Conditions Hatun Machay March/April

Hey guys,
we are about to go to Huaraz in 4 weeks. As we are still in pre-season I wanted to ask about usual weather conditions in April and especial this year (since is El Nino).

Is the hut already open (could not find any info on hatunmachay.com)?
How do I get there? Is there already a bus transfer from Andean Kingdom? I read somewhere that they only organize trips during high season.

Thanks so much :)

franz

I just talked to friends that live there and it seemes that everything is super dry. Andean Kingdom only does transfers during the season when there is a lot of people. If not, you can get on the public bus that goes to (forgot the name of the town but you can ask around), and ask them to drop you at the entrance to Hatun Machay, and from there you follow the dirt road up for about to hours. I'm not 100% sure but last I remember the refuge is open almost year round since it hardly ever rains in that area...

I have no idea if the refugio is open yet, but here's some general beta...

Andean Kingdom charges a premium for their transfer service. It's not really worth it if you're on any sort of budget. It's pretty easy and much cheaper to get to HM via public transportation as long as you have 1 or more people to split the taxi with.

From in Huaraz, you take a colectivo (dirt cheap, maybe S5) about 2 hours south to the town of Catac. The colectivo leaves from a small courtyard on the SW side of Huaraz. I don't recall the exact intersection, but it's right along Rt. 3N. Any of the guide services in town can tell you which intersection you need.

When you hop out in Catac, there will be a half dozen taxis just looking for white skinned folks with big backpacks who want to head to Hatun Machay. They'll know exactly where you're going. It's about 1 hr along the highway and another 30minutes up a gnarly dirt road. I don't recall what we paid for a taxi, maybe S120-S150? That gets you to the front door of the refugio. If you're really dirtbagging, you can have the taxi only take you half way and drop you off on the highway and walk 1.5 hours uphill along the dirt road to the refugio. Watch out for wild dogs. They're pretty vicious. You'll need to throw rocks to keep them at bay.

As of 2015, there was no food or meals of any sort available at the refugio. Most people would just stay and climb until their food ran out. I recommend bringing more food than you think you'll need. You can stay for longer and be better fed. The cold and altitude really make you burn calories like crazy. There is a full kitchen with pots, pans, running water, and a gas stove. If the refugio is crowded, it's wise to start cooking early so you don't have to wait your turn for 2 hours.

Bring sunblock, sunglasses, and a heavy down puffy. It's amazing how cold it can get. Make sure your skin is in good shape before you go, and bring a skin kit (emery board, cuticle clippers, tape, superglue, etc) because the rock is razor sharp.