Pastoruri Glacier tour from Huaraz: Hike to the glacier

Hike to a glacier shrinking in real time

A full-day tour from Huaraz to Pastoruri Glacier, located at 17,192 feet in Huascaran National Park, with hotel pickup and a professional Spanish-speaking guide. You hike for an hour to the glacier's edge, learn how climate change has altered it, then visit the Valley of Carpa to see Puya Raimondi plants that grow only in the high Andes. Entrance to the park is available as an add-on at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Pastoruri Glacier and Puya Raimondi

• Pick up from hotel in Huaraz
• Drive 2 hours to Pastoruri Glacier parking
• Hike 1 hour to glacier viewpoint
• Learn about climate change impact
• Take photos and admire landscapes
• Drive to Valley of Carpa
• See Puya Raimondi plants
• Return to Huaraz city

The experience

Pastoruri Glacier sits at one of the most accessible elevations for a snow-capped peak in the Andes, which is why the tour starts with a two-hour drive south from Huaraz to the parking area inside Huascaran National Park. From there, you hike for an hour on foot to reach the nearest point of the glacier itself. The route is known locally as "the route of climate change" because the glacier has retreated visibly over recent decades, and your guide uses the walk to explain what that retreat looks like on the ground and why it matters.

After time at the glacier to photograph and take in the high-altitude landscape, the tour moves to the Valley of Carpa, where you see Puya Raimondi plants: massive bromeliad species that grow only in the high mountains and can reach 39 feet tall and live a century. The day ends with a return to Huaraz. The full outing runs nine hours from pickup to drop-off.

A professional guide leads the tour in Spanish and handles the logistics of the drive and the hike. Hotel pickup is included, though you'll need to provide your accommodation details when you book so the operator can confirm the pickup point. The park entrance fee is optional at checkout. If you don't purchase it in advance, you can pay in cash (S/ 30 per person) when you arrive. Bring snacks, as the tour does not include meals or drinks.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Huaraz.
• professional guide in Spanish.
• transport to and from the glacier.
• access to Huascaran National Park and the Valley of Carpa.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pastoruri, with the entrance fee not coveredGuide in Spanish · 09:00Entrance ticket not included, includes pickup

Pastoruri, with the entrance includedGuide in Spanish · 09:00Entrance ticket included, includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

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

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?The nine-hour commitment and high altitude mean this tour suits travelers who've had time to acclimatize and are comfortable with a full day of driving and hiking at elevation. If you want to see how a major glacier is changing under climate change and have the fitness for a moderate mountain hike, this is the most accessible snow-capped peak in the region to reach.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How high is Pastoruri Glacier and what will the hike feel like?

Pastoruri Glacier sits at 17,192 feet in the Andes. The hike from the parking area to the glacier takes about an hour on foot, and you'll be at high altitude the entire time, so acclimatization before the tour is important. The operator recommends moderate physical fitness and good cardiovascular health for this outing.

What are the Puya Raimondi plants I'll see in the Valley of Carpa?

Puya Raimondi are enormous plants from the bromeliad family that grow only in the high mountains of the Andes. They can reach up to 39 feet tall and live for up to 100 years, making them one of the most distinctive sights on the tour.

Does the tour include food and drinks?

The tour does not include lunch or drinks, so you should bring snacks with you. Water and snacks are especially important at high altitude.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

Transport from your hotel in Huaraz, a professional guide, and the full-day itinerary are included. The park entrance fee is optional. You can add it at checkout or pay S/ 30 per person in cash when you arrive. Gratuities are not included.