How challenging is the Alpamayo Circuit?

This is a challenging high-altitude trek involving consecutive days of hiking over mountain passes above 4,400m / 14,436ft, with the highest point reaching 4,850m / 15,912ft. A good level of fitness and previous multi-day trekking experience are recommended.

How does the itinerary help with altitude acclimatisation?

The itinerary includes three nights in Huaraz with acclimatisation walks to Willcahuaín and Laguna Churup before beginning the main trek, helping your body gradually adjust to the altitude.

What type of accommodation is used?

Accommodation includes comfortable hotels in Lima and Huaraz, one night in a local lodge at Hualcayan, and fully serviced wilderness camps throughout the Alpamayo Circuit.

Will my main pack be carried?

Yes. Pack animals carry the camping equipment and your main duffel bag during the trek, allowing you to walk each day carrying only a daypack with your personal essentials.

What makes the Alpamayo Circuit special?

The Alpamayo Circuit is one of Peru's most scenic trekking routes, offering close views of Alpamayo, turquoise glacial lakes, remote valleys, high mountain passes and fewer trekkers than many other classic Andean hikes.

What wildlife might I see?

The Cordillera Blanca is home to Andean condors, alpacas, llamas and a variety of high-altitude birdlife. Condors are sometimes seen soaring above the mountain passes, while alpacas are commonly encountered grazing on the high puna grasslands.

Views of Alpamayo peak, Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Mountain peak in view from Lake Carhuacocha, Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru. A spectacular sunset behind the peaks at camp one of the Cordillera Huayhuash. | Susan Hood

Trekking in the Andes, Peru

Condor flies over the Huayhuash mountains in Peru | Ken Harris

Alpamayo Circuit

Trek Peru's spectacular Cordillera Blanca on the iconic Alpamayo Circuit, crossing high passes through wilderness.

Peru

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8 reviews

18 Days from

$4160 USD

Trip Code: HPL

View dates to Book

Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Tent Only Single Supplement

$150 USD

Single Supplement

$200 USD

Duration

18 Days

Activities

11 day trek
2 day walks

Style

Classic Adventures

Accommodation

7 nights hotel
10 nights camping

Meals

12 Dinners
16 Lunches
17 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading

6 / 10

Moderate to Challenging

Carbon Footprint

27kg of CO₂-e PP per day

(454kg of CO₂-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

Complete the spectacular Alpamayo Circuit through Peru's remote Cordillera Blanca
Trek beneath the iconic pyramid-shaped peak of Alpamayo, considered one of the world's most beautiful mountains
Cross eight high mountain passes, reaching elevations of up to 4,850m / 15,912ft
Camp beside turquoise glacial lakes surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks and hanging glaciers
Spot Andean condors soaring above dramatic mountain landscapes and visit traditional Andean villages
Explore Huaraz and acclimatise with hikes to Laguna Churup and the pre-Inca ruins of Willcahuaín

Overview

The Alpamayo Circuit is one of South America's most rewarding wilderness treks, taking you deep into the heart of Peru's spectacular Cordillera Blanca. This challenging journey traverses remote valleys, glacial lakes and high mountain passes while showcasing some of the Andes' most iconic peaks, including the striking pyramid of Alpamayo, Huascarán, Taulliraju and Santa Cruz. Along the way you'll camp in spectacular alpine settings, cross rugged passes reaching 4,850m (15,912ft), and enjoy ever-changing views of snow-capped summits, hanging glaciers and crystal-clear mountain lakes.

Designed with acclimatisation in mind, the itinerary begins with several days in Huaraz and rewarding day hikes before venturing onto the circuit. Supported by experienced local guides and a dedicated mountain crew, you'll trek through Huascarán National Park, encounter traditional farming communities, spot wildlife including Andean condors and alpacas, and experience the remarkable solitude of one of Peru's finest trekking regions. Combining challenging hiking, fully serviced wilderness camping and unforgettable mountain scenery, the Alpamayo Circuit offers an exceptional adventure for experienced trekkers seeking a classic Andean expedition.

