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A program designed as an easier and shorter option, for those who want to see and feel the Ice Field. In 7 days you can walk the best of Huayhuash, and enjoy the most beautiful place in Huayhuash Range. We start the trek in Queropalca village and we are taking the opposite direction, in a way is more moderate than the normal direction.
Day 01:Huaraz – La Unión – Huánuco Pampa
Wonderful Huayhuash 3Drive to Chavin, with spectacular views of the Cordillera Blanca. The drive takes us over the continental divide at a high pass (4 680masl). From here we follow the Vizcarra river route for lunch at La Union, located in the Huánuco region. Above the village, on a big Pampa (high altitude meadow), is located Huánuco Pampa Complex where we spend the night at 3 650masl. This afternoon we are exploring the more important parts of this archaeological complex. It represents the evidence of the politic expansionism and imperialism from Inca culture. Definitely it is one of the most important Inca sites, still untouched as it must have stood in Inca times.
Day 02: Huánuco Pampa – Queropalca – Carhuacocha Lake
Drive four hours to Queropalca village. Leaving the site, the road crises-crosses past the villages of Rondos, Santa Rosa and Baños. From here the road slowly ascends to Queropalca (3 830masl), the trailhead. We start our hike to Carhuacocha, a beautifully located lake below Mt. Jirishanca, Siula Grande and Yerupajá (6 634masl), which is the highest Mountain in the Cordillera Huayhuash. Overnight on the lakeshore (4 130masl) with amazing views of the Jirishanca’s peaks, Yerupaja’s peaks and Siula Grande. This place must be the most beautiful camp site in Huayhuash Mountain Range..
Day 03: Carhuacocha Lake – Carhuac pass – Mitucocha
We start the day going up gradually along the green and grassy Yanayana valley toward to Carhuac pass (4 640masl), and then drop another cirque, with views of Rondoy and Ninashanca. From the pass we descend gradually into the grassy camp site (4 200masl), near the shores of Lake Mitucocha, surrounded by an awesome landscape.
Day 04:Mitucocha Cacanampunta pass – Rondoy
Walk up the hillside until we reach the Cacanampunta pass (4 690masl), the aquarium divortium between the Pacific and the Amazon. A Lake called Pucacocha can be seen from there. In this area the condors are often seen on thermals near the tops of these cliffs. We descend into the valley to join the road, which will take us to our next camp at Rondoy (4 100masl).
Day 05: Rondoy – Sambunya Pass – Jahuacocha Lake
We ascend through the Rondoy valley towards the pass of Sambunya at 4750masl, from where we can see the snow capped peaks of Ninashanca, Rondoy, Jirishanca, Yerupaja, Rasac and the Lake Solteracocha. We descend towards to Lake Jahuacocha; the support crew prepares a typical Pachamanca dinner. Overnight on the lakeshore (4 050masl) with amazing views of the Rondoy, Jirishanca, and Yerupaja Mountains.
Day 06: Rest day (short hike) – Optional
Jahuacocha lies at 4100masl beneath the glacier-covered west faces of Yerupaja, Jirishanca, Rasac and Rondoy. By day and by moonlight it is an indescribably beautiful place; there is abundant bird life (Puna ibis, Andean geese and more) around its shore, and many fine walks around and above it. The lake and rivers hold plenty of trout and we hope to catch enough for dinner. We spend a rest day here, although this extra day is partly to allow for delays en route.
Day 07: Jahuacocha – Pampa Llamac Pass – Llamac – Huaraz
Take in the last views of the Cordillera Huayhuash before we leave the snow-capped mountains behind as we head down the Jahuacocha valley. The trail heads over the Llamac pass (4 300masl), into the village of Llamac (3 300masl), where the bus will be waiting for us to back to Huaraz.
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