If you are planning a trip to Peru, Laguna Paron is the number one nature destination that you should not miss out on visiting! This is your ultimate guide to experiencing everything there is to do in the most breathtaking valley in the Peruvian Andes.
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All you need to do is see this picture of Laguna Paron and it is a no-brainer that this is a nature destination in Peru that you NEED to experience for yourself!
It is one of the most accessible high elevation glacier lakes and tall Himalayan Mountain valleys in the Andes. You drive all the way up to 4200m and walk 10 minutes to reach the lake.
There are multiple do-able hikes for amazing views to admire the valley from different perspectives. Kayak on the crystal blue lake as you stare into the towering peak of Artesonraju. Hike right into the valley in just one day and camp overnight surrounded by nature’s wonders. Need I say more?
I visited Laguna Paron 5 times during my travels in Peru. Each time it got more and more amazing. The first time I visited I did not even know about half the hikes and activities to do there. I saw a picture of this place and my nature lover instincts kicked in to get my hiking feet there ASAP without researching anything beforehand. By the last couple times, I had been all over the valley and had so many unbelievable experiences.
But you do not need to visit 5 times to have the most fulfilling nature adventure at Laguna Paron. In this post, I will help guide you with everything you need to know for what could possibly be your favourite place in all of Peru!
ABOUT LAGUNA PARON, PERU:
Laguna Paron is situated at an altitude of 4200m. Nestled between the tall snow peaked Andes of the Cordillera Blanca.
It is located within the Huascaran National Park which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The most iconic mountain at Laguna Paron is the 5885m tall pyramid, Artesonraju. At Laguna Paron you are completely surrounded by some of the tallest mountains in Peru.
The turquoise colour of the lake is due to high concentrations of dissolved lime. The lake is naturally formed and shines the most unreal colour on a clear sunny day.
To say that Laguna Paron is unbelievably beautiful is the understatement of a lifetime! There are no words to describe the natural beauty of this valley. And how it feels to be immersed in the pure, wild energy of the Andes. When you visit here, it is so much more than just the lake. It is the majesty of the entire valley, the 360-degree mountain view, the fresh air and the colours of nature that leave you with such a great sense of connection to nature.
ABOUT HUARAZ:
Huaraz is situated in the centre of Peru between the Andean mountains in the Ancash region about 240 miles from the capital, Lima. It is one of the most unbelievable locations of a city that I have seen in South America. You will see the giant mountain peaks from the Cordillera Blana and Cordillera Negra surrounding the city.
Huascaran (6768m), the highest mountain in Peru and the tallest tropical mountain in the world, can be seen from Huaraz! When you see Huascaran, you will feel as though you are seeing the biggest mountain you have ever seen. It is truly something special!
It is from this city that you will be adventuring and hiking from. All of the glacier lakes, multi-day hikes and day trips leave from Huaraz.
Huaraz is a 3050m elevation city with high elevation activities. So be sure to acclimatize before taking on any of the hiking in this region.
What makes Huaraz such a special place for nature lovers, is that many of the most beautiful places to see are very accessible for travellers of all ages and fitness levels. If you are okay with elevation, you will be able to experience some of the most unbelievable sceneries you have ever seen just by driving to them. No hiking required!
In my opinion, with so many breathtaking places like Laguna Paron, Huaraz is the best place in Peru for mountain lovers and hiking enthusiasts. And definitely one of the best in all of South America and the world. It is also a photographer’s heaven! My Peru trip would not have been complete without visiting this spectacular region.
HOW TO GET TO HUARAZ:
There are 3 different ways in which you can travel to Huaraz:
- Take the bus
- Rent a car
- Private taxi
There are currently no flights to Huaraz from Lima since the airline that provided this flight went bankrupt in 2018.
You will be climbing 3000m in elevation on the drive to Huaraz. The roads between Lima and Huaraz are kept in good condition. The bus drivers are very experienced in taking this route, so you are in safe hands on your journey.
BY BUS:
The bus can take anywhere between 7 and 8 hours. Every time I have visited Huaraz, I have taken the bus. It is a very simple and easy journey. All the buses depart from La Victoria and the Terminal Terrestre Plaza Norte in Lima and arrive at the bus station in Huaraz city that is very close to the city centre.
