained its wild spirit. Our high-altitude Huayhuash Circuit is often considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It leads travelers over mountain passes above 5,000 meters, through herder camps, and past some of the most dramatic mountain scenery anywhere on the planet.
Even today, Huayhuash remains a place apart — largely free from the crowds of the Sacred Valley or the infrastructure of Cusco. There is no easy way through the range, and only the hardiest make the journey. But for those who do, the reward is not just the scenery, but the sense of stepping into a landscape where myth and mountain still rule.
Trip Leader
Noemi grew up in the mountains of German-Speaking Switzerland where she naturally developed a deep love and respect for mountain environments.
She is a talented photographer, aspiring climber, and speaks at least 5 languages fluently including Arabic (and probably a few more that we don’t know about), which she taught herself in a matter of months by watching YouTube videos.
Noemi has spent the last several years traveling, hiking, and photographing her way around many different countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe, and we could not be more stoked to welcome her to the Epic team!
Meet her during : Discover the Celestial Mountains | Island Peak Climbing Expedition
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Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour. Road trip with some hiking and cultural immersion.
A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.
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