Our Cordillera Huayhuash photography trek drops you into Peru’s central Andes, where the range is small on the map and enormous in person—barely 30 kilometers of ice and rock, yet it holds six peaks over 6,000 meters. Yerupajá (6,635 m / 21,768 ft) is the second-highest mountain in Peru, and Siula Grande (6,344 m)—the peak from Joe Simpson’s Touching the Void—rises straight off the turquoise lakes and glacial valleys below. For a photographer, that density is the gift: the whole range is packed into a few days’ walk, and there’s almost no one else out here to share the light with.
The classic circuit runs about 130 kilometers (80 miles) and takes 10 to 14 days on foot. We cross a string of high passes— Punta Cacanan (4,700 m / 15,420 ft), San Antonio (5,020 m / 16,470 ft), Trapecio (5,000 m / 16,404 ft)—and every crest opens onto serrated ridges, hanging glaciers, and snow giants that shift by the hour as the weather moves through. You earn each of these views with your lungs, and they pay you back.
After we acclimatize near Huaraz for the first three days in the Cordillera Blanca, our route enters the Huayhuash range at Matacancha, via its northern edge. The route flows clockwise down the eastern side of the massif and walks out at the highland town of Cajatambo, closer to Lima, so we finish closer to the airport instead of doubling back to add another long drive back to Huaraz. This segment is the most spectacular of the whole range, so we dedicate more time to this part. Along the way the trail climbs through puna grasslands, glacial moraine, and valleys walled by granite spires. The compositions stack up fastest at the lakes—Mitucocha (4,230 m) and Carhuacocha (4,138 m), and the string of glacial tarns along the Three Lakes trail beneath Siula Grande’s east face—still basins that hand you the whole skyline doubled on a windless morning. Be at the water before the sun clears the ridge; the reflection dies the moment the breeze arrives. September is a great month since the deep winter cold is past and clouds begin to appear, adding the drama the best photos require.
When the sun goes down, the sky takes over. Camps sit between roughly 4,100 and 4,600 meters, the air is dry, and there’s no light pollution in any direction. On a clear night the Milky Way stands up over the peaks with no help from a screen—you point the camera and let the foreground be exactly what it is.
None of this is easy. The Huayhuash is remote, high, and physically challenging—there’s no road to duck out on for most of it. What makes it work is the team: pack animals carry the loads, so you walk with a light pack and a camera, and a local Quechua team runs the camps and the cooking. You handle the frame; they handle the rest. From sunlit glaciers to the deep blue of the high lakes, everything you shoot here is real—no filter required.
This trek includes everything – from your first hotel in Lima to your last — properly acclimatized, properly paced, and built to photograph the Huayhuash right, not race through it. We strive to provide a comprehensive experience where we handle everything, not leave it to you to figure out and not leave it to chance.
May to September
10 Guests
van, private vehicle, airplane
Hotels and tent camping
Level 4 – Challenging
We, of course, would do whatever is necessary in case of medical emergency and evacuate to the closest hospital or clinic to make sure you receive medical care.
Your journey begins with your arrival in Lima, Peru’s cosmopolitan capital nestled on the Pacific coast. After clearing customs and immigration, you’ll take a 5-minute walk to the hotel, which is within the airport enclave, as close as possible to avoid the congested Lima traffic. Within a short window of arrival, you should be checked-in at your hotel and ready to shower and have a casual meal and relax.
Depending on your arrival time, optional excursions can be arranged to enhance your first impressions of the country. Choose between a private city tour of Lima’s colonial core and contemporary highlights, or a curated gastronomy experience to sample Peru’s globally acclaimed cuisine (both optional and not included).
Lima sits at sea level, making it a perfect place to rest before ascending to the highlands. Take the evening to relax, enjoy a leisurely dinner, and prepare for your journey into the Andes.
