Want to add on more stellar hiking to your Peru adventure? Consider visiting Huaraz and the Cordillera Blanca! Truly a trekker’s paradise with far fewer tourists than the Sacred Valley, this is a hidden gem that adventurers will not regret! Read on to discover more about our favorite day hike in the area: Hike to Lake 69.
Cordillera Blanca
Duration: Full Day
Difficulty: Medium – Hard
Max Elevation: 4600masl / 15091fasl
Start: Cebollapampa
Finish: Cebollapampa
OVERVIEW:
- Located at 4600m/15091ft nestled between Pisco and Chacraraju Mountains.
- This is one of the most beautiful aqua colored glacial lakes in the Northern Cordillera Blanca mountain range.
- Considered by most hikers as one of the most impressive scenic day hikes in the entire Cordillera Blanca.
- On clear days you can see straight through its deep blue colored waters while at the far end of the lake, an incredible waterfall thunders down into the surreal and magical lake.
- This hike is rated medium to hard because of the altitude and more challenging hiking effort required for the last section of the trail just before reaching the lake.
- This hike combines scenic mountain views of the main Cordillera Blanca peaks, electric colored lakes, rich vegetation and magnificent waterfalls dropping down along the sides of the valley.
Lake 69
DESCRIPTION:
Drive north along the Callejon de Huaylas. In Yungay we turn northeast,
driving up a dirt road where the Llanganuco Valley is located. From here, we cross
the Chinancocha and Orconcocha Lakes to get to Cebollapampa at 3900masl:
our hike starting point for Lake 69. At the beginning, it is a pleasant hike along an almost flat area for about 1 hour, passing through Quenual tress enjoying scenic views with a constant backdrop of Huascaran Mountain, the highest peak in the Cordillera Blanca, as well as Chopicalqui and Yanapaccha peaks. We then ascend along awell-marked zig-zaggin path to the first small lake. Here we gain even more magnificent views of the glaciated peaks of Chacraraju, Yanapaccha, Huascaran, Chopicalqui mountains along with epic waterfalls. We continue ascending on the zig-zagging trail until we reach Lake 69. Some people find this last stretch a little more demanding due to the steepening trail and altitude. The site you will behold is well-worth the effort! The majestic beauty of the lake and an up-close view of the Pisco and Chacraraju Mountains will leave you speechless. Relax, take pictures, have lunch while enjoying the surrounding landscape and then descend back the same way to Cebollapampa, where our transportation is waiting to drive you back to your Huaraz Hotel.
Hiking time: Approx. 6 to 7 hours
Driving time: Approx. 3 1⁄2 (total driving)
Want to add the Cordillera Blanca to your next Peru trip? Contact us!
Also, check out these great itineraries for more ideas:
4-Day Cordillera Blanca Trek / Santa Cruz Loop
6-Day Best of the Huayhuash Trek
Your friendly Peru expert,
Gretchen