Bus tickets can vary between $10 and $30 per person one-way depending on which bus company and seats you choose.
You can choose a day bus or an overnight bus from Lima. Currently the buses leave every 4 hours from Lima. I have always opted for the night bus to Huaraz with Cruz Del Sur. I highly recommend their bus company as I have never had a problem with their service. They also offer seats that recline for a comfortable sleep overnight.
You can also book bus tickets on Busbud, RedBus or directly as the Terminal Terrestre Plaza Norte in Lima.
BY CAR:
You can rent a car from Lima to road trip to Huaraz. The positive side of having your own car is that you can drive at your own pace, stop along the way for the scenic views and also have your own transportation around Huaraz.
Most of the nature destinations you would visit in Huaraz are dirt roads. So if you plan to take your own car to visit Laguna Paron, rent a car that is suitable for rocky dirt roads just to be extra safe.
I would highly recommend only hiring a car if you are experienced in driving in Peru or South America. The roads can be very chaotic and confusing in the cities. Getting out of Lima is a challenge in itself. We rented a car once from Lima and getting out of the city was an absolute nightmare and extremely stressful. So make sure you are confident in your driving before you decide to rent your own car.
BY PRIVATE TAXI:
If you prefer to take a private taxi, this can be arranged from Lima. Either from the airport or door-to-door from your hotel to Huaraz.
A private taxi will cost you more than taking the bus. But you will be able to leave at the time you have arranged with the taxi and be dropped off at your desired location in Huaraz.
HOW TO GET AROUND HUARAZ:
If you do not have your own car in Huaraz, getting around the city is very easy. There are affordable taxis driving all around the city that you can stop along the roads to take you between the centre and your accommodation.
You can always ask the host of your accommodation for a reliable taxi number who you can use throughout your visit in Huaraz.
My partner and I travel together, but every day I was out and about on my own in the city. I would walk every single day between my Airbnb and the city centre which was about a 20-minute walk on way. I never had any issues of feeling unsafe. Of course, nothing is guaranteed, and this is just my own personal experience of walking in and around Huaraz.
If you are planning on taking private taxis to the nature destinations around Huaraz, you can easily arrange a reliable and trustworthy taxi through any of the tour agencies or your accommodation host.
THE BEST SEASON TO VISIT HUARAZ/LAGUNA PARON, PERU:
ALL YEAR ROUND! Let me elaborate…
I have been to Huaraz in the high/dry season, low/rainy season. And there are so many positives and negatives to each one.
HIGH/DRY SEASON, COLDER TEMPERATURES:
The most common answer you will get to this question is May to September. These are the dry winter months. So, you will have a better chance of blue skies and clear mountain views in this season.
It is also the high season when most tourists come to visit this region of Peru so most of the destinations, including Laguna Paron, are filled with a lot more visitors than in the low season.
I only noticed the busyness of the nature spots in the most popular places like Laguna Paron, Laguna 69 and Pastoruri Glacier. Even though there are more trekkers on the trails at this time, there are so many different treks in the Cordillera. So the amount of people in the high season do not affect the trails or experience on the multi-day treks at all.
If you are planning to do multi-day treks in the Cordillera Mountain ranges, I highly recommend planning your trip in the dry season to avoid weather disruptions in your plans and disappointments on the trails due to bad weather.
Keep in mind that it is still the mountains. It can be cloudy and rainy at any time of the year. But you have a higher chance of good weather between May and September.
We did a private 4-day Huayhuash trek early June, and the weather was absolute perfection for those days.
LOW/RAINY SEASON, WARMER TEMPERATURES:
The low rainy season is between October and April. I visited Huaraz in October and November and honestly, the weather did not affect any of my adventures in this time. Again, this is just coming from my own experiences in these months.
When I was there during rainy season, I only experienced rainfall in the late afternoon for about one to three hours. Of course, it was cloudier than in the dry season so you might miss out on some views if you do not get lucky with a clear day. I do not know if I just got lucky in this time or if that is usually how it is in rainy season. But I was able to do all of the adventures I had planned and saw the beautiful nature views on every hike.
One of the things I absolutely loved about low season was that we often had the entire place to ourselves. Every single time we visited Laguna Paron, one of the most popular destinations in all of Peru, we were the literal only people all day and night there. It was such a surreal feeling to have such a massive valley all to ourselves.
