Hidden Andes

Carefully designed routes

Multi-day treks

Routes with accommodation, transfers, meals, and practical details arranged around you.

Also on horseback

Remote landscapes

Expeditions

More ambitious journeys for travellers seeking challenge and a deeper sense of discovery.

Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash

On horseback

Ride through the valleys of the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Huayhuash, for a day or for several days, at the pace of the horse.

Arrival support

Hotel & transfer

We arrange everything for you: hotels, private transfers, dining and every detail, so you arrive and simply enjoy.

Beyond Huaraz

Cusco and the Sacred Valley

Day tours · Machu Picchu · Treks

Many travellers combine the Cordillera Blanca with Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. If you wish, we can plan that part of your journey too, together with local agencies we know personally and have worked with for years.

Day tours around Cusco and the Sacred Valley, visits to Machu Picchu, treks such as Salkantay or the Inca Trail, hotels and transfers are coordinated with the rest of your trip. You keep one point of contact, and the same care for every detail, from Huaraz to Cusco.

Plan Cusco with us

Tell us what you have in mind. We will shape the route around you.

Daily tours

Days in the Cordillera Blanca.

Hidden Andes is built around the quieter side of the Cordillera Blanca: lesser-known lakes, viewpoints and valleys, far from mass tourism. Alongside them we of course offer the great classics. We choose the route, pace and timing around you, with a private guide and comfortable transport.

Our signature: off the beaten path

Some of our favourite days are not on this page: hidden lakes, forgotten viewpoints, valleys with no name on the tourist maps. We share them only with those who ask.

Not on the map

Routes we keep to ourselves

Revealed on request

Write to us and tell us what you are looking for: we will tell you where we would take you.

Ask about them

The classics

The best-known days of the range, led at your own pace.

Laguna Parón

Full day · 4,185 m · easy

The largest lake of the Cordillera Blanca, set beneath the pyramid of Artesonraju and reached by a quiet valley road above Caraz.

Laguna Rocotuyoc

Full day · 4,550 m · challenging

A hidden valley above Vicos with glacier tongues, waterfalls and two alpine lakes, Rocotuyoc and the frozen Congelada.

Lagunas Llanganuco

Full day · 3,850 m · easy

Two glacial lakes below Huascarán and Huandoy, with an easy walk among quenual trees. A gentle first day at altitude.

Laguna 69

Full day · 4,600 m · about 14 km

A turquoise lake beneath Chacraraju, reached by a three-hour walk through the Demanda valley. Best after a few days of acclimatisation.

Laguna Churup

Half to full day · 4,450 m · moderate

A steady climb to a hidden glacial lake close to Huaraz, ideal as a first acclimatisation day.

Pastoruri Glacier

Full day · about 5,000 m · easy

The most accessible glacier of the range: a short walk across the high puna of Huascarán National Park.

Chavín de Huántar

Full day · 3,200 m · easy

The pre-Inca temple of Chavín, crossing the range and passing the Querococha lake at 4,200 m. Culture and altitude in one day.

Wilcacocha

Half day · 3,700 m · about 7 km

A gentle walk in the Cordillera Negra foothills to a quiet lake, with a wide view of Huascarán and the whole Cordillera Blanca. A perfect first acclimatisation day.

As an extra service, a private chef can join you and prepare a picnic of typical Andean food on the trail. Every day can be adapted: longer, shorter, slower or quieter.

Multi-day treks

Several days in the mountains.

Hidden Andes is built around routes far from mass tourism, in the quiet valleys of the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash, alongside the great classics. Accommodation, transfers, meals and every practical detail are arranged so that you only have to walk.

Our signature: off the beaten path

Some of our finest treks are not on this page: quiet valleys and high passes that very few people ever walk. We reveal them only to those who contact us.

Not on the map

Routes we keep to ourselves

Revealed on request

Tell us how many days you have and what you dream of: we will suggest a route you will not find anywhere else.

Ask about them

The classics

The great treks of the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash, with every detail taken care of.

Huayhuash

Up to 14 days · up to 5,000 m

The great circuit around Nestor's home mountains: glaciers, lakes and passes above 4,500 m, with shorter versions available.

Santa Cruz

4–5 days · about 50 km · 4,750 m

The best-known trek of the Cordillera Blanca, crossing the Punta Unión pass with views of Alpamayo, Taulliraju and turquoise lakes.

Alpamayo

8–11 days · up to 4,800 m

A long circuit around the mountain many call the most beautiful in the world, through remote valleys and high passes.

Olleros – Chavín

3 days · about 37 km · 4,700 m

An ancient pre-Inca path over the Yanashallash pass to the temple of Chavín. Moderate, quieter and full of history.

Everything can be personalised: length, pace, extra rest days, and a chef for a typical meal on the trail.

Expeditions

Summits of the Cordillera Blanca.

For those who dream of a summit. Our most popular ascents are led by a certified, English-speaking mountain guide, in small groups and with full logistical support. Best season: May to September.

Nevado Mateo · 5,150 m

1 day

A first summit in a single day, with glacier views over the Cordillera Blanca. A gentle introduction to mountaineering.

Yanapaccha · 5,460 m

3 days

A beautiful snow peak above the Llanganuco lakes, with a short approach and a varied glacier climb. The natural next step after a first summit.

Ishinca · 5,530 m

3 days

A perfect first summit from a beautiful valley base camp, and excellent acclimatisation for higher peaks.

Vallunaraju · 5,686 m

2 days

The classic first glacier climb near Huaraz, ideal to discover snow and ice.

Pisco · 5,752 m

3–4 days

Easy access and immense views over Huascarán, Huandoy and Chacraraju.