Hotel: Wyndham Grand Costa Del Sol Lima Airport (5*)
Meals Included: None
After breakfast, you head to the domestic departure counter for your flight to Huaraz. The flight departs at 7:30 AM and you need to leave your hotel no later than 1.5 -2 hours before departure. The domestic flight is under an hour to the mountain city of Huaraz, gateway to the Cordilleras Blanca and Huayhuash to the south. You’ll arrive in Huaraz at an elevation of 10,000 feet (3,050 meters), where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to Hotel Cordillera in downtown Huaraz.
You may begin to feel the effects of altitude today, so we recommend taking it slow—hydration is key. Avoid alcohol, eat lightly, and consider sipping mate de coca, a traditional coca leaf tea that aids in acclimatization. Lunch is not included today, but you have many excellent options just a short walk from the hotel.
At 6 PM you will meet your guides at the lobby of your hotel for an introduction and prep talk for tomorrow and the rest of the journey. You can head out to dinner at an appropriate time and get to know each other.
Hotel: Cordillera (3*)
Meals Included: B, D
Today we get to see some breathtaking landscapes way above Huaraz! This is a high-altitude, vehicle-supported photography excursion. We depart Huaraz after breakfast and drive north toward the famed Llanganuco Lakes (12,630 ft / 3,850 m), nestled in a narrow glacial valley between the towering peaks of Huascarán and Huandoy.
After time to explore and photograph the lakes’ vivid turquoise waters, we continue the scenic ascent to Portachuelo Pass (15,640 ft / 4,767 m). From this panoramic viewpoint, a staggering sweep of peaks dominates the horizon—Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Pisco, Chacraraju, and more—rising in bold relief against the Andean sky. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch with these world-class vistas as our backdrop.
There’s an option to hike the Maria Josefa Trail, a gentle downhill route through high Andean forest and past glacial waterfalls. This short hike takes about an hour and offers more chances to capture intimate nature scenes before rejoining our vehicle.
We return to Huaraz in the late afternoon. Tonight, you’ll enjoy a hot shower and a final evening in town to rest and prepare. Tomorrow, we enter the Huayhuash.
Hotel: Cordillera (3*)
Meals Included: B, L, D
Our final acclimatization day before entering the Cordillera Huayhuash takes us into the stunning heart of the Cordillera Blanca for a solid hike.
Today’s objective is a more active acclimatization through high-elevation hike in the Cordillera Blanca. After breakfast, we head out by vehicle to Lagunas Llaca or Churup at around 14,760 feet (4,500 meters), offering pristine glacial settings and crisp, thin air that prepares the body for the rigors of the trek ahead. The views are easy on the eyes and great for photos.
Laguna Churup is a more strenuous hike that rewards the effort with a turquoise lake nestled beneath Churup’s craggy summit and glacier. The trail is steep, rocky, and technical in some sections—perfect for those wanting a challenge. Towering walls of granite and tumbling ice provide a dramatic backdrop for photography.
We enjoy a picnic lunch at the lake before returning to Huaraz in the late afternoon. This is the last evening to prepare for the start of the Huayhuash trek, so use this time to purchase last-minute supplies, check camera gear, and rest as needed. Dinner and overnight in Huaraz.
Hotel: Cordillera (3*)
Meals Included: B, L, D
We depart at 9 AM for the scenic overland journey to the northern gateway of the Cordillera Huayhuash. Today’s drive takes approximately 5 hours, with an hour stop for lunch en-route. It traverses a dramatic cross-section of central Peru’s mountain landscapes. Heading south from Huaraz, we cross the southern flanks of the Cordillera Blanca and ascend two high passes—one at 14,000 feet (4,268 m) and another at 15,350 feet (4,680 m)—before descending into the pastoral valleys below the Huayhuash.
As we near the Cordillera Huayhuash, towering peaks begin to dominate the skyline—Rondoy (19,255 ft / 5,870 m) and Ninashanca (18,390 ft / 5,607 m) marking our entry into one of the most spectacular alpine regions in South America.
