Plan exploreInca Trail to Machu Picchu
Huaraz Hikes
explore 9 amazing huaraz day hikes to tryAs Peru’s hiking capital, Huaraz has surely crossed the radar of any adventurous soul planning a trip to Peru. In fact, if you’re not careful, you can fill your entire Peru adventure on its web of trails through the Cordillera Blanca. For some, that’s exactly what they’re trying to do. For others, perhaps yourself, a simple taste is sufficient. If you’re after a sampling of the gnarly trails and scenic nature surrounding Huaraz, consider opting for one of these 9 Huaraz hikes. We’ve conveniently listed these spectacular Huaraz hikes in order from easy to challenging.
1. Maria Josefa Trail
Quick Details; Distance: 2.9 km / 1.8 miles, Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours, Difficulty: Easy.
Compared to other Huaraz hikes, the Maria Josefa trail is mostly downhill. This trail begins at the glass-like Lake Chinancocha, then continues through Queñual forest and past ancient ruins. Hikers experience all this over the course of a quick hour to an hour and a half on the trail.
2. Portachuelo de Llanganuco
Quick Details; Distance: 1.9 km / 1.18 miles, Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours, Difficulty: Easy-Moderate.
This Huaraz hike is similarly quick, yet slightly more challenging. The Portachuelo de Llanganuco day hike follows a steady decline in elevation from start to finish, with little to no ascending terrain along the way. Besides the cloud-shaded Llanganuco Valley views, you’ll experience the breathtaking sight of the snow-capped peaks of Huascaran, Chopicallqui, Huandoy, Pisco, and Chacraraju that greet you as you make your way along the trail. Truly among the spectacular Huaraz hikes that can be done in a day.
3. Huaca Punta
Quick Details; Distance: 4.7 km / 2.92 miles, Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours, Difficulty: Easy-Moderate.
This there-and-back Huaraz day hike will take you from 3,719 m.a.s.l. up to 3,879 m.a.s.l., with a summit-capping midpoint at Huaca Punta, a viewpoint situated on the remains of a pre-Inca site. The short hike starts and ends on the scenic shores of Lake Willcacocha. At a duration of 2- 2.5 hours, you could even do one of the other Huaraz hikes on the same day.
4. Lake Rajucolta
Quick Details; Distance: 13.8 km / 8.57 miles, Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours, Difficulty: Easy-Moderate.
Covering more ground than nearly any of the other Huaraz hikes on this list, the hike to Lake Rajucolta still only takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. It’s there-and-back style, leaving from the Huascaran National Park Control and involves an approximate 550-meter change in elevation to and from this mountain-wrapped glacial lake.
5. Willcahuain – Monterrey
Quick Details; Distance: 10.4 km / 6.46 miles, Duration: 4.5 to 5 hours, Difficulty: Easy-Moderate.
This full-day hike adventure in Huaraz begins in the village of Marian and ends at the thermal springs in Monterrey. Follow the ancient trail of Chaquinani and visit the archaeological site of Willcahuain, a set of Wari ruins that mark the midpoint of this roughly 10-kilometer hike. If you’re a hot springs lover, this is one of the Huaraz hikes you’ll want to consider.
6. Lake Churup
Quick Details; Distance: 7 km / 4.34 miles, Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours, Difficulty: Moderate.
The high altitude Lake Churup is worth the nearly 1.5-hour climb to get to it. Once there, you’ll find yourself among peaceful surroundings with fantastic views of nearby Mt. Churup and Huaraz in the distance. It’s the perfect spot to rest and relax before following the same trail back down. Many use this moderately challenging hike as an acclimatization hike for longer multi-day treks through the Cordillera.
7. Willcacocha Lake
Quick Details; Distance: 5.3 km / 3.29 miles, Duration: 3 to 4 hours, Difficulty: Moderate.
This scenic full-day hike to the grassy meadows of Lake Willcacocha is mostly uphill with a total ascent of 737 meters (2,417 ft). Unlike many of the other hikes on this list, this day hike gives you a taste of the Cordillera Negra and delivers spectacular views of the adjacent Cordillera Blanca peaks. It’s among the more upward-climbing of the Huaraz hikes discussed in this article, but worth it for the amazing views at its peak.
8. Pukaventana
Quick Details; Distance: 9 km / 5.59 miles, Duration: 4.5 to 5.5 hours, Difficulty: Moderate.
From the city of Huaraz, hike straight up into the city’s nearby hills on this circuit hike. En route, you’ll reach a spectacular viewpoint of the entire Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra ranges known as the Pukaventana or “red window.” The hike involves nearly as much uphill terrain as downhill, but offers plenty of fresh Andean landscape to experience without ever retracing a step.
9. Lake 69
Quick Details; Distance: 15 km / 9.32 miles, Duration: 6 to 7 hours, Difficulty: Challenging.
Perhaps the most popular of the short Huaraz hikes, Lake 69 is a challenging 15-kilometer there-and-back hike in Huascaran National Park. The trail ascends to the aquamarine-colored Lake 69 at 4,609 meters above sea level (15,121 ft.) and brings you face-to-face with plenty of snow-clad peaks and glacial lakes along the way. Challenging though the hike may be, most hikers manage to complete it without any issues, regardless of their fitness level.
Plan exploreDestino Cusco
this season featured experiences
HIKING & TREKKING
inca trail to machu picchuThis 5-day journey begins at Km 82, the marker that signifies the start of the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Our highly trained guides, who are deeply familiar with these ancient Inca footpaths, will expertly lead us through the magnificent Andean terrain. Along the way, we’ll traverse breathtaking high alpine passes, lush valleys, dense cloud forests, and rushing rivers. We’ll pass through ancient Inca remains of Andean settlements, ultimately arriving at Machu Picchu via Inti Punku (the Sun Gate). Each night, our team of porters and skilled cooks will have a delicious hot meal and a comfortable camp already set up for your convenience. Since we highly value sustainable tourism, we’ll have very little impact on the land, communities, and environment we encounter along the trail, and we will also take steps to enjoy a tranquil hike, avoiding crowds of fellow trekkers. On the final day, a guided tour of the citadel will bring Machu Picchu to life, as we explore and immerse ourselves in the magic and beauty of this ancient, mystical site. Our version of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu trek is truly an unforgettable experience you’ll reminisce about for years to come.
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huayhuash trekThe Huayhuash Trek is an amazing journey to the very heart of the Cordillera Huayhuash, the second highest tropical mountain range in the world. A trekker's paradise, this terrain is remote, wild, and stunningly beautiful. The film Touching the Void, the tale of climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, was made about their harrowing experience as the first mountaineers to scale Siula Grande, which is part of this mountain range. This version of the Huayhuash trek crosses six high passes over 4500 m (14,763 ft) and two that are higher than 5000 m (16,404 ft)! Throughout the 12 days of the trek, we camp next to stunningly beautiful alpine lakes and in broad, grassy valleys replete with wildflowers and rushing alpine creeks, while basking in the imposing presence of the White Mountains looming over us, with peaks at elevations above 5000 m (16,404 ft) and 6000 m (19,685 ft). At least three days of acclimatization hikes in the area are strongly recommended to be able to enjoy the trek.
April - October
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the hidden valleys of salkantayStarting from a little-known valley near Limatambo, we ascend gradually over two days past ancient forests and varied Andean landscapes toward the Cruzjasa Pass at 4,550 meters / 14,927 feet above sea level. Here we will experience the best views of the south and east faces Mount Salkantay, away from the crowds. We descend along a gradual decline toward Mirador Pampaccahuana, accompanied by views of Mount Salkantay and its moraine until we reach Cusichaca Valley, which marks the eastern boundary of the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary. As we approach the Sacred Valley, we will begin to see trekkers embarking on the first stretch of famous Inca Trail as we continue our hike downhill toward our private campsite at Chamana. Before finally reaching the Valley floor, we will take a detour to explore Wayna Q’ente and Machu Q’ente, two majestic Inca sites recently restored by the Ministry of Culture which showcase some of the finest Inca terracing and landscaping in the region. Our hike ends at the valley floor where we will be picked up and transported to Ollantaytambo in time to catch the afternoon train to Machu Picchu.
April - December
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llama trekking on the north great inca trail
Embark on a journey through time as you explore one of the best-preserved portions of the Great Inca trail that connected Cusco, the ancient ceremonial capital of the Inca Empire, with Tomebamba, her northern sister city that is modern-day Cuenca, Ecuador. Explore over 70 km. of the main artery of the greatest road network in Pre-Columbian Latin America, speckled with archaeological sites in the remote landscapes of Northern Peru’s Central Andes. We’ll begin with a visit to Chavín de Huantar, a mysterious temple where ancient religious ceremonies took place over 3,000 years ago. We will immerse in diverse natural landscapes, crossing the Continental Divide and trek across two departments: Ancash and Huánuco, experiencing amazing vistas along the journey. On our last day we’ll arrive at Huánuco Pampa, the largest Inca administrative center outside the department of Cusco where we’ll marvel at feats of engineering achieved by a civilization whose abilities with stonecutting and placement remain unmatched to this day. This amazing trek will challenge, delight, and inspire you.
April - October
6 days / 5 nights
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