Peruviansoul.com

Things to have in mind
(Before and during your Huayhuash trek)

 Be sure you are in good shape
Huayhuash circuit is a demanding trek of 170km. This means you wil be walking around 15km and 7 hours a day. Also take in mind that almost the entire circuit is above 4000masl with several high altitude passes above 4800masl. Before booking be sure to be in good shape. We highly recommend you to prepare yourself at home physically in order to enjoy this stunning trek with no problems. We guarantee you that the effort worth it. We also highly recommend you to acclimatize in Huaraz for some days before starting your journey to Huayhuash. You don’t need to be mountaineering but you should have some trekking experience.  Going to a protect area
Due to its scenic features Huayhuash Mountain Range has being designated as a National Reserved Area which primary objective is the conservation of the high mountain ecosystem. This area has the status of private protected area in which the communities that live in the area are the ones in charge of the protection of the it. Seven communities manage and organize themselves to protect Huayhuash (Llamac, Pacl on, Queropalca, Jesus, Tupac Amaru, Uramaza,
 Have your passport ready and some “soles”
All trekkers are required to carry their passports with them at all times for identification at checkpoints along the trail. You should have some cash in “soles” (Peruvian currency) in order to pay the entrance fee to the communities along the trail. You should need around S/150 ($55) for the whole trek.  Pack properly
Try to keep weight as low as possible. We highly recommend bringing a small day-pack where to carry your own gear for the day and some other items such as cameras, rain jacket, sunglasses and other personal items you think wil be
 Bring a pair of walking stick
Do not underestimate the trek; walking sticks wil be very helpful especially during the high altitude passes.  Prevent altitude sickness “Soroche”
Soroche is a common problem that some of the travelers are afraid of when trekking Huayhuash and other Andean trails. Soroche is caused by exposure to low pressure oxygen at high altitude which can result in headaches, stomach il ness, fatigue or to a more serious degree- fluid accumulation in the lungs or cerebral edema which could be very dangerous. However, don’t be afraid of this because it can be combated just by doing the basics: Drinking plenty of water! Make sure you are hydrated properly and you wil be alright. You must take it easy and ascend slowly so you can get acclimatize properly. Another good option is to chew coca leaves. Coca leaves are easily obtainable, and are considered by many as the best way to combat potential altitude sickness. A pharmaceutical option is the drug Acetazolamide sold under the trade name Diamox, which works as an effective altitude sickness preventative.
 Temperature
In the highlands temperatures have accentuated variations between day and night with sudden temperature fal s after sunset. Expect to have sunny days with temperatures between 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F) and cold nights with less than 0°C (32°F), reaching -5°C (29°F) at some campsites. During the dry season or also called Andean Summer (May to September) the weather should be stable and with no precipitations however in the mountains weather can change quickly so it is a good recommendation to have some rain jackets. Talking about clothing, wearing multiple layers of clothing wil enable you to strip down easily when it gets warm or add an additional layer when it gets cold or windy. The outer layer should be water and wind proof and the insider layers should be of fleece and polypropylene material which
 Guides and support staff
For your Huayhuash trek you wil have a professional bilingual guide. Muleteers will help you with the backpacks and all  Meals
You wil be served 3 square meals a day plus some snacks to eat during the day however it’s always a good idea to have some energy bars. Our chefs are authorized by the Huascaran National Park and have cooking lessons at “Casa de Guias Huaraz”. They will prepare the most delicious Peruvian and international dishes.  Drinking water
You wil need to bring a flask or a bottle of water so we can supply you with filtered boiled water every day along the trek. Our campsites are always near a good source of washing and drinking water however it is essential to boiled it before drinking it in order to prevent any problem.
 Toilet and washing facilities
Stand–up bathrooms wil be find during all campsites along the trail. Huayhuash is also referred by tourists as “Why Wash?” as there are no bathroom facilities throughout the entire length of the trek, thus you won´t be able to wash yourself for at least 8 days. Take in mind that you wil be able to wash yourself in the rivers and in Viconga hot springs in the middle of the trek. However if you are looking for more comfort we can include a shower tent so you can wash yourself with hot water as at home.
 Campsite
Peruvian Soul gives all their clients a personal four seasons mountain tent (Doile Kaila) for sleeping and also a kitchen tent where clients wil have their meals and can protect themselves from the weather. Al the camping equipment wil be transport by the muleteer and his mules and in most of the times they wil be ready by the time you arrived to the

Source: http://www.peruviansoul.com/external/Huayhuash_Blog/Txts/Huayhuash_2HaveinMind.pdf