How to Plan a Hike to Laguna Llaca, Peru

Laguna Llaca is an amazing day hike outside of Huaraz, Peru. The hike offers stunning scenery through a colorful valley ending at a remote glacier lake. This guide will help you plan your hike.

Laguna Llaca is located in Huascaran National Park and nestled in the Cordillera Blanca mountains outside of Huaraz, Peru. The hike to Laguna Llaca is the perfect entry level or “starter hike” upon arriving in Huaraz, Peru. It is not too difficult and will give you a chance to test out your hiking legs (and lungs) at high altitude. Lace up your boots and let’s get into how you can plan a hike to Laguna Llaca!

Hike Logistics

The hike to Laguna Llaca is around 3.8 miles one way, potentially longer if you opt for the out and back route. The hike starts at approximately 13,800ft elevation and ascends to 14,600ft at the lake, making it a gentle 800 feet ascent. Although I must say, regardless of it technically being an easy hike I was definitely huffing for air in the short uphill section. 

You will feel the effect of hiking in high altitude so be sure to stay hydrated and have sun protection such as sunscreen, hat, and protective clothing. Make sure to acclimatize at least one full day in Huaraz before planning a hike to prevent or minimize altitude sickness.  

There are several different ways to complete the trail depending on where you start and if you are hiking out and back or just one way. I recommend the one way hike starting at the unofficial trail head in the valley leading up to the lake and finishing at the Refugio Llaca.

If you want to take a longer and more challenging route, you can start at the Lazy Dog Inn and complete a round trip out and back hike (approximately 11 miles). It would be easy to arrange transportation to and from the Lazy Dog Inn from Huaraz if you want to tackle this route, or even consider staying there for a night. You can find maps of both routes on All Trails. 

How to Get to the Trail

I enjoyed this hike because it was an easy day hike to do without an organized tour. The only thing you need to plan is transportation (and snacks) because it is in a remote location. We hired a private driver through a tour company in Huaraz and we agreed on a time schedule. 

The morning of the hike the driver picked us up at our hotel in Huaraz, and dropped us off at the trailhead, and then waited for us to finish the hike at the Refugio Llaca. This allowed us to hike one way and get picked up afterwards at the Refugio.

Alternatively, you can drive all the way to the Refugio and walk approximately 10-15 minutes or so to the lake, but I personally think it’s more fun to hike! Another option is to travel by colectivo (shared minivan) from Huaraz, which is cheaper but offer less flexibility in time. 

It is approximately a 1.5 hour drive from Huaraz to the start of the trail. However, the road is bumpy and depending on the car it may take longer. Besides bumpiness, the drive is really enjoyable through the Andean countryside.

Entrance Fee to Huascaran National Park

Laguna Llaca is in the Huascaran National Park. You will be required to pay the entrance fee of 30 soles per person. We drove through the official park entrance on the way in, but there was no one working in the booth to collect money. However, there was a worker collecting entry fees on the opposite end, right as we were leaving the Refugio parking lot. Plan to have cash ready.

The Hike to Laguna Llaca

The trail starts in the incredible Llaca Valley and the hike will lead you up close to the Ranrapalca Glacier. The lake isn’t the striking blue color of some of the other well known lakes in the region. Instead, it’s a light sea green color and it brightens up when the sun is shining on it. 

The beginning of the hike is absolutely stunning. Dare I say that I think the scenery in the valley is even more beautiful than the lake itself!

To start you will find yourself in a green valley with towering mountain peaks on both sides. There will also be a distant view of the snow capped mountains that you will be hiking towards. You will follow along a winding small river through the valley with colorful flowers, scattered boulders, and guest appearances from roaming cows. We kept our distance, as did they. Their presence really made the day even more special.

At some point during the hike you will need to cross the small river. To do so, find a narrow portion and look for solid stepping rocks to get across. As you make your way closer to the glacier you will have one section of incline to reach the lake. The view is incredible at the top. Make sure you take a minute to turn around and see the whole valley that you just hiked. 

Once you’ve admired the initial scenery at the lake, continue on the small path on the left side of the lake to get even closer to the glacier.

We spent most of the day enjoying the solitude and multiple different viewpoints of the lake and glacier. We didn’t see anyone else on the trail in the morning. By the afternoon we encountered a few people walking up to the lake from the nearby Refugio parking lot.

It’s easy to overlook this hike in comparison to other bucket list hikes in the area. I think this hike is massively underrated. One thing I loved about this hike is that I was able to enjoy the silence and serenity of nature without crowds, that’s bliss! 

Laguna Llaca is just one example of Peru’s incredible landscape. After completing this hike I hope you have forged a deep appreciation for Peru’s natural beauty. For less exertion on this acclimatizing hike you still get access to jaw dropping scenery making it an ideal starter hike in Huaraz, Peru. Now, on to higher peaks!

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