Alpamayo Circuit Trek in Peru — 14 Days

The Alpamayo circuit is a long trek through the northern Cordillera Blanca inside Huascarán National Park. The route links the Huaripampa, Paria, Huecrococha, Jancapampa and Cedros valleys, crosses a series of high passes and leads out to the classic view of the ice pyramid of Alpamayo.

The walking section takes ten days. It begins after the drive past the Llanganuco lakes and over the Portachuelo pass to Vaqueria, runs through Paria, Tuctu, Huecrococha, Jancapampa, Huilca, Jancarurish, Osoruri and Vishcash, and ends at Hualcayan. Arrival and two days of preparation in Huaraz are added to the itinerary.

The high point of the classic line is the Llamapashillon pass at around 4850 m; Cara Cara and Vientunan reach almost the same height. Within one route a participant climbs above 4500 m many times over, so ordinary city fitness is not enough. You need experience of multi-day walking, a steady pace on the ascents and the ability to sleep in a tent at altitude.

This is a trek around the massif, not an ascent of Alpamayo. The base trip includes no glacier, no high camp, no crampons, no ice axe and no fixed ropes. The out-and-back walk to the old base camp runs over steep moraine and can include short, easy rock sections; the guide shortens it on wet rock or in poor visibility.

On the accessible sections pack animals carry the group load and personal duffels of up to 7 kg. The day pack stays with the participant. After each pass the group moves into a new valley, so missing a day and catching the team up by vehicle is normally impossible.

Access rules and official fees apply inside the national park. They are included in the package once the route is confirmed. The state of the roads to Vaqueria and Hualcayan, the visiting regime and the actual line of the trail are checked by the local team before departure.

The circuit suits people who want to see Alpamayo without a technical ascent and are prepared to walk a self-contained high-mountain route to do so. For a first experience of trekking, a shorter route in the Cordillera Blanca is a better choice.

Day 1. Arrival in Huaraz

Independent arrival, check-in and rest. In the evening we go through the trip and make an initial check on how everyone is handling the altitude. Night in a hotel.

Day 2. Acclimatisation walk to Wilcacocha

We walk light up to Laguna Wilcacocha, which looks out over the Cordillera Blanca. The day is used to check pace, footwear and the reaction to altitude before the self-contained section. We return to Huaraz. Night in a hotel.

Day 3. Acclimatisation reserve and preparation

We check the camping kit, sleeping bags, rain protection and the packing of the duffels. The guide briefs the group on the passes, water and what to do if anyone starts to feel unwell. Night in a hotel.

Day 4. Huaraz - Llanganuco - Portachuelo - Vaqueria - Paria

We drive through the Callejón de Huaylas valley and past the Llanganuco lakes to the Portachuelo pass. At Vaqueria we meet the muleteers and start walking up the Huaripampa valley to the Paria camp at around 3800 m. Night in tents.

Day 5. Paria - Tuctu - out-and-back walk to Punta Union, 4750 m

We move to the Tuctu camp and climb light to Punta Union. Returning by the same path lets us make an acclimatisation ascent without carrying the full load over the pass. Night in tents.

Day 6. Tuctu - Alto Pucaraju pass, 4725 m - Huecrococha

We cross the first through high pass and descend to Lake Huecrococha. From the pass Pucaraju, Taulliraju and the neighbouring summits are in view. Night in tents.

Day 7. Huecrococha - Tupatupa pass, 4400 m - Jancapampa

We follow the lake, climb Tupatupa and descend into the broad Jancapampa valley. Here the route passes close to high-altitude settlements and pastures. Night in tents.

Day 8. Jancapampa - Yanajanca pass - Huilca

We climb the Yanajanca pass and then move into the next valley to the Huilca camp. The exact descent line is confirmed by the local guide according to the state of the trail. Night in tents.

Day 9. Huilca - Mesapata - Cara Cara pass, 4830 m - Jancarurish

A long day at altitude with two consecutive ascents. After Mesapata we cross Cara Cara, from which Alpamayo, Santa Cruz and Quitaraju come into view, and then descend to the Jancarurish camp. Night in tents.

Day 10. Viewpoint walk towards Alpamayo

Without moving camp we climb the moraine ground towards the old base camp and the viewpoint. The last section may require careful movement over easy rock. On wet rock, in snow or in poor visibility the guide turns the group back earlier. Night in tents.

Day 11. Jancarurish - Vientunan pass, 4770 m - Osoruri

We leave the Alpamayo valley over Vientunan and descend to the high camp at Osoruri. After the previous day's walk, keeping something in reserve matters especially. Night in tents.

Day 12. Osoruri - Llamapashillon pass, 4850 m - Vishcash

We cross the high point of the circuit and descend to Lake Cullicocha, then continue to the last camp at Vishcash. Night in tents.

Day 13. Vishcash - Hualcayan - Huaraz

The final descent by switchbacks brings us to Hualcayan, where transport is waiting. Return to Huaraz, rest and the end of the trekking section. Night in a hotel.

Day 14. Departure from Huaraz

Breakfast and independent departure. Onward flights and journeys should be planned with a margin for the state of the mountain road.

• A Mountain Guide trek leader for groups of 4 participants or more
• A local trekking guide for the whole circuit
• The Huaraz - Vaqueria and Hualcayan - Huaraz transfers
• Four nights in a hotel in Huaraz, twin rooms
• Nine nights in tents, twin occupancy
• Meals on the walking section and breakfasts in the hotel
• The work of the cook, the muleteers and the pack animals
• Transport of a personal duffel of up to 7 kg
• Group tents, kitchen, dining equipment and camp furniture
• Treated drinking water in the camps
• The official Huascarán National Park entrance fee for the stated line
• A group first-aid kit

• International flights and domestic air tickets
• The journey between Lima and Huaraz
• Visa and other entry documents where these are required by the participant's nationality
• Medical insurance for trekking up to 4850 m
• Single occupancy in a hotel or a tent
• Sleeping bag, personal clothing and personal equipment
• Lunches and dinners in Huaraz
• A personal riding horse and the carriage of baggage over 7 kg
• An ascent of the summit of Alpamayo and mountaineering equipment
• Medical costs, search and rescue and evacuation
• Tips for the local team
• Costs arising from the weather, road conditions or the official closure of sections

The Alpamayo circuit can be run for a private or corporate group on its own dates within the season. The quote sets out the participants' experience at altitude, the make-up of the local team, the number of single tents, the standard of the hotel in Huaraz, the baggage allowance, transport and reserve days.

A private format allows the start time and the pace to be adjusted within the safe logic of the circuit. It does not mean the ascent of Alpamayo is added automatically: a technical summit calls for a separate trip, mountaineering guides, equipment and an assessment of who may take part.

Family enquiries are considered case by case. Ordinary sightseeing experience is not enough to take part: every participant must be ready for nine nights under canvas, a series of high passes and being a long way from any road.

• A valid passport
• A visa, if one is required for your nationality
• Insurance covering multi-day trekking, rescue and evacuation from up to 4850 m
• Air tickets and any documents needed for transit
• The details needed to register with the local operator and with the national park
• Digital copies of your documents on your phone and in cloud storage

The rules for entering Peru and for visiting Huascarán National Park are checked before the trip, against your nationality and your dates.

The main trekking season in Huascarán National Park falls in the dry, cold period from roughly May to October. In those months clear mornings and settled views of the peaks are more common, but the nights in camp stay cold.

On the passes above 4500 m, strong wind, hail and snow are possible even in the dry season. Fresh snow or a frozen trail changes the group's pace, and wet rock makes the viewpoint outing towards Alpamayo unsafe.

From October to April, rain in the valleys and snow higher up become more likely. Precipitation affects not only the trail but the dirt roads to Vaquería and Hualcayán, so time is built into the ground transfers.

A clear view of Alpamayo cannot be guaranteed: cloud changes whatever the season. Whether to go up the viewpoint moraine is decided by the guide on the spot, according to the state of the rock, the visibility and how the group is going.

Before and after the circuit the group stays in a hotel in Huaraz, in twin rooms. The trek involves nine nights in two-person tents. The particular hotel and the campsites are confirmed before the trip.

The tents, the kitchen, the food and the agreed personal baggage are carried by the local team. You do not carry any of the group camp, but you always carry your day kit, and you should be ready to reach the site either before or after the pack train.

On the trail, breakfast, a daytime meal, dinner, hot drinks and treated water are included. Breakfasts are included in Huaraz. Lunches and dinners in town are paid separately unless your individual quote says otherwise.

Allergies, a vegetarian or vegan diet and any other restrictions must be agreed before the food is bought. On a multi-day self-sufficient section the menu is difficult to change once you have set out.

After leaving Vaquería the route becomes self-sufficient. The camps have no guaranteed shower, electricity, Wi-Fi or mobile network. Toilet arrangements depend on the site: either existing facilities or the local team's own camp arrangement is used.

Water for drinking and cooking is prepared by the camp team. For personal hygiene, bring your own toiletries and a quick-drying towel. Washing clothes is possible only by hand and should not be part of your daily plan.

Your holdall becomes available once the pack train arrives. Your day pack holds water, food for the day's walk, waterproofs, a warm layer, a head torch, documents and a personal first-aid kit. Pack your sleeping bag and your dry camp clothes in dry bags.

There is no mains power to charge devices on the circuit. You need a power bank for the whole self-sufficient section, and to be sensible about how much you film. A signal may appear briefly at certain high points, but it cannot be relied on.

Documents and baggage

• Passport and digital copies of your documents
• Insurance for high-altitude trekking to 4850 m, including evacuation
• Day pack of 30-40 litres with a rain cover
• A soft holdall of the agreed weight, to be carried by pack animals
• Dry bags for your sleeping bag, clothing, electronics and documents

Clothing and footwear

• Broken-in trekking boots with good grip on rock
• Light footwear for camp
• Base layers and a dry set of clothes to sleep in
• An insulating layer and a warm jacket with a hood
• Waterproof shell jacket and trousers
• Warm hat, buff and two pairs of gloves
• Sun hat and spare trekking socks

Personal equipment

• A warm sleeping bag for sub-zero nights above 4000 m
• Trekking poles
• Head torch with spare power
• Category 3-4 sunglasses and SPF 50 sun cream
• Bottles or a hydration system holding at least 2 litres in total
• A power bank for the whole self-sufficient section
• Personal first-aid kit, toiletries and a quick-drying towel

The final list depends on the state of the passes and of the viewpoint moraine. Mountaineering equipment for the ascent of Alpamayo is not part of this product and is no substitute for the separate summit trip.