3-Day Tour: Llanganuco, Parón & Laguna 69 from Huaraz

Three days across three alpine lagoons, from turquoise waters to a glacier trek

A 3-day tour from Huaraz combines visits to Llanganuco Lagoon, Parón Lagoon, and a trek to Laguna 69, each day built around a different high-altitude site in the Cordillera Blanca. Day one takes you through Huascarán National Park to Chinancocha Lagoon for a boat ride or nature walk, with stops in the artisan town of Taricá on the return. Day two is a full drive to Parón Lagoon, the region's largest, for activities like canoeing and hiking to a viewpoint. Day three starts before dawn for the trek to Laguna 69, a 3-hour climb rewarded by vivid alpine colors and glacier views. A professional Spanish-speaking guide leads the route, manages the pace for all fitness levels, and handles all transport from your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Visit Llanganuco Lagoon and nearby towns

• Depart at 9:00 AM
• Visit Carhuaz and Campo Santo
• Enter Llanganuco Gorge and Huascarán Park
• Arrive at Chinancocha Lagoon
• Boat ride or nature hike
• Return journey with lunch in Ucuchá
• Visit Taricá artisan town
• Return to Huaraz at 7:00 PM

Day 2: Explore Parón Lagoon and surroundings

• Depart at 8:30 AM
• Drive through Carhuaz, Yungay, Huaylas
• Arrive at Parón Lagoon
• Boat ride, canoeing, or hike
• Return to Huaraz

Day 3: Trek to Laguna 69 in Huascarán Park

• Depart at 5:30 AM
• Pass Carhuaz and Yungay
• Breakfast in Huashao community
• Arrive at Cebollapampa trailhead
• Hike 3 hours to Laguna 69
• One-hour stop at Laguna 69
• Return hike 2 hours
• Return to Huaraz at 7:30 PM

The experience

The tour departs at 9:00 AM on day one, heading into Huascarán National Park through the Llanganuco Gorge. Before reaching the lagoon, you stop in Carhuaz and visit Campo Santo, the buried city of Yungay, where the 1970 earthquake left its mark. You arrive at Chinancocha Lagoon around noon with roughly 1.5 hours to choose your own pace: a boat ride on the turquoise water, a short nature hike along the trails, or simply time to photograph the snow-capped peaks. The return includes lunch in Ucuchá and a visit to Taricá, where you watch local potters at work before arriving back in Huaraz around 7:00 PM.

Day two is devoted entirely to Parón Lagoon, the largest in the region. The drive departs around 8:30 AM and takes roughly four hours, passing through Carhuaz, Yungay, and Huaylas before arriving between noon and 12:30 PM. You have two hours to move at your own speed: boat rides, canoeing, a hike to the viewpoint, or a nature trail walk along the shoreline. The return journey takes another four hours, bringing you back to Huaraz by evening.

Day three is the trek to Laguna 69, and it starts early. Departure is 5:30 AM heading north through Carhuaz and Yungay, with a breakfast stop in the Huashao community. From Cebollapampa, the trailhead, the hike climbs for approximately three hours to reach the lagoon, where you have an hour to rest and take in the vivid colors and the glacier surrounding it. The descent takes around two hours, and you return to Huaraz by approximately 7:30 PM. A professional guide sets the pace throughout and carries a basic first aid kit, though you should bring your own warm layers and hiking gear.

What’s included

• Professional official guide leading all three days.
• pickup from your hotel in Huaraz and drop-off in the city center.
• shared tourist transport for all driving and transfers.
• basic first aid kit provided by the guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Last departure this season: 30 Nov

AgesAdult (18 to 50 years) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by GRUPO ALPAMAYO TOURS

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Huaraz means you don't arrange your own transport to the trailheads or manage the long drives between sites, which matters if you're staying in the city without a rental car or prefer not to drive mountain roads at altitude.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (5 to 9 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Laguna 69 and why is it famous?

Laguna 69 is a high-altitude alpine lake in Huascarán National Park known for its vivid turquoise and blue colors and the glacier that surrounds it. The trek to reach it climbs for about three hours from Cebollapampa and is considered challenging but rewarding, with an hour to spend at the lagoon before the two-hour descent.

Can I do activities at Llanganuco Lagoon and Parón Lagoon, or is it just sightseeing?

Both lagoons offer activities beyond viewing. At Llanganuco Lagoon (Chinancocha), you can take a boat ride or walk the nature trails during your 1.5-hour stop. At Parón Lagoon, you have two hours to choose from boat rides, canoeing, a hike to the viewpoint, or a nature walk along the shore.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Days one and two are mostly driving with short walks, but day three involves a three-hour trek uphill to Laguna 69 at high altitude, followed by a two-hour descent. The guide adjusts the pace for all participants, but the altitude and duration of the trek demand stamina.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes a professional Spanish-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off in Huaraz city center, and shared transport for all three days. You need to bring your own warm clothes and hiking apparel. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are not included, nor is the Huascarán National Park entrance fee, which you pay separately.

Does the tour start from my hotel?

Yes, the guide picks you up from your hotel in Huaraz or meets you at the main office. Day one departs at 9:00 AM, day two at 8:30 AM, and day three at 5:30 AM, so confirm your hotel location and early availability when you book.