Itinerary

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If you’re flying into Lima today you will be met at the airport and transferred to the group hotel, where the remainder of the day is free at leisure for you to rest or start exploring. Our hotel is in the Miraflores area, home to some of Lima’s best galleries, restaurants and shops. Steeped in fascinating history, Lima is South America’s oldest capital. It was in 1535 that the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro overthrew the Inca Empire and moved the capital from Cusco, establishing the new city of Lima. Peru’s busy capital is now a sprawling metropolis that’s blessed with world-class restaurants, brilliant museums and galleries, and a superb combination of Spanish colonial and 19th century European architecture. If you have time to visit a museum we would recommend the Museo de La Nacion or the Larco Herrera Museum. Accommodation: Lima in Dazzler Miraflores Hotel or similar

Meals: Nil

Today we take a comfortable first class public bus and drive to Huaraz, our gateway to the stunning Cordillera Blanca. It’s a long day’s journey (approx 8 hour drive) but we’ll be treated to some incredible scenery along the way. Groups operating with 10 or more people will have private transport. For smaller groups, we will travel with our guide on a comfortable tourist class air-conditioned coach which provides restrooms, reclining seats and touch screens. A light lunch (lunch box) is included during the bus trip but we recommend you take some additional snacks. On arrival in Huaraz we will be transferred to our hotel and meet our guide for the trek. We plan to have our first group briefing before dinner tonight. Accommodation: Huaraz in Hotel Suiza Peruana or similar

Meals: B,L

We now have two days in Huaraz to explore this stunning region with some day walks - and at an elevation of 3,052m (10,013ft), our time spent in Huaraz is crucial to our safe acclimatisation. Huaraz is a scenic town set at the foot of the Cordillera Blanca with views directly up to the highest peak in Peru, Huascarán (6,768m / 22,205ft). There is a range of different walking excursions we can make from our base here for a couple of days, and these hikes will be invaluable acclimatisation for our trekking program ahead. As the gateway to the Cordillera Blanca, Huaraz is a bustling tourism hub and also serves as a pick up point for our crew and all supplies and equipment for the trek. On Day 3, we walk to the pre-Inca ruins of Willcahuaín (3,400m / 11,155ft) and back to the hotel in a loop walk that will last 4–5 hours, finishing the day with a relaxing soak in the Monterrey hot springs. On Day 4, we make a day trip to Laguna Churup (4,485m / 14,715ft), a beautiful glacial lake set at the base of Nevado Churup (5,493m / 18,022ft). This is one of the most popular day treks in the Cordillera Blanca and takes around 4-5 hours to complete. The trek to Churup Lake is an excellent training and acclimatisation hike for our upcoming Alpamayo Circuit, and our efforts will be rewarded when we arrive at this stunning turquoise glacial lake. Accommodation: Huaraz in Hotel Suiza Peruana or similar

Meals: B,L

Today we will drive from Huaraz to Hualcayan via Caraz, a trip of around 5 hours including stops. We head north from Huaraz, descending into the vast Callejón de Huaylas valley. We visit the memorial for Yungay, a town that was completely destroyed by the giant avalanche of ice, rock and mud that came down from the flanks of Huascarán during the 1970 earthquake. From here we stop to visit the busy local market in Caraz, before driving along an unpaved road up into the mountains to our first night’s campsite at Hualcayan village (2,900m / 9,514ft). Accommodation: El Abuelo or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Today we set off on a steady, continuous climb, swiftly gaining altitude as we zigzag up to our next camp at Wishcash (4,300m / 14,108ft), perched high up the mountainside. From here we have terrific views west across the Callejón de Huaylas to the Cordillera Negra, and at night we can see the twinkling lights of the villages high up in the Cordillera Negra. Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

