Laguna Churup: A Great Day Hike in Huaraz
It’s funny sometimes. A recurring event for us while traveling is that we seem to be in a new country during a big event. This ranges from the elections in Colombia to strikes in Ecuador, and now Peru’s Independence Day. Because of this, Huaraz was extremely packed with tourists and locals for the week. This meant our big hike planned to Laguna Churup would be a bit more crowded.
I can see why it is so popular. The trail is well maintained and can easily be done without a guide. Transportation here, like all of Peru, is extremely straightforward and easy.
In this guide, I will go over all the details you need to know to hike to Lake churup on your own without a guide.
Where is Laguna Churup Located?
Laguna Churup is a 40-minute drive outside of the hiking Capital of Huaraz in Peru. The roads leading up to the trailhead are not the best, as is with most roads up into the mountains.
This lake is located in the Huascaran National Park, which means that to enter, you will need 30 soles, or around $7.50 USD. This is totally worth it, as it helps maintain the area, and some of the money will also be given to the locals.
This is a perfect hike to add to your Peru itinerary due to its ease of access and beautiful lake view!
How to Get to Laguna Churup Trailhead
If you didn’t rent a vehicle while in Peru, then your best option is to take public transport. Taxis will be expensive as it is a far drive and the terrain is difficult on cars.
Look on mapsme for the Combi to Llupa, Pitec. The trailhead is at Pitec, where most people in the Combi will be headed.
The cost is 10 soles each way, so 20 soles roundtrip.
This is more expensive than most public transport to the trailhead but is a slightly farther drive.
You will go inside a shop to fill out a Boleto or ticket for your roundtrip ticket to Pitec. This is when I knew this was a very popular hike in the area.
Is the Laguna Churup Hike Difficult?
Many will perceive the Laguna Churup hike differently. This is due to multiple reasons. Below, you will see that I rank this hike as moderate to difficult.
One of the biggest reasons this hike will be difficult for most is the high elevation you reach. 4,450 meters or 14,600 feet is the Laguna Churup altitude and pretty high for most people!
The second hardest part of the hike is the section with the chains. You must use your upper body straight to pull yourself up the mountain. More about that is below.
Other hikes like Laguna Paron, Laguna Llaca, and Laguna Ahuac are good alternatives if you don’t want to deal with some of the strenuous sections of this hike.
Things to Know
What to Bring
Some of these topics might be self-explanatory to some but if it helps out just one person, then it has done its job.
- Wear the correct attire: This means wearing hiking boots, a jacket, hiking pants, and some comfortable hiking socks. You want the hike to be as enjoyable as possible and this will help.
- Bring snacks & water: My go-to trail food during our time in Peru was peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. This is a great combination of healthy fats and carbs that will give you the energy to keep going. Also, the occasional chocolate bar doesn’t hurt. I recommend bringing 1.5 to 2 liters of water with you. If you don’t like using bottles then try out the Grayl water filter.
- Weather reports are not always accurate: When hiking in high-altitude climates, the weather can change drastically. We went during the dry season in July and the weather was perfect for us. Starting in September, the weather can become quite unpredictable at times.
- Offline maps are your best friend: You might not always need them but the use of apps like Maps.me is crucial when hiking. The trails on here are fairly accurate and the app is easy to use. Best of all you can download all the maps for free!
Laguna Churup Hike Details
To read the reviews about this hike and other details, you can visit Alltrails
Tour vs Independent
Churup hike is one of the easiest hikes to get to and figure out on your own.
Even though this was the most expensive colectivo we took in Huaraz, it was still extremely affordable because of the low cost of travel in Peru.
It makes sense for other hikes around Huaraz like Laguna 69 to be popular with tour companies. That hike has a complicated route for those wanting to go solo.
As far as the trail for Laguna Churup, it is well maintained and you really don’t need any maps while there. You will also most likely be with a lot of people as it is a popular hike.
Overall, I do not suggest taking a tour for this hike. Your money would be better spent on other activities!
Lima to Huaraz
Huaraz is one of the most popular places in Peru. Due to its many amazing hikes, it is often referred to as the hiking capital of the country. This means there are multiple bus options.
Buses in Peru, from my experience, are excellent and cheap. Below, I will go over how to get there from a couple of popular areas in the country.
There are many different bus companies in Lima that will take you to Huaraz. Also, there isn’t a central bus station. Most buses have their own bus terminal.
The most cost-effective way to use these buses is to buy a night bus. Below are some tips for getting to Huaraz from Lima.
- If you don’t want to go to the bus terminal, you can order your ticket on Redbus. This is the go-to for online bus tickets in Peru.
- Julio Ceasar is one of the highest-rated bus companies but they are all pretty good.
