When you think Peru, chances are it's Machu Picchu on your mind. But, although spectacular, the famous Incan archaeological site outside of Cusco is only one of a million reasons to visit this incredibly vibrant Latin American country! Encompassing large stretches of beautiful coastline, lush rainforests, expansive deserts with sparkling oases, some of the world’s best alpine trekking, and, of course, impeccab[...]
Although somewhat unsung, Peru is one of the best trekking destinations in the entire world, rivalling even the Alps and Himalayas with its rugged, high-alpine beauty and dramatic, untouched landscapes. What really sets Peru apart in terms of hiking, though, is the ability to escape all crowds and spend days on a trail without seeing another human being, something that has become wholly impossible in other popular t[...]
Thanks to Peru's rich history and incredible diversity, it's possible to journey from a bustling metropolitan city on the Pacific Coast, through Cusco's cobbled lanes, along a high-alpine trail to an ancient Incan citadel in the mountains, and then wind-down in an untouched stretch of Amazon Rainforest, all in under 3 weeks. It's actually far from everything the country has to offer (after 2 months, I still haven't[...]
In terms of diversity, Peru is second to none— within a relatively small country, you can experience pumping surf beaches, golden deserts, dense cloud forest, incredible high-altitude trekking, 15th century holy sites, and stunning colonial cities. You'll barely scratch the surface of this Latin American gem in 2-3 weeks, but it's still possible to see some of the coastal highlights, experience the most popular ci[...]
When people think of trekking destinations, it's usually the Himalayas or the Alps that immediately spring to mind. Flying somewhat under the radar, the Peruvian Andes attract far fewer hikers but seem to leave every single one with the resounding impression that this is the best trekking on the planet. Imagine 6,000m snow-capped peaks towering in every direction, the world's largest canyon, mountains in e[...]
Once considered the spiritual and political heart of the vast Inca empire, Cusco (meaning "centre of the universe" in Quechua) is still one of the most vibrant and historically significant cities in Latin America. Its close proximity to Machu Picchu and some of the country's best high-altitude trekking have made this enchanting city the centrepiece of nearly every Peru itinerary and cemented its spot on the classic&[...]
For serious hikers and those hoping to discover unrivalled natural beauty in Peru, the 135km Huayhuash Circuit is one of the most spectacular alpine trekking routes in the entire world. It’s definitely a challenging trek, taking most hikers 8-12 days to complete the full loop— but the feeling of doing it without a guide or tour group is also infinitely rewarding. Wondering what clothes you need to brin[...]
There is absolutely no high like coming off the trail after a long hike— dead-tired, covered in dirt, but with a feeling of accomplishment that almost makes you savour the pain of aching muscles and bleeding feet, as if they are some sort of hard-earned badge. The Huayhuash Circuit pushed me well beyond the limits of what I thought I could do, but I’ve also never seen rugged natural beauty quite like the Cor[...]
Widely regarded as one of the best alpine treks in the entire world, the Huayhuash Circuit is a remote and impossibly scenic high-altitude route in Peru's Cordillera Huayhuash (pronounced why-wash). The trail, totalling 135km and crossing 12 mountain passes all above 4,500m, circles some of the highest and most impressive mountains in the Andes, offering surreal vistas of jagged snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, a[...]
After camping at Yaucha Punta last night, I've got some real ground to make up on today's hike, the final leg of an incredible journey through the Cordillera Huayhuash. As sad as I am that it's all coming to an end, the route up and over Cerro Huacrish, Sambuya Punta, and Rondoy Punta is the ultimate conclusion to this epic trip, and arriving back exactly where I started in Quartelhuain 10 days ago is immensely sati[...]
Hoping to get back on schedule after our short day yesterday, we set off from Huayllapa with the plan of climbing steeply to Huatiaq, further to Tapush Punta, down and then back up to Yuacha Punta, and finally descending to Incahuain. The guidebook estimates an 8.5hr walk, so we fully expect 11+ hrs on the trail, including frequent breaks that the 1,600m climb is sure to demand. We don't quite make it as far as inte[...]
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, to find our missing family member and make some amazing local connections that will become a distinct highlight of the[...]
Deviating completely from the traditional Huayhuash Circuit today in favour of a scenic side trip, we spend the day exploring Quebrada Sarapococha and its surreal blue lagunas, all the while surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks. These are, without a doubt, some of the most spectacular landscapes I've ever seen. As beautiful as the day is, though, it's also fraught with challenges and worrisome circumstances tha[...]
Following a second ascent of Paso San Antonio for sunrise views, today's hike takes us up and over Paso Santa Rosa and down to Laguna Juraucocha for a spectacular wild camp at the base of a glacier. Snow flurries in the early morning blanket the trail in white and greatly complicate the already challenging navigation, but the views we enjoy today are dramatic and completely wild, the unpredictable conditions only ad[...]
Today's hike from Viconga camp, up Punta Cuyoc, and down to Cuyoc camp is surprisingly spectacular, close glacier views dominating the entire walk. Even more spectacular, though, is the challenging side-trip up Paso San Antonio— the highest peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash tower above ice-blue lakes, and it's genuinely hard to believe that places like this really exist. Trail stats: Viconga to Cuyoc & Paso[...]