Wild Guanabana | The Cordillera Huayhuash of Peru

Why Take This Trip

The whole world has been on lock down and we have been craving the outdoors for a long time. By taking this trip, you will be joining a community of adventurers who decided to make use of staying at home by training and preparing for this awesome expedition

Who is this for?

This trip is for those who want to challenge themselves on a beautiful and extremely scenic route in the wilderness of northern Peru. You will need to be fit enough to hike for around 5-8 hours daily at altitude. If you follow the training program that we will be providing you, then you’ll be fine.

What are the extension options?

For this trip, we have 2 extension options. If you want a tougher challenge and would like to add a summit to your trip, we have a 1-day extension to climb Huarapasca peak standing at 5,418m. This option, however, will depend on the date of the trip as it is not possible to climb after October. If you would rather something more cultural and historical, we have a 4-day extension option to Machu Picchu in the south of Peru. Please let us know if you are interested in either one of them and we will send you more details by email.

Day 1 Hello Latin America

After landing in the capital Lima, you are free to explore this beautiful city as you wish. We will later meet at the bus station (or get a direct transport from the airport to the bus station) where we will take the first-class night bus to Huaraz where we will spend 2 days to acclimatize. Overnight in bus or hotel

Day 2 Acclimatization (B)

Upon your arrival at the hotel in Huaraz, you will check-in and have a short rest then meet for an orientation session with the local guides who will be giving you an introduction on what to expect in the coming days and answer any of your questions. You will then head on to the first half-day acclimatization hike up to Puka Venata or something similar. Overnight at the hotel

Day 3 Acclimatization (B)

After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, you will head on the second acclimatization hike to Laguna Churup at 4,500m. This place is known for its breathtaking scenery so we will stop for a while to enjoy its beauty before heading back down to Huaraz for a well-deserved shower and rest. Overnight at the hotel

Day 4 Start the trek up to Mitacocha lake - 4,150m (B,L,D)

Today we bid the city farewell and pack our stuff and hop on the bus for a 4.5 hour drive to Matacancha, our starting point of the trek. Upon our arrival, we will load the donkeys and begin our 5-6 hour hike to Mitacocha lake at 4,150m which is surrounded by majestic peaks giving your eyes a treat with its beauty. We set up camp and enjoy the scenery for the rest of the day. Overnight in tents

Day 5 Head to Lake Carhuacocha - 4,180m (B,L,D)

We wake up and have breakfast with this gorgeous view before packing our stuff and continuing with the hike up. Today will be a long day during which we could hike up to 8 hours but the scenery along the way will make up for it! After reaching our campsite at Lake Carhuacocha at 4,180m, we will have the rest of the day to relax by the lake and again enjoy the beautiful scenery. Overnight in tents

Day 6 Head to Huayhuash - 4,330m (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we pack our stuff and start heading to Huayhuash. Today we have an off trail longer option passing through different colored lakes or we could follow the donkeys up a more gradual but less scenic pass. Depending on the path we choose, the hike should take anywhere between 5-8 hours before we reach our camp site at Huayhuash and 4,330m. Overnight in tents

Day 7 Head to Guanacpatay - 4,200m (B,L,D)

Today is a long day as we head from Huayhuash up to Trapecio Pass at 4,835m gaining altitude along the way and get closer to Trapecio glacier enjoying the amazing views. As we start heading down, we pass through several lakes on this infrequently traveled section of the trail which gives it a serene and untouched feel. It takes us about 6-8 hours of hiking on this day to reach Elefante camping site where we will spend the night at 4,200m Overnight in tents

Day 8 Head to Cutatambo 4300 m (B,L,D)

Today we head from Guanacpatay to Cutatambo, where the alpine epic ‘Touching the Void’ unfolded. On the entire way, we'll get beautiful views of Suila, Sarapo, Lake Sarapochocha and several more to and from camp! There is an off-trail over the Santa Rosa pass and into the lovely valley below. The hike should take 6-8 hours to reach the campsite at an altitude of 4300m Overnight in tents

Day 9 Head to Huatiac Camp - 4,300m (B,L,D)

