LAGUNAS LLANGANUCO

This pair of pristine lakes, surrounded by rare polylepis trees, are perched high in the glacial valley above Yungay at 3,850 meters, between the tumbling glaciers of Huascarán’s north summit (6,655 meters) on one side and Huandoy (6,160 meters) on the other. The lakes’ turquoise waters, a result of glacial silt, glow in the midday sun. The first lake is Chinacocha, and rowboats can be rented here 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The second lake is called OrconCocha, and the best views of the mountains are a little further on.

The highway from Yungay passes these lakes en route to Portachuelo Llanganuco, a high pass at 4,767 meters, and leads to the towns of Vaquería, Colcabamba, and Yanama in the Callejón de Conchucos. Shortly before the lakes, there is a control booth of the Parque Nacional Huascarán, which charges day visitors $2 and longer-term visitors $20.

These lakes are one of the starting points for the popular Santa Cruz trek. The base camp for climbing Pisco and the newly built Refugio Peru in a four-hour hike from the Lagunas Llanganuco at 3,865 meters up to 4,665 meters. The best time to visit the Lagunas Llanganuco is at midday when the sun is brightest. The lakes fall into shade in the afternoon, when chill winds whip their waters.

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Getting There
Many agencies in Huaraz offer day tours to these lakes for $8 to $10 pp. See the Yungay section for details on public transport to the lakes.