We arrive at our first mountain camp at Matacancha (4,100 m) in the mid-afternoon. That gives us time to set up camp, settle in and take some photos while we walk in the foothills of the cordillera. This camp sits on the edge of vast highland plateaus and gives us our first real taste of solitude of the Cordillera Huayhuash. Dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Tent Camping
Meals Included: B, L, D
We wake under the peaks at Matacancha and begin trekking in earnest. The morning is a steady climb to the first true pass of the circuit, Punta Cacanan (15,420/ 4,700m). It’s a lung-tester at this altitude, but the crest pays it back: your first full look into the Huayhuash, with serrated peaks Rondoy, Ninashanca and Jirishanca stacking along the skyline. From the top we drop down the far side into the Mitucocha basin and follow the valley to camp near Laguna Mitucocha (13,875 ft / 4,230 m). Jirishanca’s sheer face rises straight off the water — a classic still-morning reflection when the lake goes to glass. Trail time is roughly 5–6 hours, leaving the afternoon to scout and set up for evening light before dinner in camp. Overnight camp at 4,150 m.
Accommodation: Tent Camping
Meals Included: B, L, D
Our Huayhuash circuit begins in earnest today with a gentle yet rewarding trek from Mitacocha lake to the breathtaking shores of Laguna Carhuacocha (13,715 ft / 4,180 m). The trail follows a gradual ascent through broad puna grasslands, giving you time to find your rhythm and tune into the pace of high-mountain travel.
After approximately 6-7 hours of hiking at a relaxed pace, we crest a small rise and descend into one of the most visually dramatic campsites in the Andes. Laguna Carhuacocha lies at the base of a towering wall of peaks—Jirishanca, Yerupajá, Siula Grande, and Sarapo—all rising between 17,860 and 21,700 feet (5,446 to 6,634 m). Their glaciated east faces, streaked with avalanche chutes and waterfalls, plunge into the mirrored waters of the lake. The surrounding golden hills of puna grass frame the entire scene in warm tones at sunset and dawn—perfect conditions for landscape photography.
The photographic opportunities here are exceptional. Sunset and sunrise light bathes the peaks in pinks and oranges, while the lake’s surface reflects the grandeur above. You’ll also have the chance to engage with local Quechua families who live seasonally in the valley, tending to their alpacas and sheep. Their traditional lifestyle provides another layer of cultural richness and photographic storytelling.
We camp lakeside and settle in to soak up the magic of this extraordinary place.
Accommodation: Tent Camping
Meals Included: B, L, D
Photographers will want to rise early this morning—sunrise over the Carhuacocha basin is one of the visual highlights of the entire trek. As the first light strikes the serrated summits of Siula Grande (6,344 m), Yerupajá (6,617 m), Yerupajá Chico (6,089m), and Jirishanca (6,094 m), the peaks blaze with color and are mirrored perfectly in the still waters of the lake. Yerupaja is Peru’s second highest peak after Huascaran (6,768 m) which we saw in the Cordillera Blanca near Huaraz while acclimatizing.
After breakfast, we break camp and begin one of the most scenic days of the circuit, hiking the famed Three Lakes Trail. This alternate route takes us past a string of stunning alpine lagoons—Qanrajancacocha, Siulacocha, and Quesillococha—tucked beneath sheer rock walls and surrounded by glacial debris fields. The trail is steep and rugged in places, but the visual payoff is immense: turquoise waters, braided streams, icefalls, and towering rock spires around every bend. We want to spend plenty of time here making photos….it’s truly a rugged, breathtaking scene.
While the pack animals take a more moderate route, we hike the Three Lakes Trail. These are the unforgettable vistas Huayhuash is famous for, with intimate access to the range’s inner sanctum. The trek today will take between 6-8 hours, depending on our pace, with plenty of time for photography!
We descend into the Huayhuash valley in the afternoon and set up camp at approximately 14,200 feet (4,330 m). There’s still time for sunset photography or to simply relax and absorb the silence of this remote alpine basin.
Accommodation: Tent Camping
Meals Included: B, L, D
Today is one of the more physically demanding days of the trek, but also one of the most rewarding in terms of wild rugged scenery. Early risers will want to capture the soft morning light over the Huayhuash valley before we begin our ascent toward Trapecio Pass—a high, rugged saddle that reaches 16,500 feet (5,040 m). This pass is among the highest on the route and brings us intimately close to the jagged ice face of Trapecio Glacier, where seracs hang in frozen motion and the scale of the landscape feels humbling.