Today will be a tough day (8-9 hours’ trekking) and our pre trek training will be put to good use as we climb on a generally good zigzagging path to the crystal blue Laguna Cullicocha (4,650m / 15,256ft). From here we enjoy a magnificent panorama with the summits of Santa Cruz (6,259m / 20,535ft) Santa Cruz Norte and Santa Cruz Chico - rising steeply at the opposite end of the lake. As we continue our ascent towards our first mountain pass, Osoruri (4,850m / 15,912ft; joint-highest point on our trek), our views of the surrounding lakes and peaks get better and better. We descend and climb again to the Vientunan Pass (4,770m / 15,650ft) before embarking on a long switch-back descent to the depths of the Quebrada los Cedros valley. We pass the terraced fields surrounding the thatch-roofed crofter’s hamlet of Alpamayo and soon after reach our camp at Ruinapampa (4,050m / 13,287ft). Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

This morning we will trek for a few hours on almost flat terrain up the beautiful Cedros valley. On the way we’ll see some ruined structures and ancient standing stones. Eventually, the spectacular pyramid form of Alpamayo (5,947m / 19,515ft) comes into view to the southeast. We then climb up the nearby moraine overlooking the stunning glacial lake of Laguna Jancarurish for close-up views of the Alpamayo and Jancarurish (5,601m / 18,376ft) peaks. Alternatively, we may venture to Alpamayo basecamp. Tonight we will camp at Cruze Alpamayo (4,150m / 13,615ft). Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

Today we have a trekking day of around 7 hours, first crossing the Los Cedros River and climb steadily to our next pass, the sometimes-windy Cara Cara (4830m / 15,846ft). From here, there are great views back to the peaks of Alpamayo, Jancarurish, Quitaraju (6,036m / 19,803ft) and the Laguna Jancarurish. We descend to a plateau and spend two hours on an easy traverse to a second, lower pass (Mesapata; 4,500m / 14,764ft), before dropping to our camp at Safuna in the Quebrada Tayapampa (4,200m / 13,780ft). Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

Again, today’s trek will be around 7 hours long, and we start by crossing the Huillca plateau, one of few locations in the Cordillera Blanca where alpacas are found in abundance. We ascend a narrow valley to a rocky pass, Pucajirca (4,600m / 15,092ft), from which - weather permitting - we are treated to awesome views of the snowcapped peak of Pucajirca Norte (6,046m / 19,836ft). From here we have a short descent on steep scree, but it soon levels out as we continue down a shrub-filled valley flanked by quenual (polylepis) forest. We pass the beautiful tree-fringed Laguna Sactaycocha and continue our descent through rich vegetation to the broad Quebrada Jancapampa valley. We camp near the head of the valley (3,600m / 11,811ft); directly behind camp we have views of a huge hanging glacier and waterfalls cascading down a vast horseshoe of cliffs hundreds of metres high. A lot of farming families live across the valley, and it is our first opportunity since Huallapa to meet the friendly local people and the curious, happy children who call the valley home. Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

Today we’ll trek past adobe house villages and cultivated fields, climbing first gradually, and then more steeply, to the Tupatupa Pass (4,400m / 14,436ft), from where we’ll have views of the big peaks of the Pucajirca/Rinrijirca massif to the west. Today we will also pass through the continental divide; all rivers running west head for the Pacific and those running east eventually reach the Atlantic, via the Amazon. Our trail descends via a small mountain lake (tarn) into the broad Tuctubamba valley that we follow downstream before making a short half-hour climb to our campsite beside Laguna Huecrococha (3,950m / 12,959ft). Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

We flank the north shore of Laguna Huecrococha then begin a long, gentle traverse of the steep, forested Huecrococha valley. At the valley head, the ascent steepens and zigzags to the Alto de Pacaraju Pass (4,650m / 15,256ft). At certain times of the year the lupins that cover the hillsides are in flower, and the scent can be intoxicating. From the pass we will have magnificent views of many peaks including the jagged Taulliraju (5,830m / 19,127ft), which towers over the pass. A rocky descent brings us to the open Quebrada Huaripampa valley and our camp at Tuctubamba (3,950m / 12,959ft). Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

