Lima · boutique
A garden house in Miraflores
A restored 1920s house a short walk from the clifftop parks, with a quiet garden and a bar that takes its pisco seriously.
12 days · The North
The Wild North
Glacier lakes above Huaraz, adobe cities near Trujillo and the cloud-forest fortress of Kuélap.
From US$4,900 per person, excluding international flights
- Length
- 12 days
- Regions
- The North
- Hiking
- Moderate hiking
- Highest night
- ~3,050 m · High
- Best months
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Overview
Why it works
The north gets a fraction of the visitors and none of the queues. Start with glacier hikes in the Cordillera Blanca, built up over several days. Then drop down a dramatic canyon to the coast at Trujillo, and finish in the cloud forest at Kuélap and the Gocta waterfall.
Highlights
- Laguna 69
- Chavín de Huántar
- Chan Chan
- Huanchaco reed boats
- Kuélap by cable car
- Gocta waterfall
Altitude profile
How this journey climbs
Highest night about 3,050 m; highest point about 4,600 m (verify). Diamonds mark days with a pacing tip. Altitude, explained
- Low 0–1,500 m
- Moderate 1,500–2,500 m
- High 2,500–3,500 m
- Very high 3,500 m+
- Day's high point
Hover, tap or use the arrow keys on the chart to see each night. Altitudes are approximate (verify). This is general guidance, not medical advice.
Show as a table
| Day | Sleep | Sleep altitude | High point | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Lima | ~150 m · Low | — | — |
| Day 2 | Huaraz | ~3,050 m · High | ~4,100 m (Conococha pass) | Take it easy today |
| Day 3 | Huaraz | ~3,050 m · High | ~3,400 m | Drink plenty of water |
| Day 4 | Huaraz | ~3,050 m · High | ~3,850 m (Llanganuco) | — |
| Day 5 | Huaraz | ~3,050 m · High | ~4,600 m (Laguna 69) | Big day: start slow, go steady |
| Day 6 | Huaraz | ~3,050 m · High | ~4,500 m (Kahuish tunnel) | — |
| Day 7 | Trujillo | ~35 m · Low | — | Heading lower: easier breathing |
| Day 8 | Trujillo | ~35 m · Low | — | — |
| Day 9 | Chiclayo | ~30 m · Low | — | — |
| Day 10 | Utcubamba valley | ~2,300 m · Moderate | ~2,400 m | Take it easy today |
| Day 11 | Utcubamba valley | ~2,300 m · Moderate | ~3,000 m (Kuélap) | — |
| Day 12 | Departure via Lima | ~150 m · Low | — | — |
Day by day
Your itinerary
Transfer to your hotel and rest.
- Sleep: Lima, ~150 m (low)
- Flight
- Road
Getting around
How you travel
- Private road: Lima → Huaraz → Trujillo → Chiclayo → Chachapoyas
- Flight: Jaén → Lima (check current schedules)
- Some long road days: we split them with good stops
Accommodation
Where you'll stay
Huaraz & the Cordillera Blanca · lodge
A mountain lodge near Huaraz
A mountain lodge outside Huaraz with a wood fire, packed lunches for the trail and the Cordillera Blanca from every window.
Chachapoyas & Kuélap · eco-lodge
A cloud-forest lodge near Kuélap
Round cabins in the cloud forest, with hummingbird feeders on the porch and Gocta's waterfall across the valley.
Trujillo & Chan Chan · boutique
An adobe house in Trujillo
A colonial mansion in Trujillo's centre with painted courtyards and an easy run out to Chan Chan.
Experiences
Along the way
Take it with you
Download the full itinerary as a PDF, with the day-by-day plan and the altitude profile for every night.
Make it yours
Change the pace, the hotels or the order. Your Peru Specialist will shape this journey around you.