The route is quiet and seldom used, which means we may have the entire trail to ourselves. Along the way, we pass isolated alpine tarns and scree-strewn slopes alive with wild textures—perfect opportunities for capturing the rawness of the Andes. The vistas here are uninterrupted and wild, with distant peaks layered in soft atmospheric light. As we crest the pass, panoramic views stretch far across the Cordillera and down into the Guanacpatay Valley, where our destination—Elefante Camp—awaits. We descend steadily, surrounded by a dramatic cirque of lesser-known peaks and wide open meadows often dotted with grazing alpacas.
Depending on conditions and individual pace, today’s trek will take between 6 to 8 hours. By this point in the expedition, your body will be well acclimatized, allowing you to move more freely and focus more deeply on the stunning photo around you.
Elefante Camp is at 13,775 feet (4,200 m) located in a broad, peaceful basin. We’ll arrive in time to relax, enjoy a hot meal, and shoot the late light as it stretches across the valley’s glacial flanks.
Accommodation: Tent Camping
Meals Included: B, L, D
Today is a layover at Elefante Camp — no breaking camp, a lighter day pack, and one pure photographic objective. After breakfast we climb toward Santa Rosa Pass (5,060m), the vantage that opens the Cutatambo Valley below. This is the payoff: a direct line to the face of Siula Grande (6,344 m) — the peak Joe Simpson and Simon Yates climbed and nearly didn’t come down from, the mountain at the center of Touching the Void. Standing here, looking down into the amphitheater where that survival story actually happened, is one of the emotional high points of the whole trek. Besides the immediate realization that you are really, really small standing here and how massive Siula Grande is…do not be distracted..this is one of the most powerful photo locations in the Huayhuash! Take your time and work the scene…with lenses from ultra wide to telephoto lenses. We work the views through the best of the afternoon, then descend back to Elefante Camp in Guanacpatay before sunset. Dinner and overnight in camp.
Accommodation: Tent Camping
Meals Included: B, L, D
Today we cross one of the highest and most scenic passes of the entire Huayhuash circuit—Cuyoc or Viconga Pass, topping out at 16,405 feet (5,000 m). The morning begins with a gradual ascent from Guanacpatay up through open alpine meadows and rugged terrain, flanked by glaciated cliffs and moraine ridges. As we gain elevation, views of Puscanturpa Sur Glacier dominate the horizon, its fractured icefall descending steeply toward the valley below.
Photographically, the light here is crystalline. The play of sun and shadow across the surrounding peaks offers dramatic contrasts, while the textures of lichen-covered rocks and wind-swept grasses add foreground depth to wide-angle compositions. You’ll pass quiet, high-altitude tarns and catch glimpses of distant ridgelines marking the border with the lesser-known Cordillera Raura—a remote and seldom-visited range visible to the southeast.
After cresting the pass, we descend gradually into the Viconga drainage. Along the way, herds of alpacas graze across rolling puna meadows, and if we’re lucky, we may spot Andean foxes or caracaras scanning the skies. On the left lies Lago Viconga (14,455 ft / 4,407 m), a large man-made reservoir backdropped by snowy peaks—a stark, beautiful contrast of water, rock, and ice.
By late afternoon, we reach one of the trek’s most welcome surprises: the Viconga Hot Springs Camp at 14,320 feet (4,365 m). This natural thermal spring has been channeled into a man-made soaking pool where you can unwind sore muscles beneath open skies. Hot water flows constantly, making for a clean, soothing experience. With cold drinks available and evening light filtering through the steam, it’s a uniquely relaxing moment in the middle of wild terrain. Trail time today is between 5-7 hours, depending on your pace.
There’s also an opportunity to hand-wash clothes in the naturally warm stream nearby. Whether soaking or photographing the stars rising over the surrounding hills, this camp is a favorite for good reason. There is nothing more satisfying than soaking in hot springs while watching the Andean stars dance above.
