laguna 69 hike

Laguna 69 Hike: How to Avoid the Crowds

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This is it. The main reason we and many others visit Huaraz in Peru. Besides a few multi-day treks, the Laguna 69 hike is the most popular attraction in the area. With the popularity comes some downsides. Many of these are the number of people at the lake at once from the tours. Thankfully, this can all be avoided.

I have been to many of the different Laguna hikes in Huascaran National Park. This is the best hike for many reasons. But what’s the best way to avoid the crowds?

Refugio Peru (Pisco) is a popular place to stay when climbing to the top of Nevado Pisco. We also spent the night there to arrive at the lake before the crowds.

In this guide, I will give you the needed details to avoid the crowds at Laguna 69 and turn this into a 2-day hike.

laguna 69 hike trail

Where is the Laguna 69 Hike Located?

Many people base themselves in Huaraz when they want to hike to Lake 69 and other treks. This isn’t a bad idea because there are many more amenities and hikes around this town.

Laguna 69 is near Yungay, the first major town south of Caraz. If you’re looking to do this hike in one day and don’t want to have to wake up as early, basing yourself in Caraz could be a better idea.

How to Get to Laguna 69 Trailhead

If you don’t have a car, there are two main ways to reach the trailhead. If you take a taxi the entire way, there are three, but I don’t recommend this. The other two would be to take a tour or to take public transit.

The cost of travel in Peru, as well as the competition for this hike, helps keep it affordable for many.

Public Transport to Laguna 69 Hike

  1. From Huaraz look for the bus to Yungay on Mapsme (8 Soles 1-way)
  2. You will be dropped off at a bus station. Ask around for Cebollapampa. This will take you straight to the trailhead.
  3. We paid 30 soles there and 25 soles on the way back. As there isn’t much of a fixed fare for this route, some negotiating could be possible.

Things to Know

Laguna 69 Tour

Since this is one of the most popular activities to do around Huaraz, there will be many tours that you can do. We opted against a tour because we were doing a 2-night trek. There are some great options though.

You shouldn’t spend more than 80 soles on this tour.

These tours normally don’t come with an entrance fee but you should keep looking for some that do. This tour is simply a ride to and from Huaraz and a guide along the trail.

Tour vs. Independently

There are pros and cons to going on a tour to Laguna 69 and going independently. Going on tours can help ease the stress of figuring everything out independently.

This hike from Huaraz isn’t particularly easy to reach on your own, so most opt for the guided tour option.

If going independently, I would suggest leaving as early as possible or turning it into a two-day hike, as we did. This was an added adventure for us.

Also, if choosing to go on a tour, I encourage you to shop around. Huaraz is full of tour agencies. If you’re paying upwards of 80 soles, ensure that includes the entrance fee.

If time permits, I highly suggest adding the 2-day route to Laguna 60 to your itinerary for Peru.

laguna 69 hike

From Lima to Huaraz, Peru

Huaraz is one of the most popular places in Peru. Because of its many amazing hikes, it’s often referred to as the hiking capital of Peru. This means there are multiple bus options. Buses in Peru, from my experience, are really good and cheap.

Below, I will go over how to get there from a couple of popular areas in the country.

Lima to Huaraz

Lima has numerous bus companies offering routes to Huaraz. However, there’s no central bus station; each company operates from its terminal. Opting for a night bus is your best friend for budget travel.

Here are a few handy tips for navigating your journey from Lima to Huaraz:

  • If the bus terminal isn’t your scene, Redbus is your online ticketing savior—it’s the go-to platform for snagging bus tickets in Peru.
  • While Julio Ceasar earns some of the top ratings, rest assured, most bus companies offer reliable service.
  • For departure points, Terminal Plaza Norte and La Victoria are solid choices.
  • Anticipate an approximately 8-hour bus ride. Grabbing tickets early can score you some sweet deals, priced as low as $15 to $20.

Laguna 69 Facts

Laguna 69 is one of the most popular day hikes in Huaraz and potentially the entire country of Peru. In Huaraz, you will find many tours that will take you on this hike of a lifetime.

Located in the Huascarán National Park, Laguna 69’s closest main town is Yungay. Our colectivo ride from the bus station here to Cebollapampa was spectacular in it itself.

The turquoise water of this lake attracts thousands of visitors yearly.

The only bluer water is Laguna Paron but that trail doesn’t compare to this one. Laguna Churup has more climbing involved in the form of chains but the lake isn’t as impressive.

This means you will gain around 800 meters of elevation from the trailhead to the arrival at the lake.

Entrance Fee for Laguna 69

When taking a tour or colectivo to this lake, you will enter the Huascaran National Park. The fee for entering here (for most hikes) is 30 soles per day.

Our colectivo kindly stopped for us at the ticket desk and we purchased them. Your tour will do the same.

Since we were technically going to be in the park for two days, we got a two-day pass for 60 soles.

If you’re not planning on staying at Refugio Peru for the night, you only need a one-day pass.

Laguna 69 Hike Details

  • Distance: The Refugio Peru/Pisco hike to Lake 69 is a mile loop hike. If you are going straight there for a day trip the hike is around 8.5 miles out & back.
  • Duration: On average it will take people 5 to 6 hours to finish the day hike. This depends on your fitness level as well.
  • Difficulty: I’d rank the day hike as moderate to difficult and the 2-day hike to Lake 69 as difficult.
  • Incline: The elevation for this hike for both of these trails is 1200 feet of difference. The 2 day hike is 3900 feet of elevation or 1200 meters. The day hike is shorter.
  • Hiking Guide: A guide is not needed for this hike and is easily accessible by the public.

Tips for Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is a top concern for many travelers exploring these parts of Peru. It can put a damper on your entire trip. Here are some solid tips to help minimize the risk and ensure a smoother journey through Peru:

  • Stay hydrated—personally, I shoot for a gallon of water daily.
  • Rest up—it’s crucial. Sleep is your best friend when it comes to recovery and well-being.
  • If hiking’s on your agenda, ease into it with shorter trails like Laguna Wilcacocha or Mirador de Rataquenua.
  • Keep some coca candy handy—it’s a Peruvian favorite and can come in handy.
  • Listen to your body—take breaks whenever needed.
  • And don’t forget the ibuprofen—it’s a handy tool for tackling any unexpected discomfort.

Another great hike to consider before attempting this two-day trek is the one to Laguna Llaca. It’s less strenuous but will help in the long run.

The altitude of Laguna 69 is 4604 meters or 15,104 feet. If you have already done the Laguna Ahuac hike in Huaraz, you’ll be acclimated to this one.

Best Time to Visit Huaraz

Most people visiting Peru, especially Huaraz, are here to trek. This means the most ideal weather is when there is a lower chance of rainfall.

Even though it is Winter, the best time to visit Huaraz is between May and September. The weather is more likely to call for blue skies, and it is also the dryest period of the year.

With how high Huaraz and the surrounding mountains sit, it will always be cold at night.

Where to Stay in Huaraz, Peru

  • Krusty Hostel: With great prices for private rooms and growing in popularity, there isn’t much to hate about this hostel. Centrally located just a few blocks from the main square.
  • Alpes Huaraz: This is where I stayed during my time in Huaraz and it was amazing. The area is set up like a mini-hotel and the kitchen is huge. Dorms are very cheap at $7-$9.
  • Vacahouse Huaraz B&B: A great hostel for couples traveling together. The private rooms are very nice and affordable.

My Experience on the Laguna 69 Hike

We had this hike on our minds for some time now. I knew it was very popular, and we didn’t like huge crowds on our treks. We read about other people doing a 2-day hike to Refugio Peru/Pisco. The idea was to get there and wake up early the next day to start the hike.

Huaraz to Laguna 69 Hike Trailhead

I like to save money where I can when traveling as well as take public transportation. There is something about it being more adventurous and it enhances the experience. So that’s what we decided to do for this one.