- Terminal Plaza Norte and La Victoria are two good stations
- The bus ride is around 8 hours. If you buy early you can get tickets as cheap as $15 to $20.
Tips for Altitude Sickness in Huaraz
It’s a common concern for many travelers venturing into these Peruvian regions: the dreaded altitude sickness. It’s a real trip spoiler, no doubt about it. Here are some top-notch tips to help you minimize the risk and keep your Peruvian adventure on track:
- Hydration is key—personally, I aim for a gallon of water daily.
- Rest is your best friend—prioritize sleep for optimal recovery and well-being.
- Ease into it with smaller trails like Laguna Wilcacocha or Mirador de Rataquenua when hiking.
- Keep some coca candy handy—Peru’s favorite pick-me-up can be a smart addition to your pack.
- Listen to your body—don’t hesitate to pause and rest whenever needed.
- And don’t forget the ibuprofen—it’s a lifesaver for any unexpected aches and pains.
Best Time to Visit Huaraz, Peru
For many travelers exploring Peru, particularly Huaraz, trekking tops the agenda. That means the best weather is when rainfall is not as likely.
Despite being winter, the prime time to visit Huaraz is between May and September. During this dry spell, expect blue skies and minimal precipitation.
Given Huaraz’s high altitude, chilly nights are a given—layer up accordingly!
Best Places to Stay
- 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.
- 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.
- Vacahouse Huaraz B&B: This is a great hostel if you’re traveling as a couple. The private rooms are very nice and for a good price.
My Experience Hiking
We woke up early for this hike, as we usually do. Giving ourselves the most time possible for any hike is always beneficial. It turned out to be a good idea because there was a lot of traffic in certain parts.
Collectivo to the Trailhead
The combi or collectivo will stop at a parking lot where others can park. At the entrance, you will see a mini-restaurant and other things. You don’t need to pay here to enter as you will pay at the end of this first rocky incline section.
After this area, the trail starts to become steep for a good half of a mile. The views are amazing as you start to hike into a canyon-looking area where Laguna Churup is located.
The Heavy Incline Gravel Ridgeline
This was one of my favorite areas because your imagination can run wild. You can’t see much further past the mountains, and you wonder how far the lake is.
You will hike along one of the best ridgelines in the area, as you can see from the drone shot I posted up above. There are some great places to rest with sun cover. After about an hour, we arrived at the area where you had paid to enter the park.
Chain Section 1
When talking to others at our hostel about this hike, they mentioned there would be a section of chains. In fact, there are 2 sections. The way it was explained to us is that these chains were difficult and potentially rusty.
It was highly suggested to wear gloves but we didn’t have any.
It turned out to be fine as the chains seemed to be in great condition. This first section of chains wasn’t too bad and isn’t as steep as section number 2.
Personally, I enjoyed these small challenges as they made the hike more rewarding.
Chain Section 2
After the first section of chains, the incline started once again. At one point you are able to take a different trail to the left that will lead to the mirador. We decided to do that route on the way down, as many others did as well.
Right before the second area of chains, you will reach a campsite and gaze upon the steepest section of the hike.
This area of chains is where the largest backup occurred as it was very steep and consisted of two different sections.
The good news is shortly after completing the second set of chains, you will practically be at Laguna Churup.
Arriving at Lake Churup
About 30 minutes post chains, you will arrive at Churup Lake sitting at 4,450 meters. There are some large rock areas that are great to sit down and have lunch at.
The lake is stunning and there are multiple different spots to get a view of it from. If you look at mapsme you will see different trails.
There is one trail that leads down and then back up to the mirador. This trail also will lead you back down to the trailhead.
On the other side of Churup is another lake. This lake is called Churupita. If you have time you can follow the trail toward this laguna.
We decided against it and headed towards the mirador.
The ridgelines on the way back down when going this route were amazing and it took us another 90 minutes to make it back to the trailhead.
Laguna Churupita
Looking for an extra adventure? Then fear not as there is actually a second lake shortly past the lake.
Laguna Churupita is the name of this and it is easily accessible by a trail on the left side of Churup. If you’re interested, ensure you have enough time to complete this!
This trail will add another 2.4 km or 1.5 miles. The extra 100 meters of elevation is no joke, either. For those who attempt it, this is the hardest section of the entire day.
To reach this trail, you will need to take a colectivo to Llupa. This colectivo runs more frequently because more locals use it than tourists.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes it feels like I’m hiking too many Lagunas while visiting Huaraz. I don’t care though. These lakes are so beautiful and oftentimes have an amazing backdrop of a 5,000-meter mountain. Churup Lake was no different. The combination of chains and incline made it for one of the more adventurous hikes we have done in Huaraz so far. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone visiting the area.
