GuardTrailsPeru · July
Off the beaten track
Off-the-Beaten-Path Cordillera Negra & Conchucos
Less-visited places, with one or two classics all the same.
An original exploration of the dry ridges of the Cordillera Negra, the unique stone forest of Hatun Machay, and the remote, wood-carving villages of the Conchucos slope.
- days15
- bases7
- stages11
- nights14
- transfer days7
- stage to stage652 km
- at the wheel, day by day17 h 05
Who this itinerary is for
This itinerary suits a traveller looking for: a trip in July, days of walking, a day hike, kayak or canoe, a village stroll, a town walk (2 h), easy cycling, via ferrata and wildlife watching.
The area
the wind-sculpted stone forests, quiet glacial valleys, and remote Conchucos villages
The map
Loading the map…
The days at a glance
One line per day: where you sleep, what the day is, the road, and how its time is split.
| Day | Evening base | The day | Road | Time of the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | Evening base : Huaraz | TransferHuaraz Hidden Quarters | Road 27 min | 11.7 h usable |
| Day2 | Evening base : Huaraz | Day on siteHuaraz Hidden Quarters | — | 11.7 h usable |
| Day3 | Evening base : Huaraz | Day on siteHuaraz Hidden Quarters | — | 11.7 h usable |
| Day4 | Evening base : Huaraz | Day excursionLaguna Llaca Glacial Valley | Road 49 min | 11.7 h usable |
| Day5 | Evening base : Pampas Chico | TransferHatun Machay Stone Forest | Road 1 h 56 | 11.6 h usable |
| Day6 | Evening base : Pampas Chico | Day on siteHatun Machay Stone Forest | — | 11.6 h usable |
| Day7 | Evening base : Catac | TransferSector Carpa Puya Raimondi | Road 1 h 11 | 11.6 h usable |
| Day8 | Evening base : Chavin de Huantar | TransferChavin de Huantar Temple | Road 1 h 27 | 11.6 h usable |
| Day9 | Evening base : Chavin de Huantar | Day excursionLaguna Purhuay Quiet Waters | Road 1 h 28 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day10 | Evening base : Chacas | TransferChacas Wood-Carving Village | Road 2 h 28 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day11 | Evening base : Huaraz | TransferHoncopampa Archaeological Site | Road 2 h 37 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day12 | Evening base : Huaraz | Day excursionLaguna Aguak Hidden Hike | Road 2 h 15 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day13 | Evening base : Huaraz | Day on siteHoncopampa Archaeological Site | — | 11.7 h usable |
| Day14 | Evening base : Huaraz | TransferPunta Callán Negra Ridge | Road 1 h 32 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day15 | — | DepartureHuaraz, departure | Road 55 min | 11.7 h usable |
- programme
- road
- free time
Good to know
What it leaves aside
Focuses on the silent, wind-sculpted side of the Andes, prioritizing remote archaeological sites and high-altitude landscapes.
Places it did not keep
Classic Llanganuco Lagoons · Pastoruri Glacier Southern Sector
Getting there
Fly to Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani Airport (ATA), 27 min by road from the start.
Where you sleep
Huaraz offers a wide range of accommodations including hostels, guesthouses, and hotels, while the surrounding trails feature basic mountain refuges and designated camping areas; booking in advance is highly recommended during the peak trekking season.
Safety
Peru: advice against all but essential travel to some regions only (FCDO) — areas named: Within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border · Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM). Advice of 2026-11-06 · Official advice
Check before booking and before taking out insurance: the advice may have changed since.
Why this version, the cost in detail and the sources are on the method page. Read the method →
When, and for how long
How long?
- You ask for
- 15days
- The area needs, at least
- 13days
- Days kept
- 15days
Travelling in July.
The climate — July
- Daily high, 1 day in 4 is hotter
- 21 °C
- Daily high, 1 day in 20 is hotter
- 22 °C
- Unfavourable day
- 1%
- Windy day
- 0%
Rain, wind and temperature are measured over the 8 h in the middle of the day, on a historical baseline of 80 observations (Open-Meteo). It is a measuring window, not the length of your day: each day of the programme counts 11 h 40 of usable time.
