Rescuers race to find Australian hiker missing on remote Peruvian trail
News Source
β’Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:28:01 +0000
π° What Happened
An Australian hiker is missing in Peru's Andes mountains. Jordan Yap, 30, from Melbourne, last spoke to family and friends on 14 September. He had started a 10-day solo trek on the Cordillera Huayhuash circuit.
He did not make contact on his expected return date. He did not return to his hostel in Huaraz, where his luggage still sits, and missed a flight from Lima to Cusco.
His family hired the rescue group Socorro Andino Peruano. Rescuers searched many trails on Sunday without luck. Yap lost his satellite beacon days before he set off.
π The Backstory
The Huayhuash circuit is a 120km high-altitude trek, about 400km north-east of Lima. It is popular, with hundreds of hikers and guides on the trail each week in season.
Yap trained for more than a year and bought a GPS watch with offline maps. Friends say he is fit and loves to navigate. He was wearing a white jacket and grey pants and carried a 40-litre pack.
Australia's embassy in Peru is helping the family, who want more official search resources.
π― Why It Matters
It is a reminder that even strong, prepared travellers can vanish in remote places. It also shows why a beacon and a check-in plan matter so much.
An Australian hiker is missing in Peru's Andes mountains. Jordan Yap, 30, from Melbourne, last spoke to family and friends on 14 September. He had started a 10-day solo trek on the Cordillera Huayhuash circuit.
He did not make contact on his expected return date. He did not return to his hostel in Huaraz, where his luggage still sits, and missed a flight from Lima to Cusco.
His family hired the rescue group Socorro Andino Peruano. Rescuers searched many trails on Sunday without luck. Yap lost his satellite beacon days before he set off.
The Huayhuash circuit is a 120km high-altitude trek, about 400km north-east of Lima. It is popular, with hundreds of hikers and guides on the trail each week in season.
Yap trained for more than a year and bought a GPS watch with offline maps. Friends say he is fit and loves to navigate. He was wearing a white jacket and grey pants and carried a 40-litre pack.
Australia's embassy in Peru is helping the family, who want more official search resources.
It is a reminder that even strong, prepared travellers can vanish in remote places. It also shows why a beacon and a check-in plan matter so much.