Things to do in Huaraz, Peru: the complete guide

The best time to travel to Huaraz, Peru, is the dry season, which runs from May to September. The weather in these months is more stable, with clear skies and pleasant daytime temperatures, so it's ideal for hiking in the Cordillera Blanca and visiting lakes like Laguna 69, Laguna Parón or Laguna Churup.

During this season the trails are in better condition and the views of the snow-capped peaks and lakes are spectacular.

The rainy season in Huaraz (December to March) can make some hikes harder: it brings fog, and the trails can get slippery.

Huaraz sits at 3,052 m (10,013 ft) above sea level, right in the heart of the Cordillera Blanca, in the Áncash region. It's known as the Peruvian Switzerland for its mountain scenery, snow-capped peaks and glacial lakes. For anyone who loves hiking, mountaineering and nature, it's paradise.

🚍 From Lima to Huaraz

The most common and cheapest way to get to Huaraz is by bus from Lima. The trip takes 7 to 8 hours, and several companies run it. We went with Cruz del Sur, one of the most recommended for its safety and comfort.

🛫 Useful update: LATAM recently started flying from Lima to Huaraz. The flight takes 1 hour 10 minutes, and it's an excellent option if you want to save time and avoid the trip by road.

🚐 From other cities

You can also get to Huaraz from Trujillo or Chimbote, though these routes run less often and usually take longer. Those trips are by bus.

✅ Travel tip: If you're going overland, we recommend traveling overnight so you can make the most of the next day in Huaraz. And if you decide to fly, book ahead, since seats are limited.

Altitude is one of the most important things to think about when you visit Huaraz. The city is at 3,052 m (10,013 ft), and many of the best hikes, like Laguna 69 or Laguna Churup, go above 4,000 m (13,123 ft). That's why acclimatizing is key to avoiding altitude sickness (soroche).

🤒 What is altitude sickness and what does it feel like?

The most common symptoms are:

• Headache
• Dizziness or nausea
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Trouble sleeping

We didn't have any severe symptoms, but we did notice that everything takes a bit more effort. So here are our tips for acclimatizing in Huaraz and getting the most out of the Cordillera Blanca:

✅ Tips to avoid altitude sickness in Huaraz

1. Take 2 to 3 days to acclimatize
   Before tackling one of the demanding routes, like Laguna 69 or the Santa Cruz Trek, we recommend doing shorter, easier hikes (like Churup or Wilcacocha) and getting plenty of rest.
2. Drink lots of water
   Drinking water constantly helps a lot. Avoid alcohol and too much caffeine, because they dehydrate you and can make the symptoms worse.
3. Eat light and avoid heavy meals
   Digestion is slower at altitude, so it's best to eat light.
4. Try coca tea
   Drinking coca tea (mate de coca) or chewing coca leaves is an ancestral practice in the Andes, and it helps ease mild symptoms of soroche.
5. Ask about medication if you need it
   Some people use Sorochepills or medications with acetazolamide to prevent severe symptoms. We didn't use them, but if you have any doubts, talk to your doctor before the trip.

Huaraz is the gateway to some of the most incredible landscapes in Peru. Right in the Cordillera Blanca, it's the ideal base for exploring Huascarán National Park, home to Nevado Huascarán (the country's highest mountain), striking glaciers, Andean valleys and turquoise lakes that look like they're from another planet.

This region is ideal for high-altitude hiking, on day hikes or multi-day treks. Here's a selection of the best tours and hikes from Huaraz, with useful info based on our own experience.

1. Hike to Laguna Churup

• Type: Out and back
• Distance: 7 km (4.3 miles) round trip.
• Duration: 4-6 hours.
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Total elevation gain: 646 m (2,119 ft)
• Maximum altitude: 4,500 m (14,764 ft)
• Route on Wikiloc

The hike to Laguna Churup starts in Pitec, 30 minutes from downtown Huaraz. The lake is beautiful, with turquoise water and rocky surroundings. It's an excellent option for acclimatizing and enjoying incredible scenery.

The hike is short but intense, with a final stretch where you scramble up with the help of fixed chains. We recommend doing the loop counterclockwise: it's easier to go up the rocks than down them.

