Circuito Huayhuash Andino Trekking

A slightly shorter version of the classical Huayhuash trekking circuit in the Andes. Breathtaking scenery (figuratively as well as literally), fairly stable and nice weather and well-trodden track.
 
The trail starts at Quartelhuain. We took a taxi (4WD) from Huaraz for about S/.450, departed at 5 am, and got there in about 3.5 hours. Getting back requires you coming to Llamac before 11 am on the day of departure to take a local bus (ask around). It is doable from Incahuain, but make sure to budget around 4-5 hours of intense walking (we took the path around the Macrash Punta, to avoid an unnecessary ascend). Alternatively, you can come a day in advance and stay in one of the two hostels in Llamac. Expect fairly basic facilities.
 
Altitude is almost always above 4,200m, thus acclimatisation is absolutely required. We have spent 3 days hiking around Huaraz (links in the comments) and felt generally ok, with only mild symptoms along the way. There is no way to quickly descend, thus take some precautionary pills against altitude sickness symptoms (headache, nausea) and Diamox to fight more severe cases.
 
Weather is fairly stable but expect some rainy days (we had two days of drizzle). The temperatures fluctuate substantially, ranging from +25C/+30C during the day, dropping rapidly to around 0C after sunset and reaching -5C/-10C at 3-4am in the morning. Warm clothing (fleece, warm socks, hats and gloves, a down jacket and thermal base layer) and a good sleeping bag are essential.
 
Expect people - groups of trekkers with guides/donkeys and locals. Campsites can get pretty busy, but we were never worried about founding a place to camp overnight. Most campsites have some (very) basic toilets.
 
Lots of cattle - cows, sheep, donkeys, llamas etc. everywhere. Hence, despite water looking clean, make sure you do some precautionary treatment, such as: boiling, tablets or/and filtering. We used a combination of these three and were ok.
 
The trail is clear and easy to follow. There are a few alternative options (say, you can skip Laguna Viconga and go directly to Campa Elefante via Trapecio Punta) allowing you to shorten or lengthen the stay. If time allows, spend a day around Laguna Juraucocha and include a day-trip to Seula Grande Base Camp or go up to Gran Vista pass.
We fast-tracked two days of the classical route by combining the Santa-Rosa pass with a descend to Huayllapa (around 22km altogether). We initially planned to go through Rasac Punta but were told that it requires crampons and safety (ropes, ice axes, harnesses etc.).
 
No guides are required if you have prior trekking experience. Expect mild altitude sickness, cold nights and fairly short main walking sections (6-10km per day). Take it slow and you will be fine. Standard hiking equipment with no ropes/crampons/ice axes unless you want to take a detour. Gas / some extra food can be purchased in Huaraz. Take swimwear if going through Laguna Viconga - the thermal pools there are free (!) and amazing.
 
Expect to pay S/.15-30 per person each night to locals, including passing through the gates in Llamac. We spent around S/.220 per person altogether, but some extra cash will help to stock up in Huayllapa or Llamac.
 
Feel free to DM me if you need a detailed map (I have digitized a paper topo) or have any queries.