Accommodation: Tent Camping
Meals Included: B, L, D
Today marks the conclusion of our Huayhuash trekking circuit, and we begin with one last peaceful morning in the highlands. Get up early and slip into the steaming Viconga Hot Springs one last time before breakfast. As the sun rises and steam curls over the mountains, it’s a moment of pure serenity—soaking in thermal waters at over 14,000 feet with Andean peaks as your backdrop.
After breakfast, we break camp and begin a steady descent towards the town of Cajatambo (13,450 ft / 4,100 m). The trail winds gently through golden grasslands, following the course of the Pumarinri River, where trout dart through clear waters and falcons often soar above. Small hamlets come into view as we return to more inhabited terrain—stone corrals, adobe homes, and occasional shepherds tending to flocks of alpacas. The final hike takes about an hour until we rendezvous with our private vehicle, load up our gear, and begin the transfer leg back to Lima. We are not returning to Huaraz as we are closer to Lima from here. We don’t need an 8-9-hour drive back to Huaraz when we can get to Lima sooner.
The overland drive to Lima airport (and your hotel for tonight) takes approximately 7 hours (traffic notwithstanding), winding through river valleys and high plateaus before dropping quickly from the Andes to more temperate valleys and then onto the desert landscape next to the Pacific Ocean. Upon arrival in Lima, we head to the airport so you can check-in to your hotel for the night. This will give you time to shower, pack and get a good night’s sleep before departure tomorrow back home.
We’ll gather for a well-earned farewell dinner—a time to share stories, review images, and toast an unforgettable trek through one of the world’s most spectacular mountain ranges.
Hotel: Wyndham Grand Costa Del Sol Lima Airport (5*)
Meals Included: B, L, D
For those returning home, make sure to arrive at the international check-in counter 3 hours before departure.
Hotel: Not included
Meals Included: B
Hello Sergio, Jose and Javier,
It's been a few months since we were in Peru and the Huayhuash with your team. Last night we sat down to see some photos...and we were reminiscing about those blue andean skies and the golden colors across the landscape. Even the few cloudy days and nighttime rain added to the beauty we had the pleasure of enjoying....with no one around. You were right, it is remote, but it is also incredibly beautiful, impenetrable and frankly a little imposing. We felt small surrounded by such huge peaks, and when we saw Siula Grande where Joe Simpson and his partner had their epic survival...we understood the magnitude of those peaks. I don't know how they survived...We were in good hands as Jose and Javier were excellent guides and besides knowing many of the locals we met along the way they also shared the stories of the Shining Path and the hard times so many decades ago. We give your staff 5 stars for organization, transport, food and guiding. We felt we received a great service for a fair price. Thank you so much again and we know these memories will last us a lifetime. Salut!
Jean-Pierre and Claudette (the vagabonds of Quebec)
Our tour prices are based on a tiered pricing model. More guests = lower price, per person. That means the prices go down on a per-person basis as more people book onto a specific tour departure. Prices are based on double occupancy / twin share basis. All prices are in U$ Dollars.
Contact us for guidance on a quote for your group or private trip.
| Lowest Price | 7-10 travelers | $4,535 / per person |
| Average Price | 4-6 travelers | $ 6,425 / per person |
| Optimum Price | 2-3 travelers | $ 9,150 / per person |
| Highest Price | 1 solo traveler | $ 15,945 / for 1 solo traveler |
| Single Supplement Fee | Per Person / Per Tour | $ 475 / for a single hotel room / single tent for the whole tour |
Deposit & Terms (universal — identical on every tour. Custom tours have special terms, please contact us. ): A 30% deposit (minimum $1,000 per person) reserves your space. Of that, $1,000 per person is a non-refundable administrative fee — but it’s never lost: it’s always credited toward your trip, even if you change trips or dates, and it’s part of the total price, not an extra charge. Balance due 90 days before departure. Trip insurance (with a “cancel for any reason” rider) is required. See our Terms & Conditions for full details, or contact us for a custom or private quote.
Start Date: September 19, 2026
End Date: October 1, 2026
