The Huayhuash Circuit, Peru
Huayhuash is the best hike this blogger has ever done.
To include it in the top 10, however, is to promote it too lightly.
It’s remote and forbidding. This is where Joe Simpson & Simon Yates climbed Siula Grande in 1985. The book & film Touching the Void were based on that disastrous misadventure.
You need high alpine experience and an excellent guide. People get in trouble in the Huayhuash.
The Circuit is a minimum 140km (87mi) plus numerous sidetrips.
We spent 11 days with horses carrying our gear. A fantastic experience.
Don’t even think of booking a ticket to Peru without first checking with the experts on the Huayhuash. Start with La Cima Logistics, based in Huaraz, Peru. Then check Peaks and Places.
Why we love it:
getting high at Punta Coyoc pass 5490m (18,012ft) !!
Peru’s second highest summit, Yerupaja (6634m)
non-stop vistas — entire Circuit is above treeline
intensely glaciated, intensely beautiful
condors and other wild birds
fantastic natural hotsprings half way round the Circuit
limited road access, few people
a trip with pack animals is good value
lifetime experience you will never forget
Considerations:
Huayhuash is not a National Park.
it is almost completely unpoliced
a few hikers are robbed every season
best months are May to September
many passes over 4600m (15,092ft) will challenge you
weather is not nearly as good as in the nearby Cordillera Blanca
actually, the weather is terrible
prepare for cold & wind. Hypothermia is a risk.
no toilets — you should hire a proper toilet tent and shovel
toilet tents should be at least 50m from the nearest stream or lake
dogs will steal food right out of your tent
campsites are badly littered. Carry out your trash.
many hikers get lost. Map, compass & guidebooks are essential.
May – Sept is spawning season for trout. Do not fish nor buy fish from local herders. The once terrific trout fishing has been decimated.
if you like Huayhuash, you would also like Alpamayo and Ausangate in Peru, both easier treks to organize
Details on our Huayhuash Circuit information page.
larger photo – flickr – craigass
besthike.com 
am seriously considering huayhuash in 2008. have tons of self contained backpacking experience, including alaska and cordillera blanca (two guys, humping our own stuff). am intersted in talking to people who have done the circuit recently, especially if you did not go with a large commercial service. all info welcome. thank you.
The best single contact by far is Chris Benway at
La Cima Logistics in Huaraz …
Cafe Andino in Huaraz
http://www.besthike.com/southamerica/peru/huayhuash.html
He’s happy to organize a guide or mule driver. Happy to tell you how to do it independently.
La Cima Logistics, Chris Benway, in Huaraz is your best contact.
We told him we wanted MINIMAL support. We decided in the end on 2 pack animals and 1 mule driver.
That worked great for us.
besthike editor