Complete solo Huayhuash Circuit packing list: what to pack for 10 days without a guide

backpack (50-75L): Osprey Aura AG 50 (women’s) / Atmos AG 65 (men’s)

The Osprey Aura (women’s) or Atmos (men’s) are both perfect for this kind of expedition: ultra-comfortable, breathable, and built to handle heavy loads.

I personally used the Osprey Aura AG 50, and while it was tight with 18kg of cold-weather gear and food, I personally find larger bags too unwieldy for my small frame and was happy with the choice. Others might be more comfortable with a 65L, so just consider your own packing habits and how large (not just how heavy) of a pack you can reasonably carry!

👉🏼 Need more advice on choosing a backpack? Check out this post: How to choose the best hiking backpack for every outdoor adventure

raincover: REI Co-op Duck’s Back Pack Rain Cover

Protects your gear from sudden downpours— some packs come with one built-in, but if not, make sure to pack a lightweight rain cover that fits over your bag (REI’s size medium or large should work best, depending on your pack capacity).

summit pack: REI Co-op Flash 18

I carried a small summit pack for side trips and scrambles (all described within my custom 10-day Huayhuash itinerary). This should be something super light, just large enough to fit essentials like layers, water, and snacks for excursions where you can drop your big pack.

hiking boots: Salomon Quest 4 GTX boots

This route is rough, rocky, and often more of a steep hillside than an actual trail, so you need a sturdy, comfortable boot with excellent ankle support. I wore Salomon Quest 4 GTX boots and they performed beautifully!

Preparing to do this hike again in 2025 (before cancelling due to knee surgery), I was planning to wear an even lighter hiking boot, the adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots (women’s) / (men’s). I haven’t tested them on this exact trail, but felt like they would have been a great choice!

👉🏼 Need more advice on choosing the right boot? Read my outdoor footwear guide

trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles

There’s no way I’d hike Huayhuash without trekking poles. The Black Diamond Trail Poles have been with me for years and they’ve saved my knees on steep downhills and helped balance a heavy pack through all kinds of terrain. Highly recommended for every single day on this trek!

backpacking tent: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (solo hikers) or Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 3P (for 2 sharing)

You can get away with a 3-season backpacking tent on the Huayhuash (no need for a heavy 4-season), but definitely choose something robust and durable to withstand the occasionally harsh conditions at elevation.

I originally did this trip sharing a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 with both of my parents, but if I were to do it again with James, I’d use our Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 3P. It’s a little more study and holds up phenomenally in crazy wind (we’ve used this tent all over Patagonia), while still being reasonably light and packable.

sleeping bag: Feathered Friends Murre EX 0 (comfort rated: -18°C) or Sea to Summit Spark 0

Prioritise a sleeping bag rated to -15°C or lower, as it gets extremely cold at night— these are some of the coldest conditions I’ve ever camped in and I was wearing every single layer inside my bag just to stay warm.

sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

I used my classic NeoAir (in the 4-foot version), which offered excellent insulation and comfort without adding bulk to my pack.

camp pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium

A luxury I’ll never hike without! Lightweight, compact, and so worth the space for better sleep at altitude.

camp stove (+ fuel): Jetboil Zip

A compact canister stove is ideal for making simple meals at altitude— crazy fast, fuel-efficient, and effective in heavy wind.

A conservative estimate for fuel is one 230g canister per 3 days per person, but I find this is way more than I use, even at elevation. We carry 2x canisters for 2 people for 10 days quite regularly without issue.

mess kit + cutlery: Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Collapsible 4-Piece Dinnerware Set

At the very minimum, your mess kit should contain a spoon and cup; at most, it might extend to a bowl and fork. Plastic is more comfortable to hold onto than metal at below-freezing temps!

water filter: Katadyn BeFree 1.oL Water Filter

All official campsites along the trail have some sort of water access, be it a river, lake, or even just a running tap, but none of this water is clean or safe to drink without filtering first.

water reservoir: HydraPak Seeker 2L

On top of your filter and your water bottle, backpacking trips call for a water reservoir— a lightweight, collapsible container used to haul dirty water from a stream or lake back to camp. Use it to fill pots for dinner or filter into bottles without crouching over a creek for 10 minutes! Lightweight, packable, and seriously practical.

2x water bottles: Nalgene Wide Mouth

I personally don’t like bladders on overnight trips since they can be especially challenging to fill when you’re filtering water (and the consequences of leakage can be catastrophic if it soaks your sleeping bag), so instead I pack 1-2 standard Nalgene bottles. As you like it!

electrolytes: Liquid IV

With the altitude, constant sun exposure, and high physical demands of this trail, I’d recommend drinking a minimum of 1 bottle of electrolyte-enriched water per day.

freeze-dried meals + snacks

Here’s what I packed for myself on my 10-day Huayhuash Circuit trek, just to give you a starting point. Since loss of appetite and stomach upset are common at high altitudes, the best plan is to bring things you know you like rather than new, adventurous meals. Carb-heavy snacks are also a good idea for the first few days, since these are easier to digest and can minimise altitude-related stomach upset.

Breakfast
– 9x tortilla soup from Packit Gourmet (99g * 9 = 891g total)
– 9x Land-o-Lakes Hot Chocolate (35g * 9 = 315g total)

Lunch & snacks
– 9x Clif Bars(70g * 9 = 630g)
– 10x savoury snack bags: in a zip-loc bag for each day, I made my own snack mix with a variety of nuts, Chex, and assorted trail mix ingredients (120g * 10 = 1.2kg)
– 10x sweet snack bags: in another zip-loc bag for each day, I also put together bags of candy + fruit snacks (100g * 10 = 1kg)

Dinner
– 9x Instant Soup (25g * 9 = 225g)
– 9x freeze-dried dinners (~140g * 9 = 1.2kg total)
– 9x Land-o-Lakes Hot Chocolate (35g * 9 = 315g total)

👉🏼 Check out this post for a breakdown on how I pack backcountry food for alpine expeditions

PLB/SOS: Garmin InReach Mini 3

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is your lifeline in the outdoors and I NEVER go hiking without my Garmin InReach Mini 3, which allows me to send messages, get weather updates, track location, and place an SOS call in an emergency, even without phone service. It does require a subscription (starting at $12/month), but it’s worth every cent and has literally saved both of my parents’ lives in the backcountry!

GPS: CalTopo app on mobile

The absolute best GPS resource is the smartphone you already own, paired with a reliable, low-cost GPS mapping app that allows you to access detailed offline Topo maps and navigate via GPS satellites, even without mobile service.

My go-to is CalTopo, which costs just $20/year and is by far the most feature-rich, affordable, and accurate mapping tool out there.

🗺️ I built a custom Huayhuash Circuit GPS map with daily tracks based on my custom adventure itinerary, hundreds of waypoints, and other essential navigational information to help you stay on track. For solo trips, this is essential!

guidebook: Cordilleras Blanca & Huayhuash: The Hiking & Biking Guide

The only guidebook for the Huayhuash Circuit, recently updated! Scan and print pages 152-174 or just cut them out of the book if you want to go lightweight.

If you’re a paper map person, you can also pick up this map in Huaraz: Alpenvereinskarte Huayhuash (Peru) 1:50,000 Trekking Map

First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Kits Backpacker

All the usual essentials:
• a mix of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
• antihistamines (Claritin for allergies, Benadryl for bites/stings)
• a small selection of stomach meds (like Imodium or Pepto tabs)
• a roll of KT tape (insanely versatile for everything from blisters to rolled ankles)
• alcohol wipes, antiseptic, a few large gauze pads, and blister plasters like Compeed

Also add altitude sickness meds: Acetazolamide, Dexamethasone, Nifepidine (read more about it in this post)

headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400-R

A bright, rechargeable headlamp is essential for evenings around camp and (hopefully not) late nights on the trail. Lightweight and easy to stash in a top pocket for quick access!

powerbank: VRURC Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh

I used my phone constantly for navigation and photos, plus needed power for my inReach and headlamp. I carried a 10,000mAh powerbank and a solar charger, which was just enough to stay topped up on the Huayhuash.

solar charger: BigBlue 28W Solar Charger

On multi-day trips with no access to power, a lightweight solar charger can be a great alternative to carrying multiple powerbanks. I definitely recommend one on the Huayhuash to top up your phone, inReach, and headlamp during sunny lunch breaks— just enough to stay comfortably powered without the extra weight.

sports bras + underwear

I’m not going to tell you what undergarments to pack, but just consider you’ll have 8-10 days on the trail and it’s nice to have underwear for every day!

hiking shirt: Arc’teryx Sunna Crew T-Shirt (women’s) / Cormac Crew Shirt (men’s)

I’d suggest bringing just one shirt and washing it in the hot springs on day 4 (or in a stream on pretty much any other day) if you’re really fussed about the dirt.

wool base layer: Smartwool Classic Thermal Base Layer Top (women’s) / (men’s)

I used this as a camp base-layer (and did not wear it for any hiking) in an attempt to keep it as clean as possible. Warm, breathable, and perfect for multi-day wear without smelling awful.

lightweight fleece mid-layer: Arc’teryx Rho LT Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

For hiking, this was the first layer I’d pull on over my t-shirt— lightweight, breathable, and just the right amount of warmth for long climbs or breezy afternoons without overheating. The hood adds a nice bit of extra insulation.