🚐 How do you get there?
You can do it on your own. From Huaraz, take a combi (shared van) from the company Tourist Bus to Hike Pitec/Churup (20 soles round trip). The first one leaves at 7 a.m., and each one departs as soon as it fills up.

💡 Prefer to go with a guide? Here's a well-rated tour to Laguna Churup.

2. Laguna 69

• Type: Out and back
• Distance: 14 km (8.7 miles) round trip.
• Duration: 5-7 hours.
• Difficulty: Moderate. The altitude and the final climb are the main challenges.
• Total elevation gain: 803 m (2,635 ft)
• Maximum altitude: 4,600 m (15,092 ft)
• Route on Wikiloc

Laguna 69 is the most popular hike in Huaraz, and for good reason. The scenery is impressive from start to finish: you walk among snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and green valleys, and you end up in front of an intensely turquoise lake surrounded by mountains.

🥾 The trail climbs steadily and the last stretch is demanding, but the view is worth it. It's best done after at least 2 days of acclimatization.

🚐 How do you get there?
The most practical and affordable way is on a tour. That's how we did it, and it was the easiest option: they pick you up at your lodging and you don't have to worry about a thing. Although we usually travel on our own, in this case going independently is complicated and ends up costing the same (or more).

💡 Here's a tour to Laguna 69 that's very well rated and can be booked online.

3. Laguna Parón

• Type: Out and back
• Distance: 2 km (1.2 miles), an optional walk around the lake.
• Duration: 1-2 hours.
• Difficulty: Easy.

Known for its striking turquoise color and its setting among snow-capped peaks, Laguna Parón is the largest lake in the Cordillera Blanca and one of the most photogenic. From the shore you can see Nevado Artesonraju, which inspired the Paramount Pictures logo 🎬.

👣 What to do at Laguna Parón

• Hike to the viewpoint: 1 km (0.6 miles) on a bit of a slope, with 100 m (328 ft) of elevation gain. It's worth doing early in the day, so you can enjoy the scenery without so many people.
• Kayak or boat ride: you can rent a kayak (25 soles) or a boat (10 soles) to get out on the lake.
• Enjoy the scenery: it's one of the best places to relax with incredible views.

🚗 How to get to Laguna Parón

• On your own:
  1. Take a bus to Caraz from Huaraz (7 soles, 1 hour).
  2. From Caraz, hire a taxi to the lake (130-150 soles round trip, waiting time included).
• On an organized tour:
  The most comfortable option. It includes transportation from your lodging, breakfast in Carhuaz and several scenic stops.
  👉 We recommend this tour to Laguna Parón, which is very well rated and can be booked online.

🌄 Can you camp there?
Yes. There's a camping area and a small refugio (mountain hut) where you can sleep for 20 soles a night. It's ideal if you want to watch the sunrise from this magical place.

4. Laguna Rocotuyoc and Laguna Congelada: two little-known treasures near Huaraz

Type: out and back, plus a connection between the lakes
Approximate distance: 3 km (1.9 miles) round trip
Duration: 1 hour to Rocotuyoc + 40 minutes more to Laguna Congelada
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Maximum altitude: 4,550 m (14,928 ft)

These lakes are real little treasures of the Cordillera Blanca, and most travelers don't know much about them. If you've already been to places like Laguna 69 or Parón and want something quieter and more original, Rocotuyoc and Laguna Congelada are an excellent alternative.

💎 Laguna Rocotuyoc is an intense turquoise, surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of Paccharaju and Copa. It's super easy to reach: from where the car drops you off, you only have to walk about 200 m (656 ft).

🧊 From there you can continue to Laguna Congelada, famous for its glacial setting and the small ice floes that form on its surface. The walk to this second lake takes about 40 minutes, with some climbing but nothing technical.

🚐 How do you get to Rocotuyoc and Laguna Congelada from Huaraz?

• Organized tour:
  This is the best option, because the trailhead is quite remote. It takes about 3 hours by car from Huaraz, and it's not very practical to do on your own.
  👉 Here's a recommended tour to Laguna Rocotuyoc and Laguna Congelada, ideal for going with a guide and not having to worry about logistics.

