Huayhuash Landscape Astrophotography Trek 8 Day
Huayhuash Astrophotography workshop 2026
Huayhuash departure dates 2026
April 2026: 8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15
May 2026: 8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15
June 2026 :12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19
July 2026: 11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18
August 2026:9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17
September 2026 :8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15
October 2026 : 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14
Embark on the ultimate Huayhuash Astrophotography Trek, an 8‑Day Andean Stargazing & Landscape Adventure designed for photographers and adventurers who want to capture the high Andes like never before. This journey takes you through the breathtaking Cordillera Huayhuash, offering unparalleled opportunities for night sky and landscape photography across remote, high-altitude terrain.
Why This Trek Is Unique
Cordillera Huayhuash Night Sky Photo Tour: Capture the Milky Way and star trails above towering Andean peaks, far from any light pollution.
High‑Altitude Huayhuash Milky Way Expedition: Experience glacial lakes, alpine valleys, and rugged high passes as the perfect backdrop for astrophotography.
Remote Andes Landscape & Astrophotography Trek: Trek through untouched landscapes where dramatic ridgelines meet pristine lakes, offering endless photographic inspiration.
Huayhuash Mountain Range Star Trails Trek: Set up your tripod at prime vantage points to create stunning star trail compositions over the jagged Andean peaks.
Huayhuash Sunrise & Night Sky Photography Trek: Witness unforgettable sunrises over the glacial lakes and mountains, capturing both daytime and nighttime beauty on the same expedition.
Landscape & Nightscape in the Peruvian Andes: Explore a unique combination of alpine scenery and celestial wonders, perfect for long-exposure, landscape, and astrophotography enthusiasts.
Sustainable Highland Astrophotography Trek Peru: Travel responsibly through fragile ecosystems while supporting local communities and conservation initiatives.
Huayhuash Andean Ridge Photography Journey: Photograph mineral-rich ridges, alpine lakes, and panoramic highland vistas at every step of the trek.
Huayhuash Dark‑Sky & Glacial Lakes Photo Adventure: Take advantage of pristine, remote locations to capture reflections, night skies, and high-altitude landscapes in perfect harmony.
Highland Lakes and Milky Way Photography Trek: Combine astrophotography with landscape imagery as you shoot the Milky Way mirrored in the region’s striking alpine lakes. Highlights & ExperiencesTrek remote high passes and alpine valleys of the Huayhuash mountain range, capturing dramatic landscapes and pristine glacial lakes.
Photograph star trails, the Milky Way, and Andean sunrises with expert guidance in both landscape and astrophotography techniques.
Enjoy small group sizes, personalized instruction, and flexible schedules to maximize golden hour and night sky shooting opportunities.
Immerse yourself in a sustainable highland photography trek, supporting local communities and protecting fragile Andean ecosystems. Who This Tour Is ForPhotographers seeking advanced landscape and astrophotography experiences in remote Andean locations
Adventure travelers ready to explore high-altitude alpine lakes, glacial valleys, and dramatic mountain ridges
Anyone interested in a Sustainable Highland Astrophotography Trek Peru that combines scenic beauty with environmental responsibility
HOTEL TOUR HOTEL SERVICE
Drive time: 6–7 hours
Altitude: ~2,500–3,200 m (8,200–10,500 ft)
We begin our journey early from Huaraz, heading south through a dramatic Andean landscape filled with rolling hills, deep valleys, and charming highland towns. As we travel, there are plenty of chances to stop for photos of traditional villages, mountain rivers, and locals working the land.
We’ll pass through the small town of Huallanca, known for its colonial charm, and continue toward La Unión, a quiet Andean village surrounded by terraced farmland. After a scenic drive, we arrive at Baños, famous for its natural thermal springs—the perfect place to relax after the day’s journey.
Settle into the peaceful atmosphere, take a dip in the warm waters, and enjoy a peaceful evening with cameras ready for golden hour light and village life.OVERNIGHT AT QEROPALLCA
Photo tip: Look for portraits of locals, candid shots of rural life, and wide views of the mountain valleys.