The cost was close to the same as if you took a tour but since we were staying 2 days there were not many other options. We took a collectivo from Huaraz to Yungay for 8 soles ($2). Download Mapsme and look for the bus stop there that says Yungay.

We got dropped off at the main bus station here and you will need to ask around for Ceboollapampa. This will take you straight to the trailhead for the Laguna 69 hike.

The cost can vary and you might be able to haggle. We couldn’t find much information on how much that should cost us. We paid 30 Soles on the way there and 25 on the way back.

Trail to Refugio Peru (Pisco)

The trail to Refugio Peru is very straightforward. This is one of the most visited parks in the whole country and they keep the trails well-maintained. Once you cross the first bridge there will be a couple of signs. One points towards Laguna 69 and the other points towards Camp Base Pisco. Follow the one to Pisco.

The trail started to get steep real quick. We didn’t get much of a warmup before starting this. The trail already starts pretty high at 3,900 meters and will increase by 700 meters by the time you reach Camp Pisco.

We didn’t see many people on this heavenly trail and the views back were insane. The main people on the trail were porters bringing things up to Camp Pisco for those that will be climbing Nevado Pisco.

It took us around 3 hours to hike to Camp Pisco and it isn’t for the faint of heart. We knew that the hike to Laguna 69 the next day was going to be even harder and will be reaching a peak of 4,850 meters.

camp pisco trail
camp pisco trail
laguna 69 hike trail
refugio peru camp pisco

Arrival at Refugio Peru (Pisco)

After 3 hours, we arrived at Refugio Peru for Camp Pisco. This was my first experience staying the night at a refuge, and wow, what an amazing experience! We had some issues with payment. We booked a night’s stay with a tour company, but the communication didn’t arrive on time. Fortunately, we could pay in cash and get our money back.

The Refuge is heated and has a very cozy atmosphere. The best part about this refuge is the food. We paid for dinner, and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in Peru. It was a three-course meal that included soup, chicken with rice, and what seemed to be a coffee cake. This meal helped fuel us for the next day’s hike to the lake.

refugio peru camp pisco

Day 2: The Hike to the Turquoise Lake

This was it. The day we have been waiting for. We knew it was the toughest of the 2 days but was very rewarding. The first part of the hike was rather difficult to find our way, even with mapsme. You will be essentially climbing over large boulders with no real trail. The best advice I can give you is to follow the stacks of rock.

After this part, we started to head up in altitude. We could see Refugio Peru in the distance and were shocked at where we came from. At this point, there was still some snow on the ground from the previous days.

laguna 69 hike

Peak Altitude During Laguna 69

During this section of lower elevation gain, you will reach the highest point along the trail. This point sits at 15,900 feet or around 4850 meters. At the time it was the highest point we had ever reached before. It was hard to breathe but we were doing great on time.

Our goal for this hike was to get to Laguna 69 by 10 a.m. and have the lake to ourselves for one hour. So far, we have been on track.

The views of the surrounding mountains in this section were breathtaking. Once you reach a steep incline with a flag on the rock, it is all downhill from here.

We were stunned by the view of Laguna 69 from this route. It is much better than the normal trail in my opinion because you come down on it instead of hiking up to it.

laguna 69 hike
laguna 69 hike

Arriving at Lake 69

Words cannot describe how blue and unique this lake is. There’s a reason this area attracts so many people every year. We got an hour on our own before hundreds of people started flowing in. It was great to get to fly the drone around the surrounding areas.

We enjoyed our lunch here once the crowd started showing up, we packed up and headed back. The trail we took back is the traditional trail to hike on. Getting back to the trailhead takes around 90 minutes to 2 hours.

laguna 69 hike
laguna 69 hike

Final Thoughts on the Laguna 69 Hike

The Lake 69 hike was one of my favorites in all of Peru. It’s hard to say if that would be different if I took a tour. What made this whole experience special was turning it into a 2-day hike and staying at Refugio Peru. This hike has it all. Great valleys, hard terrain, views of large mountain peaks, and, of course, this lake. If you’re looking for a different way to see this area of Peru, I highly suggest doing the 2-day hike instead. You will not be disappointed.

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