Pastoruri Glacier tour from Huaraz: Walk to the ice

Walk to Pastoruri Glacier through high-altitude Andean landscape

A full-day tour from Huaraz to Pastoruri Glacier in Huascarán National Park, with a professional Spanish-speaking guide and hotel pickup. The route passes through traditional towns (Recuay, Catac, Ticapampa), and stops at Puya Raimondi (the tallest Andean plant), gasified mineral springs, Pumashimin Lake (the seven-color lake), and cave paintings before a 40-minute to one-hour walk to the glacier itself. Lunch is included in Ticapampa or Catac, and the tour returns to Huaraz by 5 p.m. The high altitude and moderate physical fitness requirement shape who can comfortably complete the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Pastoruri Glacier tour from Huaraz

• 08:30 am: Pick up from hotel
• 09:00 am: Depart Huaraz to Callejón de Huaylas
• Pass traditional towns Recuay, Ticapampa, Catac
• Visit Puya Raimondi and gasified waters of Pumapampa
• See Pumashimin lake and cave paintings
• Walk 40-60 minutes to Pastoruri Glacier
• Appreciate glacier formations and lagoons
• Return to bus
• 03:00 pm: Lunch in Ticapampa or Catac
• 05:00 pm: Arrive back in Huaraz

The experience

Pastoruri Glacier sits at the edge of Huascarán National Park, and reaching it means traveling southeast from Huaraz through a landscape that shifts from town to mountain. The route passes Recuay, Ticapampa and Catac: villages where the road narrows and the altitude climbs. A guide leads the stops: first Puya Raimondi, a plant that grows nowhere else and towers over the surrounding scrub; then the gasified waters at Pumapampa, where mineral-rich springs bubble up; then Pumashimin Lake, called the seven-color lake for the way light catches the water at different depths. Cave paintings mark another stop before the final push to the glacier.

From the parking lot, the walk to Pastoruri takes 40 minutes to an hour, depending on pace and how the altitude feels. The glacier itself is a formation of ice and lagoons, not a single white slope but a broken landscape of frozen water in various stages. The guide points out the shapes and explains what the formations mean for the mountain. After the glacier, the group returns to the bus and heads back down to lunch in either Ticapampa or Catac, then drives to Huaraz, arriving around 5 p.m.

The tour operates in all weather, so rain or cloud cover does not cancel it. Dress in layers and bring a rain jacket. Children from age 6 can join if accompanied by an adult. The combination of altitude, the walk itself and the physical demands of the day means moderate fitness matters. This is not a casual stroll, and the high elevation affects people differently.

What’s included

• Professional guide who speaks Spanish.
• hotel pickup in the morning and return to Huaraz by 5 p.m.
• group transport by tour vehicle.
• lunch in a traditional town on the return.
• stops at Puya Raimondi, the gasified mineral springs, Pumashimin Lake and cave paintings before the glacier walk.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 29

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 12.92

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Scheler Artizon Trek

Is this one for you?The full day (roughly 8 to 9 hours from pickup to return) leaves little room for other activities, so plan this as your main outing. The altitude and the 40-minute walk mean you need moderate fitness. If you arrive in Huaraz with little time to acclimatize, the elevation will hit harder.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

How high is Pastoruri Glacier and will the altitude affect me?

Pastoruri sits at high elevation in the Andes, and the tour involves walking at altitude after driving up from Huaraz. The operator recommends moderate physical fitness and notes that the tour is not suitable for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or spinal injuries. Altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of fitness. Arriving in Huaraz a day or two before the tour and staying hydrated helps many travelers acclimatize.

What is Puya Raimondi and why is it a stop on this tour?

Puya Raimondi is the tallest plant species in the Andes and grows only in this region. The tour includes a stop to see it as one of the highest expressions of Andean plant life, and it marks the transition into the high-altitude landscape where the glacier sits.

What does the walk to Pastoruri Glacier actually involve?

From the parking lot, the walk takes 40 minutes to one hour on a trail leading to the glacier. The pace depends on how the altitude affects you and the group's speed. Once there, you see the glacier's ice formations and lagoons before returning to the bus.