We spend another night at the same camp to make the most of our incredible mountain surroundings. Today we have the option to take a day walk (5 hour round trip) to the beautiful Punta Union pass (4,760m / 15,617ft), from where we look directly down the Santa Cruz valley (the route of the famous Santa Cruz trek), across to the awesome sight of the Pucajirca massif. Directly above us looms the intimidating west face of Taulliraju and, with good weather, we might also see Artesonraju (6,025m / 19,767ft) to the west. Alternatively, you may prefer to spend the day resting around camp. Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

Today we follow the main Santa Cruz trail down the Huaripampa valley. After 3 hours, we pass through the intensive farmlands of the villages of Huaripampa and then Colcabamba. As we approach Huaripampa, Chacraraju’s east summit rises sharply before us to the west. Today we pass many farmhouses and small settlements and then climb steadily for another hour to the village of Challhua, before traversing easily to our campsite at Molino Pampa in the Quebrada Keshu (3,600m / 11,811ft). Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

Today’s trek is not long, but it offers dramatic scenery and swift elevation gain. We begin with a steady ascent of the Keshu valley, passing through some beautiful ancient quenual (polylepis) forest until we reach a mass of moraine enclosing a glacial lake. At this point the climb steepens as we head up the valley’s north side on a zigzag path to the plateau where our high campsite, Avalancha (4,650m / 15,256ft) is located. Across the valley from our spectacular campsite there are almost continual avalanches from the glaciers of Contrahierbas (6,037m / 19,806ft) crashing into the lake below. After lunch at our camp we’ll spend an exciting afternoon avalanche watching. Accommodation: Fully serviced wilderness campsite

Meals: B,L,D

This morning we ascend for a few hours to a high narrow ledge and on to a dramatic knife-edge mountain pass. This is the last and most spectacular pass of our trek, Punta Yanayacu (4,850m / 15,912ft), where Andean Condors nest and are sometimes spotted in flight. From here we also have close views of the dramatic snowcapped peaks of Chopicalqui and Contahierbas. We then have a short zigzag descent into the Cancahua valley below. As we trek past glacial lakes, we are surrounded by towering snowcapped peaks including Contahierbas, the pyramidal Nevado Ulta to the south, and the highest - Huascarán (6,768m / 22,205ft) - to the northwest. We complete our trek with a long descent through quenual forest to the beautiful Quebrada Ulta valley, where our private bus will be waiting to take us back to Huaraz. The drive will take around 2 hours. This evening we will enjoy a farewell meal with our fellow trekkers. Accommodation: Huaraz in Hotel Suiza Peruana or similar

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast we will be transferred to the bus station and take a first class public bus back to Lima. A light lunch (lunch box) is included but we recommend to take some additional snacks. On arrival in Lima we will be picked up and drive to our hotel in Miraflores for our last night in Peru. Tonight is the last chance for souvenir shopping at the markets in Miraflores before our flight home tomorrow. Accommodation: Lima in Dazzler Miraflores Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

After breakfast, our trip concludes. If you are flying home today, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your departure.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

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What's included?

Included

17 breakfasts, 16 lunches and 12 dinners
Airport transfers if arriving Day 1 and departing on Day 18
Transfer in first class public bus from Lima to Huaraz return for groups of less than 10 and private transportation for groups of 10+ people
Expert bilingual guide
Comfortable and central hotels in Lima and Huaraz
All internal transportation
Use of a gear pack including sleeping bag, fibre filled jacket and sleeping mat
Pack animals or porters on trek to carry personal gear
Portable altitude chamber carried on trek
Fully serviced wilderness campsites on trek
Acclimatisation hikes to Willcahuaín and Laguna Churup
Group medical kit includuing a portable altitude chamber, emergency oxygen and satellite phone

Not included

International Flights
Travel Insurance (compulsory)
Visa and passport fees (if applicable)
Personal expenses, including laundry, alcoholic and soft drinks
Tips and gratuities for guides and trek crew
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Excess baggage charges
Any items not listed as included