Day 1.-Huaraz – Huallanca – La Union – BaÑos –
Trek time: 3–4 hours
Photography Focus: Andean culture, epic lake reflections, alpenglow, and astrophotography
After breakfast in the quiet village of Queropalca, we begin a scenic and gentle hike toward one of the most breathtaking locations in the Cordillera Huayhuash: Laguna Carhuacocha.
As you walk, you'll pass through wide alpine valleys framed by dramatic peaks and stone corrals. Local shepherds and herds of alpacas create wonderful storytelling photo moments. Keep your camera ready for spontaneous portraits and pastoral life in the mountains.
By mid-day, we arrive at Carhuacocha Lake, an absolute gem. The turquoise water sits beneath a towering wall of snowy giants--Jirishanca, Yerupajá, and Siula Grande. The reflections here are pure magic.
Golden Hour Tip: As the sun sets behind the peaks, the last light kisses the glaciers, creating a soft alpenglow that dances across the lake’s surface—perfect for long exposures and dreamy compositions.
Night Photography at CarhuacochaAs darkness falls, Carhuacocha becomes a remote and silent sanctuary under the stars. With zero light pollution, this is a top spot for astrophotography.
Best Shots:
Milky Way rising over Yerupajá
Star trails above the snowy ridgelines
Illuminated tents with mountain silhouettes
Tip: Use the lake as a foreground element for stunning milky reflections. If you're lucky, calm conditions can double your night sky in the water—pure visual poetry.
Day 2.-Queropalca – Laguna Carhuacocha Lake-
Altitude: 4,150 m / 13,615 ft
Focus: Composition, light, mood, and mastering the perfect mountain-lake scene—day and night
Today is all about slowing down and connecting deeply with one of the most iconic scenes in the Andes. With a full day at Laguna Carhuacocha, you'll have time to truly explore the landscape—on foot and through your lens.
Daytime Landscape PhotographyWith ever-changing light and weather, Carhuacocha offers limitless compositions. The jagged white peaks of Jirishanca, Yerupajá, and Siula Grande tower over the glacial lake like guardians of the range.
Wander the lakeshore to find unique angles:
Use leading lines of the shoreline or grass tufts
Frame the peaks with foreground elements like rocks or flowers
Capture drama in the sky as clouds dance across the mountains
Golden Hour Tip: In late afternoon, warm tones light up the glaciers, turning the icy giants golden against the cold blue lake—this is your moment for rich contrasts and painterly light.
Nightscape Photography at CarhuacochaWhen the sun dips below the Andes, the real magic begins. Carhuacocha transforms into a nightscape haven—completely free of light pollution, framed by towering peaks and a reflective lake.
Why This Spot Is Special:
360° dark sky with clear Milky Way visibility
Foreground interest: jagged peaks, tents, lake reflections
One of the best natural amphitheaters for astro and time-lapse photography in the Peruvian Andes
Photo Ideas:
Milky Way arching over Yerupajá and its reflection in the lake
Tents lit with soft light beneath a sky full of stars
Star trails circling over the peaks
Use a wide-angle lens to capture scale and drama
Pro Tip: Wait until just before moonrise or just after moonset for maximum star detail. Use the calm lake as a natural mirror to double the impact.
Day 3: Extra Day at Carhuacocha Lake – Landscape & Nightscape Photography Paradise
Day 4: Carhuacocha – Carhuac Pass – Janca Valley (4,200 m / 13,780 ft)
Trek time: 5–6 hours
Photography Focus: Serene valleys, layered mountains, golden hour drama, and high-altitude nightscapes
We leave the magical shores of Carhuacocha and gently ascend toward Carhuac Pass (4,650 m), a wide and open saddle offering spectacular views of Yerupajá Chico and Jirishanca. Along the way, the trail opens up to quiet pastures, grazing llamas, and endless compositions of depth, scale, and light—a dream for landscape photographers.
