This was my first hiking trip in Peru, and what a place to start! The hike to Laguna 69 was one of the top on my peru adventure travel bucket-list. The Cordillera Blanca mountain range attracts hiking enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies from all over the world. As the world’s second highest mountain range after the Himalayas, the region is rich with offerings of all sorts of outdoor pursuits from hiking, mountain-biking, ice-climbing, and more. Hike to Laguna 69 I visited the region for a long weekend with my boyfriend Steven and friends Evi and Helge. Since we had limited time and hiking experience, we decided the priority was to see Laguna 69 – the jewel in the Cordillera Crown. Located in the Huascarán National Park at 4,600m (15,092ft) above sea level, it’s one of the more accessible locations in the region, and can be visited as a day hike or a two day trip with camping. We opted for the latter. The trek is deemed as relatively challenging for non-regular hikers, thanks to the altitude and short, steep incline at the end, or as a gentle trek for the experienced – so the difficulty level is relative! We set out early in the morning with our guide Epi, who has lived and worked in the mountains his whole life – first as a porter, then a cook, and now as a trained and registered guide for the national park. Our complete package included all transport, meals, tents and equipment, which meant we didn’t have to worry about the arrangements, and only had to carry our day-packs. After a very bumpy two and a half hours by car from Huaraz, we set off on foot into the hills. One of my favourite moments was our picnic lunch on the first day. After a
This was my first hiking trip in Peru, and what a place to start! The hike to Laguna 69 was one of the top on my peru adventure travel bucket-list. The Cordillera Blanca mountain range attracts hiking enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies from all over the world. As the world’s second highest mountain…
The Cordillera Blanca is one of the most impressive mountain ranges in Peru and arguably South America with 20 peaks that reach over 6,000m in altitude, including Huascaran at 6,786m (22,263ft), which is the highest mountain in Peru and one of the highest in the Americas. This region is a haven for hikers and has a wide variety of day treks and multi-day treks for all skill levels, from those who want to try trekking for the first time and those who are more experienced and want to scale some of South America’s most beautiful mountains. The Cordillera Blanca's Santa Cruz Trek is a relatively easy multi-day hike, camping in spectacular mountain scenery. Hiking the Santa Cruz Trek in the Cordillera Blanca Of the treks, the classic Cordillera Blanca Santa Cruz trek route is one of the most popular in the Cordillera Blanca. The three or four-day trek in the protected Huascaran Reserve is a great introduction to the region of Huaraz and gives travelers a glimpse of the stunning beauty of the Cordillera Blanca with its snowcapped mountains, lagoons and forests. The trek can begin or end in one of two towns, Vaquería and Cashapampa. Traditionally it begins in Cashapampa and ends in Vaquería, but for those doing the trek in three days, beginning in Cashapampa is more strenuous as more of the route is uphill. Acclimatizing for Santa Cruz trekking A friend and I recently traveled to Huaraz to get a much-needed dose of nature and change of scenery from Lima’s cityscapes. We spent three days in the city to acclimatize with a few day treks before doing the Santa Cruz Trek in three days, beginning in Vaquería. The Santa Cruz trek day-by-day review Day 1 - LLanganuco Lakes We were collected from our hotel at 6am and
The Cordillera Blanca is one of the most impressive mountain ranges in Peru and arguably South America with 20 peaks that reach over 6,000m in altitude, including Huascaran at 6,786m (22,263ft), which is the highest mountain in Peru and one of the highest in the Americas. This region is a…
A Weekend in the Andes at Llanganuco Lodge Peru Part 2 of our weekend escape travel article on the Cordillera Blanca: read part 1 of our Llanganuco Lodge stay. Traveler Tales: Gathering for dinner Shortly after the sun had set over the Cordillera Negra, the amazing moon emerged over the opposite snow covered peaks, slowly creeping into the dark sky and illuminating the valley. Light pollution is relatively unknown to this remote area, and this gave us an unencumbered view of the celestial bodies that dominated the night sky. We convened in the candlelit lodge, joining our fellow guests, who gathered around the communal dining table or snuggled into the couches enjoying some locally brewed craft beers and sharing conversations about the day’s adventures, the forces that brought us to the lodge, and bits and pieces about our individual lives. When Lucho “rang the dinner bell,” we gathered together to enjoy yet another beer, some wine, and indulged ourselves in the delicious three-course meal that had been prepared with fresh and seasonal ingredients from the area. This nightly ritual was both an excellent way to unwind after our adventures and brought us closer to the people who shared our same magnetic draw to this particular spot in the Andes. Meeting fellow hikers We got to know many different types of people during such evenings, confirming all of the positive reviews speaking to Llanganuco Lodge’s variety of opportunities to adventure. During our first evening, we met the actual owners of the massive German tanker, a friendly middle-aged couple from Belgium who had taken over a year and half off from work to explore South America via their decked-out vehicle. After five years of planning their route and several years of outfitting their ex-military vehicle with a full kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom,
A Weekend in the Andes at Llanganuco Lodge Peru Part 2 of our weekend escape travel article on the Cordillera Blanca: read part 1 of our Llanganuco Lodge stay. Traveler Tales: Gathering for dinner Shortly after the sun had set over the Cordillera Negra, the amazing moon emerged over the…
