Hiking to Laguna 69 in Peru’s Huascaran National Park

Laguna 69 in the background

Huascaran National Park surrounds Peru’s Cordillera Blanca (White Mountains), Peru’s highest mountain range. I did not even know about the Cordillera Blanca before I reached Peru. I was focused on Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Cusco and Machu Picchu; the typical tourist trail. I was in Mancora talking with a group from Quebec who were going north to Ecuador and Columbia. After suggesting to them places like Volcano Cotopaxi, Laguna Quilotoa and Sierra Nevado Ruiz; they suggested I would like the Cordillera Blanca. They were right.

Since I was traveling by bus to Lima, it was an extra 8 hours total bus time to get to Huaraz, the main launch point for trips to Huascaran. I got in early after an all-night bus from Trujillo and checked into my hostel.

Plaza de Armas in Huaraz

The owner of the hostel told me about a day trip that seemed pretty cool. His description was way off in terms of the effort. He described it as about a two hour bus ride to the destination with an hour and half walk, then we return.

The walk turned out to be a 6 hour very tough, but very enjoyable hike. It starts at 12,465 feet and ascends to 15,090 feet. I thought I would be resilient to the altitude by now, but I definitely had to slow down to account for it. I think possibly I started out a little overconfident and moved a little too fast. This caught up to me by the time I reached the last ascent. Note: I think he may have been mistaken about the hike that he sent me on, because you could do this by just visiting the lower lakes and it would not be very strenous.

I think I have done some pretty amazing hikes since coming to South America on this trip. This hike matched up to any of them; a very nice surprise given that I did not even know it existed before coming to Peru.

Note for bicyclists: the road from Huaraz to Barranca looked like it would be an amazaing ride, but with very few services. It would be a 30 mile slow rise, followed by a hundred mile downhill. If you were prepared to camp, I think this would be a great ride.

One of the lower lakes

Running streams were everywhere, there were some precarious crossings

Cows were common and were seen pretty close to Laguna 69 at over 15,000 feet.

Stream running down towards the lower lakes

Waterfall coming from first upper lake on climb

First upper lake. I expected to see a lady's arm with a sword in hand here.

Water clarrity in the first uppler lake

Looking back on the first upper lake

Another lake seen from the ascent to Laguna 69; notice the people in lower left for guaging size

Reaching Laguna 69

Snowmass above Laguna 69

Laguna 69

Vertical view of waterfall at Laguna 69