The light play in the Janca Valley is something special. As you descend into the valley, the towering peaks create dramatic shadows that sweep across the landscape. This is a place of peaceful isolation, where every curve of the terrain feels untouched and wild.
Golden Hour Tip: Shoot wide to capture the layers of golden light filtering through the valley. Look for leading lines in the riverbeds, trails, and fences that guide the eye to the peaks.
Nightscape Photography in Janca ValleyFar from any settlements or light pollution, Janca Valley becomes a celestial amphitheater when night falls. With mountains rising like dark guardians on all sides and crisp, clean air at high altitude, conditions are ideal for astro work.
Best Night Photography Opportunities:
Milky Way arch over the valley mouth, with Yerupajá peaks silhouetted in the frame
Reflected starlight in small glacial streams and ponds
Light-painting tents or foreground boulders with soft glow to add depth and narrative
Pro Tip: Set up your composition during twilight so you're ready as the stars emerge. Consider stacking exposures or using low-level lighting to balance foreground and sky.
This night is all about capturing silence, scale, and the feeling of being a tiny dot under the cosmos—a true photographer’s reward after days on the trail.
Day 5: Janca – Cacananpunta Pass (4,700 m / 15,420 ft)
Trek time: 4–5 hours
Photography Focus: Dramatic high-altitude landscapes, rugged passes, and pristine night skies
Today we ascend toward Cacananpunta Pass, a windswept, high-altitude saddle that opens up to vast panoramas of the Cordillera Huayhuash. The landscape becomes increasingly wild and raw—jagged ridgelines, glacier-carved valleys, and endless textures in rock and sky. Along the way, the trails are dotted with herds of llamas and sweeping views in every direction.
As we reach our high camp near the pass, the sense of isolation and scale is breathtaking. With fewer distractions and virtually no light pollution, this is one of the best nights of the trek for pure nightscape photography.
Nightscape Photography at Cacananpunta PassAt 4,700 meters, you're shooting from the stars. The thin mountain air and crisp temperatures create exceptional clarity for astrophotography. The Milky Way arches directly over the rugged Andean skyline, with silhouettes of craggy peaks and glaciers adding drama to every frame.
Top Photo Opportunities:
Wide-angle shots of the Milky Way over the pass
Illuminated tents under a star-drenched sky
Time-lapses of fast-moving clouds and stars across the peaks
Star trails using the natural curves of the landscape for leading lines
Tip: Use headlamps or low LED light to softly illuminate foreground elements—boulders, tents, or distant peaks—for added depth in your compositions.
Bonus: Early risers can also capture pre-dawn glow and alpine blue hour, when the snowfields and sky melt into icy pastels—perfect for peaceful, surreal landscape shots before the first light breaks.
Day 6: Matacancha – Rondoy Punta Pass – Laguna Jahuacocha (4,100 m / 13,451 ft)
Trek time: 6–7 hours
Photography Focus: High-mountain passes, glacial valleys, and one of the most photogenic lakes in the Andes
We begin the day with a steady ascent toward the Rondoy Punta Pass (4,750 m / 15,584 ft). This pass offers sweeping views of Rondoy, Jirishanca, and Ninashanca, their snow-capped summits towering above deep green valleys and braided rivers below. The rugged beauty of this crossing is a landscape photographer’s dream—perfect for wide-angle compositions, leading lines, and dramatic contrasts between rock, snow, and sky.
As we descend through the alpine world, we approach the stunning Laguna Jahuacocha—one of the crown jewels of the Cordillera Huayhuash. Nestled beneath a towering wall of glaciers, this lake offers endless foreground opportunities for reflection shots, intimate water textures, and golden hour panoramas.
Nightscape Magic at Jahuacocha
Location: Jahuacocha Lake
Conditions: Dark skies, glacier backdrop, high-altitude clarity
Subjects: Milky Way, mountain silhouettes, lake reflections
When night falls at Jahuacocha, you're in one of the most awe-inspiring astro locations in Peru. The scene transforms into a surreal dreamscape--towering peaks like Yerupajá and Jirishanca frame the stars, and the still waters of the lake mirror the heavens above.
