14-Day Huayhuash Circuit: Miss Kendra Documentary Film Expedition

Arrive in Lima and prepare for the adventure ahead. Spend the day relaxing at your hotel or exploring the vibrant capital at your own pace. This is the perfect opportunity to acclimatize and recover from your journey.

After breakfast, guided city tour of Lima including the Plaza Mayor, Cathedral, Government Palace, and San Francisco Monastery. In the afternoon, panoramic visit of Miraflores and Barranco. Evening transfer to the station for the overnight bus to Huaraz (approx. 8 hrs).

Arrive in Huaraz early by bus and transfer to your hotel. After breakfast, embark on an acclimatization hike to Laguna Churup (4,550 m). At the turquoise lagoon beneath Mt. Churup (5,495 m), enjoy spectacular views before returning to Huaraz.

Depart Huaraz, travelling through scenic Andean villages and past Laguna Conococha, where flamingos may be spotted. Continue to Chiquian for lunch before reaching the trek’s starting point at Cuartelhuain, set at 4,160 metres. Set up camp and enjoy your first night under canvas, surrounded by the promise of the peaks to come.

Begin your trek with a steady ascent to the Cacanapunta Pass at 4,650 metres, enjoying panoramic views of glaciated peaks. Descend to your campsite in Janca, near the Mitucocha Lagoon, with vistas of Ninashanca, Rondoy, and Jirishanca. If you wish, take a short walk to the lagoon for closer views of the surrounding mountains. As night falls, the clear sky reveals a dazzling canopy of stars.

Depart Janca and ascend to the Carhuac Pass before following a high-altitude trail with exceptional views of the region’s iconic peaks. Pass the Alcaycocha lagoon and reach a viewpoint overlooking the stunning Gangrajanca, Siulacocha, and Quesillacocha lagoons. Descend to your campsite at Carhuacocha lagoon, considered one of the most beautiful sites of the trek, where the sunset bathes the peaks in vivid colour.

Follow the shore of Carhuacocha Lagoon and ascend the Siula Valley, passing the trio of Siula lakes. Pause at the 'Tres Lagunas' viewpoint for a remarkable panorama of the lakes and valley. Climb to the Siula Pass at 4,810 metres, then descend past dramatic peaks and the Carnicero Lagoon to your camp at Huayhuash, where you may find local families selling refreshments.

Leave the main circuit to ascend the Trapecio Pass at 5,010 metres, surrounded by hanging glaciers and towering peaks. For those with energy, a short climb to a viewpoint offers a sweeping amphitheatre of icy summits and lagoons. Descend through a striking landscape of basalt formations and past several lagoons to reach Camp Elephant, named for a distinctive rock formation nearby.

Ascend to the Santa Rosa Pass at 5,050 metres for unforgettable views of the region’s highest peaks and the turquoise Juraucocha lake below. Descend steeply to the lush Huayllapa Valley, where the landscape shifts to verdant meadows and waterfalls. Arrive in the traditional village of Huayllapa, where you may camp on the outskirts or opt for a simple room in the village.

Climb steadily from Huayllapa through the Quebrada Huancho, passing beneath the peaks of Jullutahuarco and Rajucollota. After reaching the broad Tapush Pass at 4,770 metres, descend past the Susococha lagoon to the Gashpapampa campsite. This stage offers a mix of narrow valleys and open plateaus, with a chance to appreciate the region’s varied terrain.

Continue your trek with a brief descent before climbing through a quenual forest to the Yauche Pass at 4,830 metres. Traverse a high ridge trail offering expansive views of the Cordillera Huayhuash and, on clear days, the Cordillera Blanca. Descend steeply to the picturesque Jahuacocha lagoon, where your final camp is set on the lakeshore, framed by the imposing west face of Yerupajá.

Pack up camp and walk out of the valley, enjoying a final two hours of gentle trekking. Meet your private transport at the roadhead and return to Huaraz via Pacllon and Chiquian. Celebrate your successful circumnavigation of the Cordillera Huayhuash with a comfortable night in Huaraz.

Travel by comfortable public bus from Huaraz to Lima, watching the landscape shift from the high Andes to the Pacific coast and the Atacama Desert. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in the Miraflores district. Spend your evening exploring the area or sampling local seafood at a nearby restaurant.

Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Lima Airport for your journey home. Reflect on your adventure and the remarkable landscapes experienced throughout your trek.