Hikes around Huaraz

Huaraz is known for the beautiful trekkings you can do. In only one day you can visit with tours the beautiful Laguna Parón, Laguna 69 and Chavín de Huántar, but also Laguna Churup all alone. Here are the details of each hike we did.

Laguna Parón

Parón is the biggest lake of the White Cordillera. Its fantastic color comes from the minerals and microorganisms present in the water. We took a tour to go there, as there is no public transport to go up there.

8h: Meeting point at the office
8h30: Leaving Huaraz from an other office
9h30: Ice-cream break in Carhuaz (30min)
10h45: Caraz – shitty road
11h15: Community entrance (S/5)
12h20: Laguna Paron 4176m
12h40: Mirador 4200m 25min
14h30: Leaving
18h: Back to Huaraz (they left us on calle Jr San Martin, in front of Cesars Tours)

Note: We took a tour (40 soles) and paid the entrance 5 soles.

-> 4h

45min

4200m

S/45

Laguna Churup

We took a colectivo from avenida Agustin Gamata, in front of Ursa gaz station (S/10 one way). It left us at Pitec to start our trek.

9h: Colectivo
10h: Pitec (3856m)
10h40: Entrance of the parc (S/30, or S/60 for 3 days)
12h20: Mirador (4500m)
14h: Leaving the laguna
15h30: Back to Pitec where a colectivo was waiting other persons to go back to Huaraz
16h: Back to Huaraz

Difficulty: This trek is not one for practice as mentioned sometimes. You need to have a certain condition as it’s 2h climbing 600m+. You have 2 ways to go up there: we started by the Mirador and ended by the second one following the side of the waterfall where you have chains to help you going down.

-> 1h

4500m

S/50

Laguna 69

Laguna 69 is one of the most beautiful of the region. You will cross a beautiful valley and will see there Huascaran Sur, the highest mountain of Peru, with 6768m high.

5h: Must be ready
5h25: Bus arrive at the hotel
6h30: Shitty road from Yungay
7h30: 30min breakfast break (15soles)
8h10: Parc entrance (S/30, or S/60 for 3 days)
8h40: 5min break in Laguna Chinchan Cocha (3850m)
9h: Start of the trek (3895m)
11h45: Arrival at Lake 69
12h50: Start the way back
15h: Back at the bus
18h30: Back to Huaraz

Difficulty: This 7km trek was to me easier than Churup.
Note: We took a tour from Huaraz (S/40) as it’s complicated to go there by bus or colectivo.

-> 3h

4604m

S/70

Chavín de Huántar

Chavin has been a ceremonial center from 1500 to 200 BC. You can visit there only one galery of the 26 built for initiation purpose. In the same tour you will also do a quick stop to Laguna Qerococha and visit Chavin museum.

8h45: Meeting at the agency
9h15: Leaving Huaraz
10h: 20min break
11h: 10min at Querococha lake
12h30: Arriving in Chavin (S/15)
14h20: End of site
14h45: Museum
15h20: End of museum
15h30: Lunch break
17h: Departure
19h30: Arrival at Huaraz