5. Laguna 513

• Distance: 15 km (9.3 miles) round trip.
• Duration: 6 hours.
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Total elevation gain: 863 m (2,831 ft)
• Maximum altitude: 4,430 m (14,534 ft)

If you want a less touristy hike with incredible scenery, we recommend Laguna 513. The trail runs alongside rivers, passes through gorges and takes you to a turquoise lake at the foot of the Hualcán glacier.

🥾 The route has some hard climbs as well as flatter stretches, which makes it varied and fun.

💬 Although it's less famous than Laguna 69, many people like it even more, because it's less crowded and the setting is just as impressive. We didn't make it there, and it's still very much on our list.

🚐 How do you get to Laguna 513?

• On your own:
  First take a bus from Huaraz to Carhuaz (1.5 hours). From there you need a taxi to Shonquilpampa, where the trail starts. The taxi ride takes about 1 hour and costs between 150 and 200 soles.
  👉 It's best to negotiate for the driver to wait until you finish the hike, since there's no transportation back from that area.
• On an organized tour:
  It's more practical if you don't want to worry about logistics. It includes direct transportation and a guide.

6. Paso del Zorro or the 4 Lakes Trek

Paso del Zorro, also known as the 4 Lakes Route (Ruta de las 4 Lagunas), is one of the most challenging and spectacular treks in the Cordillera Blanca. We didn't get to do it because of some rainy days, but we researched it thoroughly so we could tell you all about it.

• Distance: 23.5 km (14.6 miles)
• Duration: 9 to 11 hours
• Difficulty: Very hard
• Total elevation gain: 1,580 m (5,184 ft)
• Maximum altitude: 4,980 m (16,339 ft)

The trail starts in Wilcahuain, a village 7 km from Huaraz. To get there, take a bus from the corner of Jr. Cajamarca and 13 de Diciembre. They leave from 6 am on, and the trip takes about 30 minutes.

The hike starts at Laguna Ahuac (4,500 m / 14,764 ft) and continues to Paso del Zorro (4,980 m / 16,339 ft), where you can see the twin lakes of Mullaca and Carhuac. It ends at Laguna Radián, the largest of them all. The descent goes through forests of queñual (a native Andean tree), past waterfalls and green valleys.

📌 You can do it:

• In the classic direction (Wilcahuain > Radián).
• In reverse.
• Over 2 days, camping in the mountains.
  👉 For this option we recommend hiring Nuestra Montaña, who run safe, well-guided trips.

7. Laguna Llaca

• Distance: 13.65 km (8.5 miles)
• Duration: 5-6 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Total elevation gain: 620 m (2,034 ft)
• Maximum altitude: 4,474 m (14,678 ft)

Laguna Llaca is a short, accessible hike. The lake's color ranges from deep blue to grayish, and it's surrounded by rock walls and glaciers. From the shore you can see the imposing peaks of Ranrapalca (6,162 m / 20,217 ft) and Ocshapalca (5,888 m / 19,318 ft).

The hike starts on the Llaca road (Carretera Llaca), where you can choose between a steeper but direct trail and a longer but easy mountain path.

🚐 How do you get there?
Take the combi to Pitec, the same one you use to get to Laguna Churup. It stops at Pitec first and then continues to Llaca, where the trail starts.

🎒 Ideal for acclimatizing before more demanding hikes.

8. Laguna Shallap

• Distance: 24 km (14.9 miles)
• Duration: 6 to 8 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Total elevation gain: 670 m (2,198 ft)
• Maximum altitude: 4,260 m (13,976 ft)

Laguna Shallap sits at the foot of the Carhuascancha and Ancos Punta peaks, and it's perfect if you're looking for a long, scenic hike that not many people do.

The trail runs through the Quebrada Shallap, passing the hamlet of Jancu (Caserío de Jancu) and following a valley full of green and silence. The most striking thing about this lake is its unique green color, very different from the turquoise typical of the others.

🚐 How do you get there?
From Huaraz, take the combi to Pitec, the same one you use for Laguna Churup. Ask them to drop you off where the Shallap trail starts.