The multi-day treks are a risk to do during these months because you never know what the weather will be like deep in the mountains. But if you have already planned your Peru trip for the rainy season months, I would still recommend visiting Huaraz (and putting Laguna Paron at the top of your list) because the one-day destinations are still amazing and truly a magical experience!
LAGUNA PARON WITH OR WITHOUT A TOUR?
You have two options for visiting Laguna Paron. I will give you all the necessary information for visiting with or without a tour.
Every single time we went, we visited without a tour and took a private taxi instead. The reason for this is that we wanted to spend a lot more time exploring the valley than what the tours give you.
The difference between a tour or no tour, is the price, the amount of time you wish to spend there and whether or not you want to camp over for a night or two.
PLEASE REMEMBER: you will be paying a 5/Soles (plus minus $1.50) entrance fee into the park when you enter. So be sure to bring some small change with you to Laguna Paron.
HOW TO DO LAGUNA PARON WITH A TOUR:
Finding a tour from Huaraz is very easy. There are many tour agencies scattered all around the city centre. You can also ask your hotel or hostel to arrange the tour for you. You can book the tour once you arrive in the city.
The Laguna Paron tour is a full day tour that departs from Huaraz. The total length of the tour is between 8 and 10 hours. Majority of that time is spent driving.
Most tours depart between 7am and 8am and collect you from your hotel in Huaraz.
It takes about 3 to 3.5 hours to get between Huaraz and Laguna Paron one-way.
On your way, you will pass through the towns of Carhuaz, Yungay and Caraz before heading on the dirt road up to Laguna Paron.
Do not forget to look at the INCREDIBLE view of Huascaran Mountain as you pass through Carhuaz. It is unbelievably beautiful, and you can really appreciate the size of Huascaran from this vantage point.
Most tours will stop in Carhuaz for photographs and some artisanal flavourful foods made from the fruits of this area.
You will drive through the beautiful Andean villages and farmlands on your way up to the lake. And pass through the most impressive valley with some of the tallest mountains towering over you on either side.
Once you arrive at the lake at about 12pm, tours usually give you approximately 2 hours to explore the different viewpoints of Laguna Paron and the surrounding mountains before getting back in the van to head back to Huaraz by around 6pm. I will share more about everything there is to do at Laguna Paron below.
COST BREAKDOWN WITH A TOUR:
The total cost of a tour including transport is on average 70 Soles (about $18-$19).
This price can vary slightly depending on which tour agency you use.
The only extra costs outside of the tour price would be the 5 Soles (plus minus $1.50) entrance fee to the Huascaran National Park if it is not included in the tour price. As well as any food, snacks and drinks you will bring with for yourself or buy along the way.
A few of the tour agencies in Huaraz with whom you can book a tour with are:
Alternatively, if you would like to book your tour ahead of time, you can reserve your tour through GetYourGuide. You also have the option of reserving a full-day private tour if that is something you would prefer to do.
Experiencing Laguna Paron with a tour is a cost-effective way to still visit one of the most beautiful nature destinations in all of Peru.
The cons of visiting with a tour is that most tours are there at the same time and it may feel crowded during the high season. The tours may also feel rushed and only give you a short amount of time to fully explore the area and take your time in each viewpoint.
HOW TO DO LAGUNA PARON WITHOUT A TOUR:
If you are a complete nature freak who just cannot pull themselves away from the amazing views, I would highly recommend adding a private taxi and camping experience into your Peru budget for Laguna Paron.
Not many people camp at Laguna Paron which makes it even more special to be one of the only people in the middle of this spectacular wonder of the Andes. Twice out of the 5 times camping here, my partner and I were the only 2 people in the entire valley. And I will never forget that feeling of pure peace, serenity and presence without a single soul around us.
You can decide to do Laguna Paron for the day, or you can camp overnight. We loved to camp for two nights to give ourselves enough time to explore and take photos as much as possible.
Because of the distance between Huaraz and Laguna Paron, camping overnight makes more sense if you are opting to visit without a tour. If you are just visiting for the day, you will get a few extra hours than the tours give you, but you will still have to do the 6–7-hour car trip there and back in one day.