Today is lighter than the day before as we start off the trek by heading to the small town of Huayllapa and back up to our camping site just below Tapush Pass. Hiking hours for today are around 5-6 hours and we will be sleeping at an altitude of 4,300m Overnight in tents

Day 10 Head to Laguna Jahuacocha - 4,060m (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we pack our things and start hiking up to Tapush Pass then back down to our campsite by Laguna Jahuacocha at 4,060m. Hiking hours today will be around 6-7 hours. Overnight in tents

Day 11 Head back to Huaraz (B)

Today we bid this beautiful trail farewell as we hike from Jahuacocha to Llamac and get transported to Huaraz for a well-deserved shower and rest. You have the rest of the day to relax and explore the city as you please. Overnight in hotel/guesthouse

Day 12 Head back to Lima (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, we take the day bus back to Lima. You will be taken to the airport for your flight back home. If you would like to extend your trip, you can opt for a 4-day add-on to visit Machu Picchu and explore Cusco or a 1-day add-on to climb Huarapasca. Please let us know and we will send you more details!

Weather

Between the months of May and September, Peru experiences their dry season. During these months, the climate stays surprisingly stable and predictable. In Huaraz, you can expect temperatures between 20-25 C during the day and between 2-5 C at night, with occasional rain. In the mountains and at higher altitude, it will be colder so make sure you gear up well and follow our gear list. October and November it starts to get colder especially during night time and you might experience more rain. December to February is the rainy season so if you are trekking during that time make sure your rain gear is excellent.

Altitude

Huaraz is located at 3100m above sea level. Most people who arrive from lower elevations experience some shortness of breath, dizziness, insomnia, and a loss of appetite as their bodies adjust during the first few days. This trip is designed to allow for proper acclimatization prior to ascending to high altitudes so you don't need to worry about that. Just make sure you follow the guide's instructions, walk in a steady pace and drink lots and lots of water!

Accommodation

In this trip you will have different types of accommodation along the way. On the first night, you will spend it in a 1st class night bus from Lima to Huaraz. In Huaraz, you will be provided clean, friendly, accommodations in small hotels or guest houses depending on the availability. During the trek, you will be sleeping in high quality expedition tents with a spacious mess tent and chairs for meals.

Hiking

This trek is not an easy one but it is undoubtfully beautiful and rewarding. You will be hiking an average of 5-8 hours per day with 1 day being slightly longer than that so you need to be fit enough to be able to hike for this long for 8 consecutive days. The good news is that we will provide you with a training program specifically tailored to this trip with Malak El Ayouty, one of the top trainers in the industry through daily videos sent to your email to be able to work out at home. The better physical condition you are in, the more you will be able to enjoy your experience so make sure you follow the training program till the very end

Food

Peruvian cuisine is one of the top cuisines in the world and they are well known for their exquisite flavors and unique dishes. On this trip you will enjoy local home made food throughout the entire trip whether in the guesthouses or during the trek. In the cities breakfast will be provided in the guesthouse/small hotel and during the trek 3 meals will be provided as well as snacks while hiking. If you have any food allergies please make sure you let us know in advance to be able to customize any dietary requirements before the trip.

PRICE

$2,600

best time to travel:

Ideal time to travel
Great time to travel
Unpredictable time
No trip

PRICE INCLUDES

Accommodation:

4 nights accommodation in Huaraz, Olazas Guesthouse Hotel on a double occupancy basis
6 nights accommodation in tents/camping sites throughout the trail

Food & Beverage:

3 meals per day with snacks throughout the trail
Breakfast in cities

Transportation:

Airport pickup and drop off
All on-ground transportation throughout the trip as per the itinerary
First-class bus ticket for the night bus between Lima and Huaraz on Day 1

Staff & guides:

Local Peruvian team including an English speaking guide, for all acclimatization activities and the trek
Omar Samra, chief Guanabana to facilitate the journey and make sure you have a fantastic time!

Pre trip preparations:

Consultation on every aspect of the preparation including mental and physical
Infopack with all the needed training, gear and tips & tricks related to the trip
Infosession with the trip leader through video conferencing to go through the itinerary and answer any questions

Trek logistics: