Huascarán National Park

Name: Huascarán National Park
Address: Peru

Point of Interest

Huascarán National Park encompasses almost the entire Cordillera Blanca: glaciers, hundreds of high-altitude lakes, and Huascarán, Peru's highest mountain at 6,768 meters.

by Felix Gillen

Huascarán National Park encompasses almost the entire Cordillera Blanca: glaciers, hundreds of high-altitude lakes, and Huascarán, Peru's highest mountain at 6,768 meters. The park was founded in 1975, has been a biosphere reserve since 1977, and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.Laguna 69: the most famous day hike, a turquoise glacial lake at around 4,600 meters. The starting point is Cebollapampa, and the round trip takes about six to seven hours.Lagunas de Llanganuco: two lakes at around 3,850 meters on the way to Laguna 69, also a stop for day trips from Huaraz.Laguna Churup above Huaraz is suitable as an acclimatization hike.You need a ticket for the park, available as a day, three-day, or month pass. Camping is not allowed at Laguna 69.

Restaurants in Huascarán National Park

Exploring Locally

Getting ThereHuaraz is your starting point. From there, take a local bus to Yungay and then a colectivo or taxi to the Llanganuco Lakes and the starting point for Laguna 69. Most people opt for a day tour because the last bus back leaves early.In the ParkLaguna 69 is located at about 4,600 meters; the trail is approximately 14 kilometers long, round trip. Plan for a long day and start well-acclimatized. You can buy the national park entrance ticket at the control point.

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Nearby

Huaraz and Cordillera Blanca

In the Ancash region of northern Peru rises the Cordillera Blanca, the world's highest tropical mountain range. Nearly the entire massif belongs to Huascarán National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985, named after Huascarán, Peru's highest peak at 6,768 meters. The city of Huaraz is the starting point for day hikes, trekking tours, and mountaineering.

Huaraz

Huaraz is the capital of the Ancash region and the hub for hikers and mountaineers in the Cordillera Blanca. The city itself primarily serves as a base: Here you book tours, organize equipment, and acclimatize before heading into Huascarán National Park.From Lima, you can reach Huaraz by overnight bus in approximately eight hours or by flight. Note that travel advisories caution against overnight intercity bus journeys.Two to three days of acclimatization in Huaraz are recommended before longer high-altitude tours.Mountaineers can register in advance with the Peruvian Mountain Rescue service.

On the north coast around Trujillo were the centers of two great pre-Inca cultures: The Moche built here the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna, the Chimú their capital Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the Americas. The fishing village of Huanchaco, with its reed boats and surf waves, is just a few kilometers away. For Trujillo and parts of the region, a state of emergency is temporarily in effect; please note the current travel advisories from the Foreign Office before your trip.

Trujillo, the capital of the La Libertad region, was founded in 1534 and named after Francisco Pizarro's hometown in Extremadura. The city center features a grid of streets with colorful colonial houses and wrought-iron window grilles surrounding the Plaza de Armas with its cathedral.Most visitors come for the archaeological sites on the outskirts of the city: Chan Chan, the Chimú capital, and the temple pyramids Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna of the Moche. In the nearby seaside town of Huanchaco, fishermen still go out to sea in traditional reed boats, the Caballitos de Totora, while the waves attract surfers.The Federal Foreign Office reports a current state of emergency in Trujillo. Check the current situation there before traveling.

Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimú Empire, which dominated Peru's northern coast until the Inca conquered it around 1470. The city on the outskirts of Trujillo covered approximately 20 square kilometers and is considered the largest adobe city in the Americas. Its core consists of walled palace compounds with courtyards, storerooms, and walls into which reliefs of fish, birds, and geometric patterns are sculpted.UNESCO inscribed Chan Chan on its World Heritage List in 1986 and simultaneously placed it on the List of World Heritage in Danger, because rain and wind attack the adobe. Visitors can primarily explore the restored Tschudi (Nik An) palace complex and the museum at the entrance.