PREPARING FOR LAGUNA PARON:
The day before your adventure, you need to do all of the prepping! Food, camping gear, organizing the taxi and anything extra you may need.
You would only need to bring your own food, water, snacks and warm clothing if you just plan to spend the day there.
If you do not have your own camping gear, there are multiple agencies to rent all your gear from in Huaraz. You can even rent warm jackets and fleeces from some agencies. They let you come in the late afternoon the day before to collect everything you need and usually charge you per day until 2pm. If you bring the items back after 2pm, you will most likely be charged for another day.
You can rent everything from 2-man/4-man tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, gas, headlamps, floor covers, and we even rented some cooking utensils.
I highly recommend renting your camping gear from Wira Cocha. They have good quality gear for affordable prices (see below for the price breakdown).
You can also bring a gas bottle to cook your own food. It can get very windy on the camping grounds so try find some wind shield for cooking. There are also a few little fire pits around to make use of if the weather allows.
Another option for food is from the small restaurant at the entrance of Laguna Paron. They serve typical Peruvian dishes. It is best to give them a heads up a few hours before dinner to ensure they make you dinner before closing up.
They also offer a Refugio to sleep in for the night if you do not wish to camp. The man who runs the restaurant and Refugio told us that we can pitch up there on the day and arrange to sleep inside.
GETTING THERE ON YOUR OWN:
There are 2 ways to get to Laguna Paron on your own:
- Private taxi
- Colectivos/hiking
PRIVATE TAXI:
You can organize a private taxi from Huaraz to pick you up from your hotel at your desired time. Be adamant to the driver about the time you want to be picked up because sometimes they run later than you planned with them. Remember it takes between 3 to 3.5 hours to get to Paron from Huaraz. So, if you want a full day there you should leave as early as possible.
You need to arrange with your taxi driver beforehand how long they can expect to wait for you if you are just going for the day or if they need to fetch you again one or two days after if you decide to camp. The price they charge you will vary depending on your choice.
The average price we paid for a private taxi to take us to Laguna Paron from Huaraz, fetch us two nights later and return us to Huaraz was around $150 total. It may sound like a lot but trust me, it is SO worth the time and the experience you get from having so much time there. And if you are more than one person travelling together, you will be splitting that cost between you.
Going with a private taxi really allows you the freedom to spend as much time as your heart desires at Laguna Paron without the feeling of being rushed by the tours, surrounded by people trying to take pictures at the viewpoints or feeling like you did not have enough time to see and do everything.
COLECTIVO/HIKING:
- You can take the first Colectivo from Huaraz at 5am to Caraz.
- Here you will transfer into the next Colectivo from Caraz to Pueblo Paron at about 6:30am from Terminal Terrestre. There are other morning departures if you do not make it for the 6:30am one.
- You will be dropped off in Pueblo Paron and walk 5 minutes to the entrance of the trailhead to Laguna Paron.
- You can either hike the 10km trail up to Paron or follow the dirt road that the cars drive up – but this is a much longer route to take. You can expect to take about 3 hours on the hike.
- If you are not camping, you need to allow yourself enough time to hike back down to Pueblo Paron to catch the Colectivo back to Caraz. The last one leaves between 4:20pm and 5:10pm.
- From Caraz you will take your final Colectivo to Huaraz. These leave more frequently.
COST BREAKDOWN WITHOUT A TOUR:
Here is an average breakdown of what you can expect to pay to visit/camp at Laguna Paron without a tour:
Please note that these are the average prices. They may vary slightly depending on the taxi service and where you rent your camping gear from if you do not have your own.
PRIVATE TAXI FROM HUARAZ TO LAGUNA PARON AND BACK: $150 total
TOTAL COLECTIVO COSTS ONE-WAY: approximately 20 soles/$5.50
ENTRANCE FEE TO HUASCARAN NATIONAL PARK: 5 soles/$1.50
TENT: 30 soles/$8 per day (floor cover was included)
SLEEPING BAG: 20 soles/$5.50 per day
MATTRESS: 5 soles/$1.50 per day
WARM JACKET IF NEEDED: 30 soles/$8 per day
SMALL GAS BOTTLE: 20-3 soles/ $5.50-$8
PRICE OF A MEAL AT THE RESTAURANT: approximately 20-25 soles/$5.50-$6.70
WHAT TO DO AT LAGUNA PARON, PERU:
KAYAK ON THE GLACIER LAKE:
This will be one of the most breathtaking kayaks of your entire life!