Alpamayo · 5,947 m

6–8 days

The famous pyramid of ice and snow, often called the most beautiful mountain in the world. A true expedition for experienced climbers.

Artesonraju · 6,025 m

5–6 days

The perfect ice pyramid above Laguna Parón. A steep, elegant and technical climb for experienced mountaineers.

Tocllaraju · 6,034 m

5–6 days

A graceful pyramid of snow and ice, often combined with Ishinca and Urus in a single week.

Chopicalqui · 6,354 m

5–6 days

A long and scenic glacier route facing Huascarán, one of the finest six-thousand-metre peaks of the range.

Huascarán · 6,768 m

6–8 days

The highest mountain in Peru. A serious high-altitude expedition for climbers with solid experience and good acclimatisation.

Other peaks and personal programmes

Other summits of the Cordillera Blanca are available on request. Tell us your experience and we will suggest the right mountain.

Every ascent includes a certified English-speaking guide, base camp with cook, porters or donkeys, tents and meals.

Hotel & transfer

Arrive, and let us handle the rest.

We can organise everything, from the day you land in Lima to the day you fly home. One conversation, one point of contact, and no logistics left for you.

How a journey without stress unfolds

Before you arrive
We plan the whole journey with you: dates, route, hotels, transfers and a calm schedule for the altitude. You receive one clear programme and a list of what to bring.
On arrival
A driver meets you with your name on a sign and takes you by private car to your hotel, with water on board.
In Huaraz
On the day you arrive, a welcome briefing.
On the trail
Your luggage stays safe at the hotel. On the trail we carry everything, from tents to meals, and your guide looks after every practical detail.
Afterwards
Back in Huaraz, if you wish, we can book a massage, a celebration dinner in a restaurant of your choice and your laundry.

Everything we can arrange

Handpicked hotels and lodges

Quiet places with character, chosen for comfort, position and the view of the mountains. We book and confirm everything for you.

Private transfers

Comfortable private transfers between airports and hotels and between Lima and Huaraz, with experienced drivers, water on board and stops wherever you wish.

Welcome and acclimatisation

A calm programme for your first days at altitude, with a personal briefing.

Restaurants and private dinners

A personal list of the best tables in Huaraz, reserved for you. We can also arrange a private dinner, or a chef on the trail.

Rest and recovery

Massage, thermal baths and slow mornings between treks, booked in advance so you simply enjoy them.

Luggage, laundry and equipment

Safe storage while you trek, laundry on request when you return, and quality equipment to hire so you travel light.

Tickets and onward travel

Park permits, museum tickets, flights and onward journeys to Lima, Cusco or beyond, all handled before you ask.

Always in touch

You write to us directly, from the first message until you are home. A real person answers, in your language.

One conversation. We take care of everything else.

On horseback

Journeys on horseback.

The valleys of the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Huayhuash at the pace of a horse: a peaceful way to see the mountains, for those who prefer not to walk for hours, or who wish to alternate riding and walking.

Day rides

Half-day or full-day rides from Huaraz through Andean villages, fields and lakes, with a local guide, well-trained horses and a picnic or typical lunch.

Multi-day rides

Several days between valleys, passes and camps, with horses, guide, cook and a support team carrying everything.

Made for you

Beginners are welcome. We match horse, route and pace to your experience, and can combine riding with walking.

Booking terms

Cancellation policy.

Please read this policy carefully. It explains how cancellations, changes and refunds work for journeys booked with Hidden Andes.

Deposit and balance

To confirm your booking we ask for a deposit of 30% of the total price. The remaining 70% is due 60 days before the first day of your journey.

For bookings made less than 60 days before the start, the full price is due at booking. If the balance is not received on time, we may treat the booking as cancelled by you and apply the terms below.

If you cancel or change your booking

If you cancel your entire booking, or remove days from it, you will be refunded as follows, counted from the first day of your journey:

Deposit retained

60 days or more before the start

Only the 30% deposit is kept, to cover the planning and reservations already made for you. Anything else you have paid is refunded.

50% refunded

30 to 59 days before the start

Half of the total price is refunded, as most arrangements are already confirmed.

No refund

29 days or less before the start

From this point hotels, permits, transport and guides are committed.

Day tours and day rides work differently: if you cancel 7 days or more before the start, you are fully refunded. Within 7 days, the fee is not refundable.

Costs we have already paid to third parties on your behalf, such as park permits, hotel nights, flights and tickets, may not be recoverable and can be deducted from your refund.

Weather and mountain conditions

The mountains decide. Fees are not refunded for bad weather, snow or trail conditions. Your guide may change or shorten a route for your safety, and where possible we will offer an alternative or a new date, at our discretion. Days not used because a traveller leaves early or cannot continue, including because of altitude, are not refunded.

The same applies to illness or accident before or during the journey, which is why good travel insurance is essential.

Changes to your booking

You may ask to change dates or services at any time, subject to availability. Every change is confirmed with a new quote. If the new price is lower, the difference is refunded according to the cancellation terms above.

If we cancel

If we have to cancel or change a service, for example for safety reasons, closures or circumstances beyond our control, we will offer you an alternative or refund 100% of the affected services.

Refunds

Refunds are made by bank transfer, in the currency of your booking confirmation. We will ask you for your bank details. On request, we will give you a letter for your travel insurer stating what you paid and what we retained.

Travel insurance

We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation, medical care and, for high-altitude trips, mountain rescue.

How to cancel

To cancel or change a booking, write to us by email. We will reply in writing to confirm the refund you are due and ask you to confirm that you still wish to cancel.

[email protected]