The final day of the Huayhuash Circuit is a triumphant farewell to the mountains, threading through some of the most spectacular and least-traveled scenery of the entire trek. Departing Yaucha Punta, the trail traverses quiet ridgelines and climbs toward Cerro Huacrish, with condors soaring overhea[...]
The penultimate day of the Huayhuash Circuit is a gruelling push back into the high mountains, stacking elevation gain upon elevation gain across some of the trek’s most colourful valleys. Departing Huayllapa, the trail climbs steeply past waterfalls and sagebrush before easing into the rolling h[...]
Although today's hike is quite short and lacks a lot of the previous day's dramatic scenery, it is incredibly dramatic and memorable in other ways. From our camp at the base of Rasac and its chilly glacier, we descend to Huayllapa, passing waterfalls and the most green vegetation we've seen in days[...]
My custom Huayhuash Circuit adventure route now veers completely off the traditional trail, adding an entire day of wild exploration in one of the range’s most dramatic valleys. After departing Laguna Juraucocha, ascend through glacial moraines into Quebrada Sarapococha, a surreal landscape of ic[...]
The sixth day of the Huayhuash Circuit is rugged, remote, and wildly scenic, offering a thrilling climb to the highest official pass of the trek. After departing Cuyoc camp, the route ascends steeply toward Paso Santa Rosa (5,060m), revealing sweeping views of Siula Grande, Yerupajá, and a chain o[...]
The 5th day of the Huayhuash Circuit delivers jaw-dropping scenery from start to finish. From Viconga camp, the trail climbs steadily alongside towering glaciers, topping out at Punta Cuyoc (5,050m) before skidding down steep scree slopes into a wide, open pampa at Cuyoc camp. For those with en[...]
The fourth day of the Huayhuash Circuit brings a welcome reprieve, trading the previous day’s lung-busting climbs for a short, scenic wander through rolling valleys. Departing Huayhuash camp, the trail ascends gently to Portachuelo de Huayhuash (4,770m), a windy pass with incredible views of Trap[...]
The third day of the Huayhuash Circuit is a showstopper, delivering some of the most iconic views of the entire trek. Departing Laguna Carhuacocha, the trail follows the lakeshore before climbing steeply onto a glacier moraine for a glimpse of Laguna Gangrajanca. From there, the classic route ascen[...]
Our second day on the Huayhuash Circuit features even more incredible alpine scenery, wild textured landscapes, and navigational confusion than our first day. It's a relatively short distance from the base of Jirishanca to our next planned camp, this time at an official site on the shores of Laguna[...]
The first day of the Huayhuash Circuit starts out with a bang, delivering dramatic alpine scenery and a satisfying climb right out of Quartelhuain to the first high pass of the trek, Cacananpunta (4,690m). From the pass, it’s possible to follow the standard valley route, but the recommended ruta[...]
Widely considered to be one of Peru's most stunning glacier lakes, Laguna Parón in Parque Nacional Huascarán is easily accessible as a day trip from Huaraz— photos of an impossibly blue lake framed by towering peaks of the Cordillera Blanca were all the encouragement I needed to cram yet anothe[...]
Walking beneath the 6,384m snow-capped peak of Ausangate, it’s absolutely impossible not to be swept up in the mysticism and magic of the Peruvian Andes. Couple the jaw-dropping and life-altering scenery of the Ausangate Circuit with a visit to Vinicunca, the surreal Rainbow Mountain newly emerge[...]
After an incredibly scenic day along the Ausangate Circuit yesterday, we are linking up to Vinicunca today for a spectacular sunrise at Rainbow Mountain. The added benefit of beating the crowds travelling from Cusco is certainly not lost on us, but what really sets the experience aside is the insan[...]
The Ausangate Circuit, a 70km trek around a towering peak of the same name, is easily accessible from Cusco yet remains delightfully undiscovered by the masses. Cramming in every possible trek to our itinerary, though, means that we really only have time for an abridged version of this incredible t[...]
Nestled high in the Peruvian Andes and shrouded in thick fog, Machu Picchu is one of the world's most enigmatic archaeological sites, continuing to reveal new secrets even a century after its "discovery" by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. This impeccably preserved Incan citadel, which amazingl[...]
As mysterious as it is breathtaking, Machu Picchu is quite possibly the best preserved Incan archaeological site in all of South America, but certainly the most beloved, drawing millions of eager travellers from around the world to its remote location in the Peruvian Andes. There are a number of wa[...]
An increasingly popular but still far less crowded alternative to the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek traverses high mountain passes and stunning alpine scenery to reach the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu. The trek takes its name from Salkantay Mountain, which rises an impressive 6,271m and absolu[...]
It's not just the beauty of the Peruvian Andes, the majesty of Mexico's volcanoes, or the grandeur of the French Alps that will take your breath away— it's also the altitude. Characterised by headaches, shortness of breath, and general fatigue, altitude sickness is the last thing you want to e[...]
The grand finale to what has been an absolutely incredible trek beneath towering snow-capped peaks and through vibrant cloud forest, today is the day we finally get to see Machu Picchu (or, in my case, see Machu Picchu again!). Anticipation is thick in the air for all of us, and the sight of the wi[...]
Our third day on the Salkantay Trek brings a totally new kind of scenery, the alpine peaks of the previous days giving way to lush green jungle, colourful wildflowers, and fleeting glimpses of Machu Picchu as we near Aguas Calientes. It's a long day in terms of kilometres, but an altogether undeman[...]