Photo Tips:
Position your tripod low near the lake for double Milky Way reflections.
Use a headlamp or soft lantern light to gently illuminate a tent or foreground rock.
Try stacking multiple shots to reduce noise and bring out the full sweep of the Galactic Core.
Capture star trails circling over the jagged skyline for a dramatic long exposure finale.
Whether you're shooting single exposures or composing panoramas, Jahuacocha offers a cinematic combination of scale, solitude, and sky—a place where the mountains feel like they’re touching the stars.
Altitude: 4,050 m / 13,287 ft
Focus: Milky Way, mountain reflections, light painting, silhouettes
Nestled beneath the towering peaks of Jirishanca, Rondoy, and Yerupajá, Laguna Jahuacocha is a night photographer’s dream. As the sun dips behind the snow-capped ridges, the lake transforms into a calm, dark mirror—perfect for capturing celestial magic.
With zero light pollution, the Milky Way explodes across the sky, arcing perfectly above the jagged skyline. The lake’s still waters offer breathtaking double-exposure-like reflections, turning your frame into a surreal dreamscape of stars and summits.
Top Composition Tips:
Use Jirishanca’s sharp peak as a dramatic anchor under the Milky Way.
Shoot from the lake’s edge for mirrored starlight and silhouette shots.
Try low-angle wide lenses (14–24mm) to capture the grandeur of sky and earth.
Bring out detail in foregrounds with soft light painting or an illuminated tent.
Bonus Tip: During April to October, the galactic core is visible in the early evening—giving you time to shoot without staying up all night. Play with long exposures and star trails for a variety of moods.
This is your final night under the Andean sky—make it count. The quiet of Jahuacocha, the reflection of snow-covered giants, and the brilliance of the stars will give you some of the most powerful images of the entire trek.
Day 7: Nightscape Photography at Jahuacocha Lake
Trek time: 5–6 hours
Drive time to Huaraz: ~4 hours
After an early breakfast with a last view of the stunning Jahuacocha Lake, we begin our final ascent to Pampa Llamac Pass (4,300 m / 14,108 ft). Take in your last panoramic shots of the Huayhuash mountain range—this is your farewell to the peaks you've come to know and love.
From the pass, it’s a long downhill stretch to the village of Llamac, where our trek ends. We'll say goodbye to our amazing crew, then hop into our private transport for the scenic drive back to Huaraz.
Expect to arrive in Huaraz by late afternoon, with time to shower, relax, and reflect on an unforgettable mountain adventure.
Photo tip: Capture wide shots from the pass, and emotional team portraits as you wrap up the journey.
Day 8.-Jahuacocha – Pampa Llamac – Llamac – Huaraz.
Difficulty
Information
Group Size1 – 8 Guests
Experience | Difficulty
Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers
DSLR, mirrorless, compact or iPhone cameras
Moderate schedule
Travel by car or minibus
Moderate elevation changes and lots of walking and hiking (none of our adventures have difficult hikes)
(non-photographers also welcome)
Includes
8 Days
Travel, landscape, nature, wildlife, and people photography
Professional photographer | guide
Photo walks & discussions
Small group size (1-8 guests)
Camping
Breakfasts
All Meals
National Park Permits
Local transportation
Accommodations
Camping
Very difficult: Long hikes and camping at high altitude
Our Peru photo trek will mainly focus on hiking and capturing the most iconic landscapes in the Huayhuash trek, the world’s highest tropical mountain ranges. This time of year is perfect for hiking, as it coincides with the dry season, and ideal for astro, as it’s the peak of Milky Way season in the Southern Hemisphere, with 10+ hours of Milky Way visibility at night.
1 pax: 2.750,00 USD
2 pax: 2050,00 USD
3 pax: 1950,00 USD
4 pax: 1850,00 USD
5 pax: 1750,00 USD
6 pax: 1650,00 USD
7 pax: 1650,00 USD
8 pax: 1550,00 USD
9 pax: 1450,00 USD
10 pax:1350.00 USD
Price per person:2026
