Laguna 69 Hike: An Iconic Experience in Peru
Laguna 69 is a high altitude turquoise lake in Peru. It is a hiker’s paradise, surrounded by towering peaks and glaciers with an epic challenging trail to get there. This blog will help you plan your hike to Laguna 69.
Laguna 69 is iconic and a bucket list hike in Peru. Located in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range in the Huascaran National Park, this glacier lake is renowned for its pristine beauty and bright turquoise water. It is truly a sight you have to see with your own eyes. But trust me, you’re going to have to work for it. This hike is a must do for adventure seekers traveling all the way to Huaraz, Peru.
Hike Logistics
The Laguna 69 hike is approximately 8.6 miles round trip and the lake sits 15,100 ft above sea level, making it a moderate to challenging day hike.
The altitude and elevation gain will factor into your pace, especially as you hit the switchbacks on the way up. The descent has it’s own challenges as well. You won’t be breathing as heavily on the way down, but you will be contending with a steep descent which is hard on the knees. When you do get a chance to stop and catch your breath you will have incredible views of the surrounding mountains, valley, and waterfalls.
Entrance Fee to Huascaran National Park
The Laguna 69 hike is within the Huascaran National Park, and you will be required to pay an entrance fee. A one day pass for foreigners costs 30 soles per person (approximately $8 USD). If you plan to hike more than once in Huaraz, consider buying the 2-3 day pass for 60 soles.
How to Get to the Trailhead
Transportation is the biggest logistical issue when planning your hike to Laguna 69. There are two options for how to get to from Huaraz to the trailhead, either a tour company bus or public transportation. Each have their own advantages.
Book a Day Tour
If you want to travel with ease, it’s worth it to book a day tour and let them handle the transportation and logistics for you. They will drive you round trip on a bus and allow you to hike at your own pace. The only caveat is that you need to finish and return to the bus at a designated time. The tours are inexpensive and easy to book in Huaraz. Most accommodations will assist you with booking tours or you can book online.
Public Transport
Public transportation will require a bit more planning to figure out the collectivo (a minibus) routes and time schedules. Yungay is the closest town to the trailhead, so you will need to plan travel from Huaraz to Yungay and then onward to Cebollapampa, the starting point of the hike by either another collectivo or taxi.
Private Taxi
Alternatively you can pay for a private taxi round trip from Huaraz. This is the most expensive travel option and will require negotiating a price for them to wait while you complete the hike. It could potentially save time because you will be hiking independently and don’t have to wait for an entire tour group to finish hiking before you can start the drive back to Huaraz.
Either way, prepare for a long day of travel. The drive from Huaraz to the Laguna 69 trailhead is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, which means upwards of a 5-6 hour round trip drive. Hopefully you can catch a nap during that time.
The Hike to Laguna 69
Laguna 69’s reputation as the most popular hiking trail in Huaraz is well deserved. Because of the hike’s popularity, you can expect crowds on the trail. Even its remote location doesn’t stop the eager hikers from making the long drive on the tour buses to experience this once in a lifetime hike.
The beginning of the trail is mostly flat and will take you through a scenic valley with cows grazing and beautiful nature on display. Starting to ascend, the hike up feels like a slog, but the views will keep you invigorated as you make your way through the switchbacks. There are multiple towering mountain peaks in view on a clear day.
The physical effort will be appreciated once you get your first glimpse of the bright blue lake, it is stunning! The lake is large enough for the crowds of people to disperse making it feel less busy. If you love a challenge, you can continue to hike higher above the lake for another viewpoint looking down.
What to Bring and How to Prepare for High Altitude Hiking
Altitude is a force to be reckoned with. Do not underestimate altitude sickness and the need for acclimating prior to hiking. You should spend at least a day in Huaraz prior to attempting this hike. If you have the time, I suggest completing an easier hike prior to Laguna 69 to better prepare yourself.
Check out my blog post about Laguna Llaca, which is the perfect starter hike to acclimatize.
For hiking to Laguna 69 I recommend trekking poles, snacks (it is a long day), water/electrolytes, dressing in layers, and of course a camera and your sense of adventure.
Trekking Poles
The benefits of using trekking poles include decreased muscle fatigue, more of a full body workout, and the most significant benefit is that it decreases the force on lower body joints up to 25%. Your knees will thank you!
Dress in Layers
You will want to dress in layers because temperatures fluctuate throughout the day, especially at altitude. It will be colder once you reach the lake and stop moving. I recommend a sweat wicking long sleeve base layer, a lightweight windbreaker/rain jacket, a warmer outer shell, as well as gloves and hat. I was taking off and putting back on layers constantly throughout the hike as my body temperature was fluctuating.
My Experience
I went into this hike maybe a little over confident and Laguna 69 kicked my butt. I ended the day with a pounding headache and sore knees. This was the highest altitude I’ve ever been and even after spending 2 days acclimating in Huaraz and completing a prior hike without issues, the altitude got me.
The descent was very strenuous on my knees and the cold weather impacted my knee joints even more. I was grateful to have my hiking poles, but I was using them as crutches trying to take all the weight through my upper body. It was not my best look. Even with all of the beautiful memories of the hike, I unfortunately cannot forget the post hike pain and mild altitude sickness. My advice is to prepare and pace yourself, and don’t forget to drink coca leaf tea.
Panorama Hike: Alternative route to Laguna 69
Did you know there is an alternative hike that is less busy with more lakes that will take you to the famous Laguna 69? Akilpo Adventure Specialists in Huaraz offers this as an alternative day hike to Laguna 69.
The Panorama Hike Experience
The guided hike starts at Llanganuco viewpoint, eventually joins the Laguna 69 trail to the lake, and then follows the classic Laguna 69 trail back down to end at Cebollapampa.
If you choose this route you will have an early start time so you can see sunrise at the Llanganuco viewpoint with a 360 degree view of the valley and the Llanganuco lakes. The trail starts at approximately 15,200 ft above sea level and is relatively flat to start.
The trail will begin to descend down and wind around several lakes prior to merging with the classic Laguna 69 trail, providing rewarding scenery all along the way. Once you join the main trail you will begin the final burn, a steep hike to the lake. After basking in the beauty of the turquoise lake, you will hike back down the classic Laguna 69 trail.
Things to Consider
The Panorama hike is a guided tour, which means you will hike in a group with a trekking guide leading the way. They will provide round trip transportation, breakfast, and lunch. You won’t have to worry about anything but hiking and enjoying the views. It’s also a good way to meet other people while in the group hiking setting. One thing to note is that you will be expected to keep pace with the group, which can be challenging due to altitude and other factors.
The Panorama hike is about the same distance as the classic trail, the major difference is that you begin the hike at a higher altitude. Starting the hike at a higher altitude than the traditional trail means you won’t have to hike up as much, however it also means you will be spending more time at a higher altitude, which is hard on the body.
The Panorama hike is ideal if you want to enjoy different views along the way, not just an out and back hike. Either way, it is nice to know there is more than one route to get to the famous Laguna 69, you can’t go wrong!
In conclusion, the journey to Laguna 69 will test you but will also gift you with an unforgettable experience and sense of accomplishment. Regardless of which route you take, there is beauty all around you. I hope this inspires you to pack your bags and set your sights high because adventure awaits in the Peruvian mountains.
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