You can rent a kayak for 20 soles/$5.50 or ride in the rowboat (canoe) for 10 soles/$3 per person.
I recommend kayaking earlier rather than later. I found that the wind picks up a lot more towards the afternoon time which can make kayaking a little trickier.
Kayaking on a pristine glacier lake with the most magnificent snow mountain view in front of you is more beautiful than I could ever put into words.
HIKE UP TO THE MIRADOR:
To the right of the entrance to Laguna Paron is the trail up to the mirador. You will climb about 300m to a viewpoint that is sure to take your breath away!
It is an easy hike with a trail all the way to the top. The trail turns into big boulders when it flattens out so expect to do a little climbing over the rocks to reach the main viewpoint.
Do not forget your camera because this is such an aesthetic view from above of the sparkling lake and you are completely towered over by the giant snow mountains. You will have an amazing view of Huandoy and Artesonraju.
I really feels like you are on top of the world here.
TAKE A REFRESHING DIP IN THE LAKE – IF YOU DARE!
If you are brave enough to take on the freezing cold waters, you can have the most refreshing swim in the lake.
There is a small beachy area down by the lake that you can enter from. Or you can walk around the edge of the lake and jump off from one of the boulders that look safe enough to jump from.
WALK AROUND THE EDGE OF LAGUNA PARON
There is a stunning walk around the lake edge that will take you a little deeper into the valley for a different perspective of the surrounding mountains.
If you walk straight passed the restaurant you will see the trail to follow.
HIKE TO LAGUNA ARTESON COCHA
You will not believe how picturesque this valley gets the deeper you wander into it.
I only discovered this hike my second last time I visited. And honestly, my Paron experience would not feel complete without having done this. This hike is a must if you are camping and have a full day to do it.
THERE ARE 2 OPTIONS FOR THIS HIKE:
– Laguna Arteson Cocha.
– The end of Laguna Paron.
This hike is a continuation of the lake edge trail. You will take this trail all the way to the end of Laguna Paron. We were told that it takes about 1 hour to reach the end of the lake before turning left to make your way to Laguna Arteson Cocha for another 2 hours. But we took 3 hours just to reach the end of the lake because we were stopping to take pictures every 2 minutes.
The entire trail is easy and do-able until right before the end of Laguna Paron where you need to ascend a few metres up to take the trail along the edge of the mountain to reach the other side. We initially could not find the trail and thought it had come to an end. But if you look carefully, you will see a thin trail between the bushes leading up across the mountain.
This might be challenging during rainy season because I imagine the end of the trail becomes quite slippery. But the man who runs the Refugio also offers to guide you if you are nervous to hike on your own.
If you do not feel to do the entire hike to Laguna Arteson Cocha, you can hike all the way right up into the valley before the path takes you up along the edge of the mountain.
I wish I could explain how beautiful the scenery is here. You will find yourself right up against the mountains that you see from afar at the beginning of the lake. With the most pristine sand banks and islands in the water. Waterfalls cascading down the snow peaked mountains. And up-close views of the impressive glaciers.
WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR ADVENTURE – ALL THE ESSENTIALS:
- Warm windproof jacket – The wind chill can be bitingly cold here.
- Fleece, beanie and gloves – layering with wool in these temperatures is best for keeping warm.
- Good hiking shoes – to walk comfortably on the trails, through mud and on boulders.
- Rain jacket – you never know when the weather might turn in the mountains.
- Umbrella – if you plan to hike all day away from the camp site it is a good idea to have an umbrella with you.
- Hiking poles – great to have for the Laguna Arteson Cocha hike.
- Small day/hiking bag – to have your essentials with you on the hikes.
- Tent, sleeping bag and mattress.
- Small gas bottle and cooking utensils – to make your own food.
- Headlamp – necessary at night or if you come back from hiking later than expected.
- Portable charger – you never know if there will be an emergency or if you want your phone for entertainment on the drives to and from Laguna Paron.
- Food, snacks and water
- Altitude sickness pills – if you are not sure about how you handle altitude, it is always best to have these at hand.
- Bathing suit and towel – for swimming.
