Cordillera Huayhuash trekking holiday
| country: | Peru |
| trip type: | High altitude, strenuous / very challenging trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 4 Jul, 1 Aug, 31 Aug |
| price: | From £1190 (20 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| late availability: | Late availability on our Cordillera Huayhuash group trek for the August 1st departure. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The stunning Cordillera Huayhuash, one of the most dramatic mountain areas anywhere in the Andes, forms a constant back-drop on our rewarding twelve day trek, the main feature of this tour.This tour can be complemented by our 5 day extension to Cusco, our Cusco extension with the Inca Trail, or one of our Amazon Rainforest extensions: into the rainforest wildlife paradise of the Tambopata Reserve or our 5-9 day jungle expedition into Manu National Park.
One of the most rewarding of all our trekking itineraries, the centre-piece of this tour is a challenging thirteen-day wilderness trek around the stunning Huayhuash Range.This is a sparsely populated area of awesome ice-flanked peaks and glacial lakes. There is the option of a non-technical day climb of the Suerococha (5350m) trekking peak.Centred on Huaraz, this tour includes a one-day acclimatisation walk in the Cordillera Blanca, and the opportunity, before or after the circuit, to raft on the white water of the River Santa, or visit Chavin de Huantar, the 3000-year-old centre of a feline-worship cult.Having attuned to the altitude, we leave Huaraz behind and head south then east across wild puna (high altitude grasslands) gaining our first fleeting views of the Huayhuash massif; a mere thirty kilometres long, yet containing in a single cluster seven of the highest and most dramatic summits in Peru.
From Matacancha (starting and finishing point of the circuit), we head deeper into the pristine wilderness. Leaving civilization far behind, we soon have the first of many close-up views of huge fissured glaciers feeding opaque lakes.This clockwise circuit takes us over eight high passes (between 4300 and 5000 metres), offering stunning views of towering ice-covered mountain walls. There are also opportunities for rewarding side-trips into remote, pristine glacial valleys.Back in Huaraz, there is a period of well-deserved rest and relaxation before our return to Lima.
One of the most rewarding of all our trekking itineraries, the centre-piece of this tour is a challenging thirteen-day wilderness trek around the stunning Huayhuash Range.This is a sparsely populated area of awesome ice-flanked peaks and glacial lakes. There is the option of a non-technical day climb of the Suerococha (5350m) trekking peak.Centred on Huaraz, this tour includes a one-day acclimatisation walk in the Cordillera Blanca, and the opportunity, before or after the circuit, to raft on the white water of the River Santa, or visit Chavin de Huantar, the 3000-year-old centre of a feline-worship cult.Having attuned to the altitude, we leave Huaraz behind and head south then east across wild puna (high altitude grasslands) gaining our first fleeting views of the Huayhuash massif; a mere thirty kilometres long, yet containing in a single cluster seven of the highest and most dramatic summits in Peru.
From Matacancha (starting and finishing point of the circuit), we head deeper into the pristine wilderness. Leaving civilization far behind, we soon have the first of many close-up views of huge fissured glaciers feeding opaque lakes.This clockwise circuit takes us over eight high passes (between 4300 and 5000 metres), offering stunning views of towering ice-covered mountain walls. There are also opportunities for rewarding side-trips into remote, pristine glacial valleys.Back in Huaraz, there is a period of well-deserved rest and relaxation before our return to Lima.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Lima. |
| Day 2: | Bus to Huaraz. |
| Day 3-4: | In Huaraz, acclimatisation walks. |
| Day 5: | Travel to start of trek. |
| Day 6-18: | 13-Day trek; last day return to Huaraz. |
| Day 19: | Bus to Lima, hotel |
| Day 20: | Tour ends Lima. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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On our trek we use locally produced fresh produce, buying from villages where appropriate ie cheese. In preference we choose local over imported goods, and encourage the use of Andean products in our cooking. We pack out all non-organic waste and minimize this by using products with minimum packaging, leaving no litter and keeping all water sources clean, leaving camp-sites cleaner than we find them. We bury organic waste at a suitable depth.
When out on tour we encourage learning about Peru, the local culture of the teams we work with and the areas we pass through. Our guides hold informal talks with groups to inform about and discuss with them all aspects of local life. This helps understanding of the area and appreciation of the people who live there. We support a childrens health care project in Huaraz. We are happy to distribute much needed warm clothes and shoes to Peruvian children through suitable organizations. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |