Laguna Wilcacocha Hike - Huaraz, Peru

by Rebecca Hollman
updated March 25, 2019

Laguna Wilcacocha - Huaraz, Peru

Huaraz is a beautiful town located between the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra in the high altitude range of Peru. It is known as a trekking destination for tourists because of the amount of hikes nearby - including the infamous 4 day Santa Cruz trek and 10 day Huarash trek. However, because the town itself sits at 10,000 feet above sea level and most of the hikes are between 15,000-19,000 feet above sea level, you really need to acclimatize yourself to these high altitudes. Laguna Wilcacocha is a perfect acclimatization hike for your first day in Huaraz and it leads to a nice view of the Cordillera Blanca. I highly suggest you spend at least 5 days in Huaraz before attempting any serious hikes, especially multi-day treks in the highest elevation areas of Huascaran National Park. Hiking Laguna Wilcacocha is also a nice way to experience the area of Cordillera Negra - looking out to the snow capped peaks of Cordillera Blanca. All of the other hikes in Huaraz are located within the Cordillera Blanca.

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Getting to the Trail

The trailhead for Laguna Wilcacocha is only 15 minutes outside of Huaraz. We had a car and so drove to the trailhead but you can easily take a colectivo from town for $1 USD. Just tell the driver you want to go to Laguna Wilcacocha and they will drop you off on a dirt road that has a big sign with trail info. Just follow this dirt road all the way up to the top, passing houses, farmers working the fields, and lots of animals. Eventually you will get to the top where you will see a small trail break off. Follow this for about 5 minutes and you will reach the lake where you can hang out and eat some snacks. A lot of Peruvians hang out up here and camp overnight here, especially on the weekends. After hanging out by the lake for ahwile. head back down the same way you came up. Just wave down a colectivo on the road and take it back to Huaraz.

Trail Info

The total distance one way is 3.2 km and should take anywhere from 2-3 hours up, and about 1-1.5 down. You gain 2,200 ft in elevation so it’s no joke, especially if you are feeling the altitude or if it is your first day in Huaraz. Take your time, drink lots of water, and don’t push yourself too hard. Make sure to also put on sunscreen! Even though it is not that hot, you are at a high altitude and so closer to the sun and you will burn - most likely your shoulders and nose. The best time to trek in Huaraz is during the dry season from April to October. It is usually sunny and warm at this time. I went to Peru in November and December and found it was better, because it was still on the fringe of dry season but there were almost no other tourists.

*IMPORTANT TO NOTE: There are two hikes in the area called Wilcacocha. One goes to Laguna Wilcacocha and the other goes to Lago Wilcacocha. Both are beautiful hikes and interchangeable in terms of distance and views from the top. The information in this article is only about Laguna Wilcacocha.