- Toilet paper – the bathrooms do not always have toilet paper.
- Sunscreen and hat – the sun can be so strong in high elevation so best to be protected.
- First Aid kit – a small first aid kit is always useful to have in case anything happens. I cut my toe open while getting in the water and a first aid kit would have come in handy! The tour guides should have this at hand if you are doing a tour.
- Rubbish bag – keep all of your rubbish safely in a bag to dispose of when you get home.
- Camera – trust me! There is no such thing as too many photos at Laguna Paron.
EXTRA TIPS FOR VISITING LAGUNA PARON, PERU:
- There is a toilet on site that you can use for 1 Soles/$0.30. Bring your own toilet paper just in case!
- If you are not used to high elevation, it is best to acclimatize in Huaraz before doing Laguna Paron.
- There is a secret reception spot that I discovered at the top of the mirador hike! As soon as you reach the top of the trail before you turn left towards the mirador, there is reception for sim cards at that spot.
- If you sleep at the Refugio, they do provide blankets, but you can bring your own sleeping bag or an extra blanket because it can get very cold up there at night.
- When you visit during the rainy season, you can expect the weather to change multiple times throughout the day. One moment it can be clear sunny skies and the next it can be pouring with rain or even snowing.
- It is always better to be over-prepared than to be there without something that you might need. The mountains can be so unpredictable with weather, even during the dry season.
- You are allowed to camp anywhere on the grounds around the beginning of the Laguna Paron (this might just be your favourite camping experience in all of Peru, possibly even the world!). You can also set up your tent on the sandy beach area right down by the water.
LEAVE NO TRACE
Please be sure to take any and all trash home with you. It is so important to keep the nature clean without any trace of litter or destruction. It is our responsibility as travellers in Peru to be conscious of our actions when visiting Laguna Paron. We are so blessed to be able to appreciate this beautiful nature and in return we do our part to take care of the earth.
I hope that after reading through my Laguna Paron blog post, you have no doubt in your mind about visiting this amazing nature destination in Peru and that you feel prepared for the adventure. It is a paradise like no other, a real heaven on earth. And it is worth every minute of getting there to experience nature in such a magnificent and majestic scenery.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
IS PERU SAFE TO TRAVEL?
Peru is a very travel friendly country to explore. I personally found it to be the safest country on my South American travels. Of course there are no guarantees. Just like any country you visit; you need to be aware of your surroundings and hot spots. If you are not familiar with Peru then sticking to the tourist areas, taking the safe road routes, and booking tours through reputable agencies is best.
The public transport is also safe and reliable for getting around the country and within the towns/cities.
Peru is the country that I experienced the least inappropriate harassment in all of South America. The people are generally friendly and warm welcoming. When I was out without my partner, I never felt unsafe to walk alone in the towns/cities/villages.
It is always good to take care of your belongings no matter where you go. Keep them close to you on public transport.
IS HUARAZ SAFE FOR TOURISTS?
Huaraz is generally safe for tourists if you stay within the centre of the city (in and around the square). There are areas to avoid as a traveller outside of this area, but most tourists tend to stick to the safe circle around the town square when it comes to accommodations and restaurants.
I recommend not walking alone at nighttime and not carrying all of your valuables with you to ensure your safety in Huaraz.
IS HUARAZ WORTH VISITING?
YES!! The amount of amazing adventures surrounding Huaraz are so worth the trip from Lima. You could spend weeks exploring this region of Peru and still not have done every hike and seen every view.
There are activities for all ages and levels of fitness. Many of the destinations are reachable by car. So, anyone who visits Huaraz will be able to experience the beauty of the Andes.
Most people visit the Sacred Valley region of Peru, but Huaraz gives you a beautiful experience of Peruvian culture and nature that is so different to Sacred Valley.
IS IT SAFE TO CAMP AT LAGUNA PARON, PERU?
Yes, it is very safe to camp at Laguna Paron. We were warned in the rainy season to not camp at the end of the Laguna Arteson Cocha hike because of avalanches. But there is no risk of this at the beginning of Laguna Paron at any time of the year. You are safe to camp here in every sense of the word. The man at the restaurant also sleeps there at night so if you ever need something or have an emergency you can ask him for help. The only strange noises I heard at night were the cows munching the grass around our tent!