💡 Although it's long, the climbs aren't that demanding. If you like walking at an easy pace, away from the crowds, it's ideal.

9. Nevado Pisco

• Distance: 20 km (12.4 miles) round trip.
• Duration: 2 days (normally with one night of camping).
• Difficulty: Hard. It's a non-technical ascent, but it takes experience hiking at high altitude.

Nevado Pisco is one of the most accessible peaks in the Cordillera Blanca for people getting started in mountaineering. Although it isn't technical, you need to be well acclimatized and in good shape. It's not a hike for beginners, but you don't need climbing experience either.

The views from the summit are simply incredible: you can see mountains like Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Alpamayo and more.

🧗♀️ The climb takes 2 days, with a camp along the way, and you're required to hire a guided tour.

👉 We recommend checking with Nuestra Montaña, who offer experienced guides, good equipment and a safe experience.

10. Other lakes to visit in Huaraz

As you can see, Huaraz has a huge number of lakes to visit. Here are some others worth seeing:

• Laguna Rajucolta
• Laguna Hualcacocha
• Pastoruri Glacier
• Laguna Yanacocha and Uruscocha
• Laguna Queshquecocha
• Laguna Wilcacocha

If you have more time and want a complete experience in the Andes, these multi-day treks are the best thing you can do in Huaraz. They take you through remote valleys, past turquoise lakes and over high mountain passes, with unique views of Peru's most iconic peaks.

Santa Cruz Trek

• Distance: about 50 km (31.1 miles).
• Duration: 4 days, 3 nights.
• Difficulty: Moderate. The trek is long, but the climbs aren't that steep.

The Santa Cruz Trek is the most popular in the Cordillera Blanca, and no wonder. Over 4 days you cross green valleys, pass blue lakes and imposing glaciers, and get views of Alpamayo, considered one of the most beautiful peaks in the world.

Although you can do it on your own, we recommend going on a tour. It's several days at high altitude, carrying gear and camping. Having a guide and organized logistics lets you enjoy it much more.

🎒 Tip: If you want a worry-free experience, we recommend the 4-day Santa Cruz tour, which includes everything (transfers, guides, food, tents and pack donkeys).

Cordillera Huayhuash Trek

• Distance: 70-160 km (43.5-99.4 miles).
• Duration: 5-12 days.
• Difficulty: Hard. The altitude and long distances make it one of the most challenging treks.

The Cordillera Huayhuash is one of Peru's best-kept secrets. Many consider it one of the best treks in the world: a wild, silent and absolutely mind-blowing route. You'll see snow-capped mountains over 6,000 m (19,685 ft), lakes in unreal colors, high passes and untouched landscapes.

We did the 5-day route along the east side of the range, because we didn't have time to go all the way around (which takes 8 to 12 days). It was one of the most impressive treks we've done in our lives.

🧭 On your own or with a guide?
With a tour, definitely. The altitude, the camping logistics and how remote it is make good organization essential.

👉 We did it with Sergio from Nuestra Montaña, and we highly recommend him. His team is professional and warm, and they know the area like no one else.

📌 In this post we share all the details for doing the Cordillera Huayhuash trek, including itineraries, what to bring, acclimatization and more.

Huaraz has plenty of places to stay for every budget, from cheap hostels ideal for backpackers to boutique hotels and comfortable ones with more services. Most are downtown, which keeps restaurants, tour agencies and transportation close by.

Here are some recommendations by style and budget:

• Central Climbing Hostel: Budget, excellent for backpackers.
• Akilpo Home: A well-priced bed and breakfast.
• Sosa House Eco Hotel Boutique: Another well-priced bed and breakfast.
• Cordillera Hotel: A mid-to-upper-range option with modern comforts.

Absolutely. Huaraz is a paradise for anyone who loves nature, hiking and high-mountain scenery. From day hikes like Laguna 69 or Churup to epic treks like Huayhuash or Santa Cruz, it has adventures for every level.

If you're planning a trip to northern Peru, Huaraz has to be on your itinerary. Not only for its landscapes, but for its authenticity, the warmth of its people and the chance to have unique experiences in the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash.