The first thing that comes to my mind when I am thinking of Huaraz is hiking! Undoubtedly, Huaraz is one of the most interesting spots for mountains and nature lovers in Peru. The beautiful town located at 3059 meters above sea level, surrounded by the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra attracts travelers from all over the World. It is filled with hiking and trekking tours from beginners to advanced mountain enthusiasts. Here is my list of the best hiking trails available in Huaraz, Peru.
1.Laguna Churup
The middle-of-the-road trek to the alpine glacial lake framed in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range. The Churup Lake route starts in the little village called Pitec, located just before the entry to the Huascaran National Park. It is known as one of the most impressive glacier lakes in the Cordillera Blanca. In the middle of the route, you will find a fixed rope to pull yourself up, when the path gets more narrow and steep. When approaching to the Churup Peak, which rises above the lake, you will face a big rocky mountain with cliffs and glaciers. If you just arrived to Huaraz, it is a great acclimatization hike.
Total time: 3-4 h Rating: moderate Altitude Max: 4450m
2. Laguna 69
Laguna 69 is undoubtedly one of the most stunning lakes in the Huascarán National Park, which became the most popular Cordillera Blanca hiking trail. The hike towards Lake 69 takes you through the legendary mountain views of Chacraraju, Pisco, Huascaran, Yanapacha and impressive waterfalls dropping down along the valley. Remember to take your time during the walk and don’t rush yourself, go with your rhythm and balanced. Dealing with the altitude can be challenging.
Total time: 6 -7 hours Rating: moderate Altitude Max: 4600m
3. Santa Cruz Trek
The 50km trek takes 3 or 4 days through the heart of Peru’s incredible Cordillera Blanca mountain range. During the trip, you will see the well-known stunning mountain peaks like Llamacorral, Taullipampa, Paria, Punta Unión. The route filled with turquoise colored lagoons, mountain passes and unique nights at open air in the middle of alpine scenery attracts many visitors in Huaraz. Santa Cruz trek is definitely one of the most photogenic expanses of mountain range in the World.
Total time: 3 – 4 days Grade: moderate Altitude: 3760m – 4750m
4. Laguna Wilcacocha
At 3700m above sea level, the Laguna Wilcacocha is set on the pasm of Cordillera Negra in the Ancash Region. The pleasant trek takes you through small Andes villages on the way to the lagoon. The trek is perfect for those, who want to explore countryside life within the Ancash Region. There are green hills full of miradors offering killer views of Cordillera Blanca and mountain giants of Huandoys, Huascaran, Chopicalqu, Vallunaraju, Ocshapalca, Ranrapalca, Chinchey, Churup, Huatzan etc. It is also a great, half day acclimatization hike.
Total time: 3h Grade: easy Altitude Max: 3786m
5. Pastoruri Glacier
The Pastoruri Glacier is one of the easiest and at the same time the most popular treks in Huaraz. The trip is a great option to acclimatize before reaching more advanced treks. The Pastoruri Glacier is located at 5250 m above sea level and it is one of the few glaciers that survived in the tropical areas of South America. The walk lasts around 40 min one way, and takes you through the southern part of the Cordillera Blanca mountains. The glacier shrunk by half in the last decade, so it is worth to visit it before disappear forever.
Total time: 2 h Rating: easy Altitude Max: 5250m
6. Lake Llanganuco
Lake Llanganuco is situated only 26 km away from Yungay and comprises two stunning lagoons: Chinancocha and Orconcocha. Nestled in a glacier valley between the mountain giants of Huascarán and Huandoy. The unspoiled environment and the bright turquoise color of the lagoons make this place very unique and peaceful. The Lake Chinancocha offers small boat rentals to enjoy a mountain view from a water. The Orconcocha lagoon has a loop trail that offers spectacular landscape view of the lake and surrounding peaks.
Total time: 1-2 h Rating: easy Altitude Max: 3800m
7. Lake Paron
Lake Paron is the biggest lagoon in the Cordillera Blanca with 4 kilometers long and 900 meters wide. Nestled in a glacial valley that offers an incredible view of snow-covered mountains of the Artesonraju, the Pirámide de Garcilaso and the Chacraraju. The legend says that the Artesonraju mountain represents the logo of Paramount Pictures – the fifth oldest film studio in the World. The hiking trail towards the lake Paron takes you through a 1000 meters high granite canyon.
Total time: 3-4 h Rating: moderate Altitude Max: 4450m
8. Huayhuash
The Cordillera Huayhuash is located in the South of the Condillera Blanca mountain range. For those, who want to explore more of the stunning surrounding of Huayhuash, the city offers 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 day tours, from moderate to strenuous level. The mountain range is filled with colors, from turquoise lagoons, green lush through snow capped picks to blue cascading rivers. It is home to legendary icy peaks such as the Hirishanca , the Siula Grande, the Yerupaja, the Ninshanca etc. The Cordillera Huayhuash trekking is considered as one of the best trekking circuits in the World.
Total time: 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 days Rating: moderate – strenuous Altitude: 3300m – 5000m
April 7, 2018 @ 3:30 pm
<3
March 26, 2019 @ 7:59 pm
Excellent article. I absolutely appreciate this site.
Continue the good work!