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Located
in the department of Ancash, the Cordillera Huayhuash is held
to be the world's least-known and most beautiful mountain
ranges. It stretches across an area of 30 km, running from
north to south, and is studded with a string of soaring peaks,
including Mount Yerupajá and dozens of glacial lakes
(Carhuacocha, Jahuacocha, Mitucocha, among others). The trekking
circuit runs across the entire range and covers nearly 165
km in 12 days. The experts deem it one of the most spectacular
trekking circuits on Earth.
The route -the only trail that circles the cordillera- sets
out from the town of Chiquián (3,400 masl) and takes
two days to reach the heart of the cordillera. Along the
way, the trail runs through five high mountain passes and
passes through picturesque farming and livestock herding
villages such as Llamac, Pocpa, Huayllapa and Pacllón,
bordering the mountains to the north, before following the
eastern edge and completing the circuit on the west side.
A shorter circuit (45 km) links Chiquián with Lake
Jahuacocha, setting out from the villages of Llamac and
Pocpa and returning through Pacllón.
Towering mountains, crystal-clear lakes, flocks of llamas and alpacas,
hospitable people, and above all, Nature in all her unspoiled
glory is the prize for those who venture to discover this
unique circuit.
Climate: Heavy rains from December
to March and a markedly dry season from May to October,
where sunny days post temperatures of 25°C and freezing
nights.
Access: The town of Chiquián
is located some 360 km northeast of Lima and 50 km south
of the Cordillera Blanca.
Services: In the nearby villages
of Llamac, Pocpa and Pacllon, one can hire guides and porters.
Expeditions can also be organized from the nearby city of
Huaraz. Chiquián also features several simple restaurants
and lodgings.
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