synthetic insulation: Arc’teryx Atom Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

The Atom Hoody was my go-to insulation layer for hiking over high (freezing!) mountain passes. Packs down small but offers big warmth, especially when you’re damp from sweat or weather.

heavyweight down jacket: Arc’teryx Thorium Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

A heavy down jacket is a camp essential and you’ll live in this after 6pm in the Andes (I slept in mine every single night). I brought the Arc’teryx Cerium, which is a lighter version of this jacket, but honestly the upgrade is worth it for extra warmth!

shell jacket: Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket (women’s) / (men’s)

A GoreTex shell blocks wind on passes, keeps you dry in afternoon showers, and should layer over other jackets for added warmth on extra cold days. Super light, super packable, and absolutely necessary for alpine trekking in the Andes.

wool base layer bottoms: Arc’teryx Satoro Merino Wool Bottoms (women’s) / (men’s)

A merino wool base layer added warmth under my hiking pants on cold mornings and doubled as sleep leggings at camp (layered under the fleece bottoms below).

fleece mid-layer bottoms: Arc’teryx Kyanite Base Layer Bottoms (women’s) / (men’s)

These were my sleep pants at camp, but I ended up wearing them over the merino wool AND under the shells in my sleeping bag because the nights were that cold.

soft shell pants: Arc’teryx Gamma Pants (women’s) / (men’s)

Wind-resistant, quick-drying, and stretchy enough for scrambling, these soft shell pants are perfect for daily hiking.

sunglasses: Julbo Vermont

From glacier travel to rocky scrambles, these are my favourite outdoor sunglasses.

neck gaiter: Buff Original

Lightweight and versatile, a Buff is essential for protecting against daily sun, sweat, dust, and wind.

beanie: Arc’teryx Mallow Toque

It gets seriously cold at night, you’re going to need a good beanie to keep your head warm.

lightweight hiking gloves: Outdoor Research Trail Mix Gloves (women’s) / (men’s)

Nice to have for chilly mornings or setting up camp in the wind. These were thin, breathable, and just warm enough without overheating my hands during movement.

waterproof shell mittens: Black Diamond Waterproof Overmitts

There’s always a chance of rain or snow on this route, so bring a lightweight pair of waterproof shell mittens to layer over your fleece gloves for extra warmth and full weather protection.

3x liner socks: Injinji Liner Crew + REI Co-op Silk Liner Crew Socks

I wore my favourite toe-sock liners under my boot socks to reduce friction and prevent blisters throughout the trail.

3x boot socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks (women’s) / (men’s)

My go-to socks for backpacking— durable, padded, and still comfy after multiple days of trail grime. I’d recommend 3 pairs of socks for this 10-day route.

How I rotate my socks to maximise cleanliness:
* days 1-4: hike in 1st pair, sleep in 2nd pair
* days 5-8: hike in 2nd pair, sleep in 3rd pair
* days 9-10: hike and sleep in 3rd pair

camp shoes: Mountain Hardwear Down Bootie

These are a small and super lightweight addition to your pack, but they make a big difference during cold nights in the Huayhuash! Sleep with them for the best results.

toiletries + bathroom bits

Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, medications, contact solution… whatever you need to stay clean and comfortable for 10 days on the trail!

For the wilderness bathroom, pack toilet paper, hand sanitiser, and a Ziploc bag to pack out used items if needed. Don’t underestimate how much TP you’ll need, this is one of the most painful backcountry mistakes you can make (I had to get TP from a guided group because my stomach was struggling with the elevation!).

Kula Cloth (for women)

This reusable antimicrobial pee cloth is designed specifically for backcountry female hygiene— it’s absorbent on one side, waterproof on the other, and treated with silver ions to resist bacteria growth and odour.

It’s easy to wash, dries fast, snaps shut for discretion, and clips onto the outside of your pack so it’s always accessible. Not only is it way more hygienic than carrying used toilet paper in a ziplock, but it also seriously reduces your trail waste, making it a no-brainer for sustainable hiking and women’s health on the go.

Best overall: Kula Cloth

sun safety

Sun exposure builds quickly when you’re spending hours outside every day, especially at high elevation. Pack SPF 50+ sunscreen, SPF lip balm, and whatever else you need to stay sun-safe on the trail!

camera: Fujifilm x100vi

All my Huayhuash photos were captured on my old Olympus OMD EM5 with 12-40mm f2.8 pro lens, but I’ve since swapped over to this lightweight Fujifilm fixed lens system for weight-sensitive trips.

👉🏼 Want to see how we capture photos and videos on our adventures? Peak inside our camera bag!

cash for community fees

In 2019, S/235 per person was enough to cover all the community fees, but as of 2025, you’ll need more like S/280 for fees. Pack a bit of extra just in case!