Cordillera Huayhuash Alpine Circuit
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The official home of Peru's Cordillera Huayhuash Alpine Circuit.
The Huayhuash Alpine Circuit is a 8-day mountaineering adventure in the heart of the Peruvian Andes. It involves 5000m of elevation gain, the same amount of loss, and 65km of distance. The Alpine Circuit is the best Haute Route on Planet Earth. |
Current Access Status
Alpine Circuit: OPEN
Non-guided group access: OPEN
Guided group access: OPEN
Garagocha Pass: OPEN
Rasac Pass: OPEN
Fees at end of Day 5 (Cutatambo): MANDATORY
** Review the Access Page before departure
Non-guided group access: OPEN
Guided group access: OPEN
Garagocha Pass: OPEN
Rasac Pass: OPEN
Fees at end of Day 5 (Cutatambo): MANDATORY
** Review the Access Page before departure
TLDR;
The Alpine Circuit is not the standard Huayhuash Circuit. The standard aka Valley aka "classic" Circuit is completed hundreds of times per year and is a hiking trail. The Alpine Circuit is a mountaineering route and is more demanding than the Valley Circuit, often with no pathway to follow. This is a physically demanding adventure, with approximately 5000m of vertical gain and the same amount of loss over 65km, much of it with full mountain backpacks. On the Alpine Circuit, you are on your own. While much of the Alpine Circuit is essentially hiking, many cruxes demand mountaineering skills and experience, with a glacier crossing, steep, exposed terrain, rock and icefall hazard, and short technical rock steps. In many places on the Alpine Circuit, a minor mistake could be fatal.
The most iconic spots on the Alpine Circuit are:
If you are unsure about whether you have the skills or experience for this route, consider hiring a guide and/or porters (see the Logistics for more info). The best months to do it are July-August; April-June, September-October are second best. December-March is the rainy season.
The Alpine Circuit is not the standard Huayhuash Circuit. The standard aka Valley aka "classic" Circuit is completed hundreds of times per year and is a hiking trail. The Alpine Circuit is a mountaineering route and is more demanding than the Valley Circuit, often with no pathway to follow. This is a physically demanding adventure, with approximately 5000m of vertical gain and the same amount of loss over 65km, much of it with full mountain backpacks. On the Alpine Circuit, you are on your own. While much of the Alpine Circuit is essentially hiking, many cruxes demand mountaineering skills and experience, with a glacier crossing, steep, exposed terrain, rock and icefall hazard, and short technical rock steps. In many places on the Alpine Circuit, a minor mistake could be fatal.
The most iconic spots on the Alpine Circuit are:
- Garagocha Col (Day 2)
- Chaclan Lake (Day 3)
- The Sidewalk into the Sky & Cerro Gran Vista (Day 6)
- Rasac Pass (Day 7)
If you are unsure about whether you have the skills or experience for this route, consider hiring a guide and/or porters (see the Logistics for more info). The best months to do it are July-August; April-June, September-October are second best. December-March is the rainy season.
The Circuit |
Day 1. Garagocha Lake
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Day 2. Garagocha Col
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Day 3. Chaclan Col
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Day 4. Siula Pass
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Day 5. Trapecio Pass
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Day 6. Touching the Void
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Day 7. Rasac Pass
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Day 8. Sambuya Pass
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