For any mountain lover or hiking enthusiast visiting Peru, the Huaraz region is a must! If you are wondering what there is to do in Huaraz, here are 5 of the most epic mountain adventures to do there.
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Huaraz is often overlooked by most people traveling to Peru because of the number of iconic natural wonders that this beautiful country holds. In my opinion, exploring Peru would not be complete without visiting Huaraz. A region in the heart of the Andes Mountains and the gateway to the Cordillera Blanca.
There are so many incredible hikes, multi-day treks and thrilling adventures to do here that it can be hard to choose what to do and where to go if you have limited time. But if you have enough time, every one of the mountain adventures in this list should be on your Huaraz bucket list!
If you would like to learn more about Huaraz, the best season to visit and how to get there, I have shared in depth details about it all on my Laguna Paron Blog here.
WHERE TO STAY FOR EACH ADVENTURE?
If there was ever a city that I did not mind to stay in, it is Huaraz! The views of the highest peak in Peru, Huascaran, and the surrounding giant snow mountains is beyond impressive.
The majority of tourists stay within Huaraz city as that is where all of the tours start from. If you plan to use public transport or have your own transport to do the adventures without a tour, then you can also stay in the surrounding towns or villages.
I have travelled to Peru twice and both times I found myself in Huaraz. I stayed in different places each time so I have a few helpful tips to give you when planning your trip here.
No matter which adventures you do, if you are going with a tour, then it is best to stay in Huaraz for convenience sake. You will either meet your guide at the tour agency in the morning, or they will pick you up from your accommodation.
A great hostel that I stayed in during one of my trips was Mirador Backpackers B&B. They have affordable dorms and private rooms in a quieter part of town.
If you are looking for a more private stay with a stunning mountain view, this Airbnb that I stayed in for one month was spectacular. You even have your own private balcony.
To get to some of the destinations in this list, it can be a couple hours drive (one-way) from Huaraz. The first time I visited, I stayed in a smaller town called Yungay. It is much closer to Laguna 69 and Laguna Paron than Huaraz.
It is not a popular tourist town to stay in at all. There are only local restaurants and markets to buy food and groceries from. But since we were doing these activities without a tour and wanted to be at our destinations as early as possible to beat the groups, we chose to stay here instead.
You can also find stays in and around Yungay on Booking.com and Airbnb.
HOW LONG SHOULD I STAY IN HUARAZ, PERU?
How long you stay in Huaraz will depend on your reasons for being there. If you only plan to do the one-day hikes and adventures then 5-7 days in Huaraz is enough to experience almost all of them. But if you plan to add some multi-day treks, camping overnight and have some rest days in between adventures then you will need more days on your itinerary.
If you did every adventure on this list, including camping overnight at Laguna Paron and a 4-day mini Huayhuash trek, then this would be an ideal (but very adventurous) itinerary to have:
- Day 1: Arrive in Huaraz. Acclimatize.
- Day 2: Acclimatize.
- Day 3: Laguna Paron. Camp overnight.
- Day 4: Back to Huaraz for the day.
- Day 5: Laguna 69 hike.
- Day 6: Rest day.
- Day 7 – 10: 4-day Mini Huayhuash Trek.
- Day 11: Rest day.
- Day 12: Pastoruri Glacier Tour
- Day 13: Rest day OR climbing Nevada Mateo
If you are not used to being in high elevation then you will need to have at least 1-2 days in Huaraz (3052m) of acclimatization before you go even higher in altitude on the following mountain adventures.
5 MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES YOU CAN’T MISS OUT ON IN HUARAZ:
1. LAGUNA PARON
Whenever Laguna Paron is brought up, I honestly do not even know where to start explaining the beauty of this place. I believe that Laguna Paron should be up there with seeing Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu when visiting Peru.
What is amazing about Laguna Paron is that it is not only for hikers. It is accessible by car right up to the refuge that sits at the start of the lake.
You can either choose to:
– hike up to Laguna Paron from the villages down in the valley
– take a tour from Huaraz that will drive you to the Paron
– take a private taxi from Huaraz or Yungay
Because of my love for Paron and after visiting, camping and hiking here 5 times, I have written a complete in depth guide on visiting Laguna Paron with and without a tour here. You will find everything you need to know about fully experiencing one of the most beautiful mountain adventures in Huaraz.
There are breathtaking hikes around Paron that take you to unreal views of the surrounding mountains. And if you have time, camping at Laguna Paron is a must!
2. LAGUNA 69
Laguna 69 is a full day adventure through the most dramatic fairytale valley. With towering snow peaks around every corner and fluffy Chinchillas greeting you along the trail. From the start of the hike up until your final ascent to Laguna 69, you will also find yourself in green fields dotted with cute cows and beautiful waterfalls cascading down the mountains from melting glaciers.
Even though this hike could be challenging if you are not used to hiking in high elevation, you have plenty of views to distract you along the way!