The itinerary, day by day
11 stages over 15 days, in the order of the days. A stage appears on the day you first reach it: you sleep several nights at some, and a day trip leaves from your base and brings you back to it. Each day has its own page.
Every day of this trip has 11 h 42 of usable time, except D5, D6, D7 and D8: 11 h 36. Room to breathe — we have not padded these days to fill them: the free time left is part of the trip.
- Day 1Huaraz Hidden Quarters · night in Huaraz2 h planned · 27 min on the roadSee the day →
- Day 2AT BASEHuaraz Hidden Quarters · night in Huaraz8 h plannedSee the day →
- Day 3AT BASEHuaraz Hidden Quarters · night in Huaraz8 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 2 · Huaraz
Laguna Llaca Glacial Valley
We sleep at The Hof Hostel, 7.2 km away
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 4EXCURSIONfrom Huaraz → Laguna Llaca Glacial Valley7 h planned · 49 min on the roadSee the day →
Stage 3 · Pampas Chico
Hatun Machay Stone Forest
We sleep in Pampas Chico, 5.7 km from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 5Hatun Machay Stone Forest · night in Pampas Chico6 h planned · 1 h 56 on the road · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
- Day 6AT BASEHatun Machay Stone Forest · night in Pampas Chico7 h planned · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
Stage 4 · Catac
Sector Carpa Puya Raimondi
We sleep at Hospedaje Las Delicias, 9.7 km away
1 night · sleeping at Hospedaje Las Delicias, 26 km from Catac · climate cold
- Day 7Sector Carpa Puya Raimondi · night at Hospedaje Las Delicias, 26 km from Catac7 h planned · 1 h 11 on the road · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
- Day 8Chavin de Huantar Temple · night in Chavin de Huantar6 h 30 planned · 1 h 27 on the road · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
Stage 6 · Huari
Laguna Purhuay Quiet Waters
Day trip from Chavin de Huantar · no night here · climate favourable
- Day 9EXCURSIONfrom Chavin de Huantar → Laguna Purhuay Quiet Waters6 h planned · 1 h 28 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 10Chacas Wood-Carving Village · night in Chacas2 h planned · 2 h 28 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 11TRANSFERHoncopampa Archaeological Site · night in Huaraz5 h 30 planned · 2 h 37 on the roadSee the day →
Stage 9 · Huaraz
Laguna Aguak Hidden Hike
We sleep at Lazy Dog Inn, 4.9 km away
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 12EXCURSIONfrom Huaraz → Laguna Aguak Hidden Hike6 h planned · 2 h 15 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 13AT BASEHoncopampa Archaeological Site · night in Huaraz6 h 30 plannedSee the day →
Stage 10 · Huaraz
Punta Callán Negra Ridge
We sleep in Escalón, 2.6 km from the place visited
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 14Punta Callán Negra Ridge · night in Huaraz6 h planned · 1 h 32 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 15DEPARTUREHuaraz, departure · end of the trip3 h planned · 55 min on the roadSee the day →
What it costs, roughly
€980 to €1,546 per person
€65 to €103 per day
Based on: 4 people.
The cost estimate and the availability of accommodation, transport and activities are as of 4 November 2026: prices and availability change over time.
Where the money goes, and how this figure is obtained →To check
2 points to look at before booking.
D9Quota-limited access: book in advance — Chacas Wood-Carving Village → Laguna Purhuay Quiet Waters
quota to apply for ~1 days ahead — to arrange before you leave
What the review flagged
Our automatic checks flag these points to verify before booking.
- Days 11, 12, 13 and 14: the programme review flags a point to check (bothersome).
The method
Why this version, what sets it apart from the others, the cost in detail, the interest of the places, the automatic review and the sources.
Read the method →