Over 13.8km (return) you will gain 840m in elevation before reaching the most perfect crystal blue lake of Laguna 69 which lies at an altitude of 4600m. This is a great hike to do as a warm up before heading into the Cordillera Huayhuash circuit.
It takes about 3-4 hours up and 2-3 hours down. From the start of the trail you will steadily ascend through the Cebollapampa valley on well-marked paths. There are many scenic spots along the way to take a break and appreciate the views.
The final ascent up to Laguna 69 is the most challenging as the air is thinner and its the steepest. When you reach the top, the unbelievable view of Laguna 69 will come into sight. Here you can relax and breathe in the beauty that surrounds you.
LAGUNA 69 WITH OR WITHOUT A TOUR?
You can hike Laguna 69 on your own without a guide or you can go with a tour group. GetYourGuide has great day tours to Laguna 69 from Huaraz. All of the tours are the same so it really does not matter who you book with. You can also book your tours directly with an agency in Huaraz when you arrive. Make sure to plan ahead if you are going in high season.
A positive side to doing a tour is that all of the transport to and from the trail will be organized for you. A downside is that the tour is quite rushed. You cannot take as much time as you like hiking up, enjoying Laguna 69 and hiking back down. 6 out of the 13-14 hour tours is spent driving.
We did the hike on our own. We took a private taxi from Yungay (1 hour 15 minutes) and Huaraz (3 hours) to the start of the trail in Huascaran National Park. It is a long drive there and back but I promise you it is worth it! We had as much time as we wanted to be in the beauty of the Andes. You can also camp overnight in the fields lower down in the valley. A private taxi cost us in total about $90 there and back. And you need to pay an entrance fee of S/30 per person to the national park.
3. HUAYHUASH TREK
If there is any trek that takes you on a beautiful journey, it is Huayhuash! Making your way through the Cordillera Huayhuash is like being in mountain heaven. The escalation of the level of beauty over the 4 days is surreal.
This trek takes you through the most dramatic high-altitude landscapes, turquoise glacier lakes, 6000+m mountains towering over lush green valleys and traditional Peruvian villages with llamas and cows grazing in the green meadows . All of which you get to admire from the best vantage points as you ascend and descend over the mountain passes.
On day 3, you will summit the Sambunya Pass. Here, you will get to see the entire range of the Cordillera Huayhuash and the glacier lakes below. And also admire how colorful the valley is that surrounds you.
Because of all the hiking we did in Huaraz beforehand, we felt very mountain fit for the trek. Once again, the elevation is what makes ascending the mountain passes more challenging. But parts of the trek can be exhausting (so worth it for the views at the top!). The trek is full of ascends and descends on day 2, 3 and 4. On day 3, the ascent and descent from Sambunya Pass is longer and steeper than the other days.
Huayhuash with or without a tour?
We booked our trek through www.huayhuashtreks.com and had the absolute best experience with the best guides! We decided to do a private trek to not feel rushed by a tour group. It was important for us to be able to have the freedom to take our time in the most beautiful views.
We had a guide who trekked by our side along the way and another 2 guides who cooked breakfast, dinner and prepared lunch for us each day. They even surprised by boyfriend with a birthday cake one evening because they knew I got this trek as a birthday present for him, how sweet??
It is possible to do the Huayhuash Cordillera on your own. We met a solo hiker who was doing it without a guide but it seemed to be very challenging. When we were there, the trails were not clearly marked. We probably would have gotten a bit lost on day 2 if it weren’t for our guide. The solo hiker we saw also said he had issues with finding the trails, cooking food and having enough drinkable water. He also did not cross paths with another soul for 4 days before seeing us. You just need to be very prepared if you plan to do the trek without a guide and know the trails beforehand.
You can also find a 4D/3N Huayhaush Trek on GetYourGuide. It is similar in price but the itinerary is slightly different to what we did. I highly recommend booking straight through the agency for a guaranteed memorable experience.
There are a range of treks you can do through Huayhuash. You can extend your trekking experience up to 14 days.
Huayhuash and Laguna Paron are definitely the top two mountain adventures I would recommend in Huaraz.
4. PASTORURI GLACIER
The fact that you can drive to this glacier that sits at 5250m above sea level is just unreal. Pastoruri Glacier is the only glacier in the Cordillera that is accessible by car. Unfortunately, this glacier may not exist in 10 years time. Technically, Pastoruri cannot be considered a glacier anymore because it does not gain ice build up in the winter months. It is only retreating smaller and smaller over the years. Being able to marvel at this stunning natural beauty is such a privilege.
Pastoruri Glacier is a must-do day trip from Huaraz. Not only do you get to experience the icy wonderland and capture the most stunning photos of the glacier and snow-capped mountains reflecting on the lake, you also get to appreciate the unique Andean landscapes along the way.
From the parking lot, you will hike up about 150m (1 hour) to the glacier. It is not a very strenuous hike but the high altitude can make it difficult to catch your breath. You are able to ride on a horse from the parking lot up until the half way point and walk the rest of the way.
The path to the glacier is paved which makes the trail easily walkable. Remember to dress warmly and have some windproof clothing as it can be freezing and very windy up there.
Pastoruri Glacier with or without a tour?
We opted to visit Pastoruri Glacier with a tour because of the convenience of the transport. We felt like the tour gave enough time to fully appreciate the glacier and surrounding sceneries.
You can book your tour on GetYourGuide here or at one of the travel agencies in Huaraz.
If you do not have your own transport or take a private taxi then going with a tour is definitely the best option as public transport to the start of the glacier trail is not easy at all. You can however visit the glacier without a guide if you have your own transport.
Whether you decide to do a tour or on your own, you will start your adventure in the morning from Huaraz. It takes about 2 hours to reach the glacier trail. On the drive, you will pass by Parco – offering incredible views of the Cordillera Blanca – as well as the Pato Cotcha Lake and a fascinating naturally carbonated water source at The Lake of Seven Colors. The unique flora along the drive is also to be admired. You will stop to see the Puya Raimondi Plants that can only be found in the high elevation regions of the Andes in Peru and Bolivia.
Pastoruri Glacier is a beautiful activity to do towards the end of your time in Huaraz – after putting your legs to work with all the hiking adventures and getting used to the high elevation, it is nice to have a more relaxed but totally epic mountain adventure to look forward to.
5. NEVADA MATEO
Calling all climbing enthusiasts and thrill seekers – this one is for you!
Climbing Nevada Mateo is a full-on adventure that takes you to the snowy summit (5150m) with awe-spiring views of Huascaran mountain and the surrounding Andean peaks. It is known as one of the “easier” summits to do over 5000 meters, considered as technically easy. As long as you have some hiking experience and a descent level of fitness, it is doable for all hikers.
You will have a very early start to your day with a pick up at your hotel at 2;45-3am. From Huaraz, you will drive to the start of the trail through a village called Unchus. Before starting the hike, you will equipped with everything you need for the climb.
The ascent can take anywhere between 2.5 and 4 hours to reach depending on your speed. On average it takes around 3 hours. The descent is around 2 – 2.5 hours.
The hike starts with moderately steep rock climbing. There are ropes to hold onto as you make your way up the rocky slopes until you reach the snow. Once you are at the snow, you will put on your snow clamps and be tied with rope to your fellow hikers.
The final ascent through the snow is slow and steady. You can make use of your snow axe if necessary. You will reach the summit of Nevada Mateo and have around 30 minutes to enjoy the panoramic views in the heart of the Andes.
The descent may feel steeper than the ascent, so be careful on your way down. When you reach the rocky terrain, you will rappel backwards with the support of the ropes. Between the frozen waterfalls, numerous glacier lakes and jaw-dropping snow mountains, these are views that will stick in your memory forever.
Nevada Mateo with or without a tour?
If you are not an experienced hiker AND climber, you definitely need to have a guide with you for safety reasons. Going with a tour, whether you do the full-day tour or the multi-day tour, is convenient because they provide all of the gear, technical equipment and transport. You also have the safety and expertise of the guides at all times.
You can book the Nevada Mateo day tour on GetYourGuide or at one of the agencies in Huaraz.
From this list, Nevada Mateo is one of the most adventurous mountain adventures to do in Huaraz.
I hope this list epic mountain adventures in Huaraz has not only inspired you more to visit this magnificent region of Peru, but also to add the most memorable mountains of the Andes to your nature travel bucket list.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
IS HUARAZ, PERU, 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 HUARAZ SAFE TO WALK AROUND?
Yes, it is safe to walk around Huaraz. Even though I travel with my partner, I do spend many of my days wandering around alone and walking in the towns to work in cafes. I never felt unsafe alone as a female traveler in Huaraz. As long as you stay within the touristy areas around the city center and the local markets, it is generally safe for tourists. Taking taxis within the cit to and from your accommodation is also safe.
I recommend not walking alone at nighttime and not carrying all of your valuables with you to ensure your safety in Huaraz.
HOW LONG TO ACCLIMATIZE IN HUARAZ?
If you are not used to being in high elevation, it is best to acclimatize for at least 2 days. Hiking in huaraz can take you to 5000m+ altitude. It is best to take those days to get used to the elevation to avoid getting altitude sickness on your mountain adventures in and around Huaraz.
HOW TO GET AROUND HUARAZ?
When you stay in and around the center of Huaraz, everything is walkable. You are within walking distance to the travel agencies, restaurants, markets and ATMs. There are plenty of taxis constantly driving through the city looking for people to pick up so getting a taxi is extremely easy and very affordable.
