Lake 69: the Jewel of the Cordillera Blanca

The hike to Laguna 69 is an unforgettable experience where at every step, and from start to finish, you are surrounded by giant, breathtaking landscapes decorated with waterfalls, rivers, vegetation and snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca of Peru. After 3 hours, your effort is rewarded with the brilliant turquoise color of Laguna 69, crowning a day of extraordinary natural beauty.

Origins of Laguna 69

Laguna 69 rests at 4,600 meters above sea level under the striking Chacraraju mountain, part of the Cordillera Blanca in the Ancash region of Peru. This mountain range is part of the Andes Mountains, and has 200 km in length and 722 individual glaciers. In addition, here is the highest mountain in Peru, Huascarán, with a height of 6,768 meters.

While the colors of lake 69 Peru are amazing due to the minerals found at its bottom, we cannot say the same about the history of its name. Lagoon 69 is called that, simply, because it is the sixty-ninth lagoon in a list of more than 800 high Andean bodies of water in the Cordillera Blanca. The formation of this body of water, like the hundreds of lagoons in the sector, is due to the deglaciation process over the years.

How to trek to Laguna 69?

The first thing you should do is get to the city of Huaraz. The best option to do this is to take a bus from Lima during the night, and after approximately 8 hours of travel you will wake up in the capital of Ancash. Once in Huaraz, the best option to trek to Laguna 69 in Huaraz is by hiring a tour. Being one of the most performed hikes in the sector, the price of the tour is accessible for all budgets and includes round-trip transportation between the start of the trek and the center of Huaraz. In addition, the group is accompanied by an expert guide on the route, keeping an eye on the physical condition of all the people in the group.

Because the trekking takes place above 4,000 meters, it is extremely important to take precautions to prevent altitude sickness. Doing this walk on your own, if you do not have your own vehicle, is not recommended. First, you must take public transportation from Huaraz to Yungay, and then look for a taxi driver to take you to the beginning of the walk and wait for you for approximately 6 or 7 hours for you to return. Apart from having to blindly trust the taxi driver, the total cost of your adventure can be much more expensive than hiring a tour.

General information about Lake 69

Peru Lake 69 is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the Cordillera Blanca in Peru. This beautiful lake is located in the Huascarán National Park, in the Áncash region and is surrounded by majestic mountains and glaciers. Next, we will detail some of the information that you should know:

Location
Lagoon 69 is located in the Áncash region, in the Huascarán National Park, within the Cordillera Blanca. But its exact location is in the province of Yungay, in the district of Yanama, so to get to the lake, it is necessary to take a walk from the town of Cebollapampa, which is about 3 hours by car from the city of Huaraz. (the hiking route crosses impressive landscapes and allows you to enjoy the beauty of the area).
Altitude
This lagoon is located at an altitude of approximately 4,600 meters above sea level. This altitude can represent a challenge for some people due to the lack of oxygen in the air and the possible effects of altitude sickness. So, it is important to take the necessary precautions, such as acclimatizing properly before the hike and carrying coca leaves to chew (these are mostly known to help alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness).
Access
Access is through a walk from Cebollapampa, since to get to this place it is necessary to take a vehicle from the city of Huaraz, which is about 7 hours by bus from Lima. The road through this area offers impressive views of the Cordillera Blanca mountains and passes through beautiful Andean towns along the way. On the other hand, once the walk has started, it is estimated that arrival at Laguna 69 is approximately 3 hours and you must be accompanied by a local guide to ensure you follow the correct route and have a safe and enriching experience.

Description of the route to Laguna 69

The adventure begins at 5 in the morning in the city of Huaraz, when the tour picks you up at your accommodation. After approximately 2 hours, a first stop is made to have breakfast at a local restaurant, and after another hour, a second stop is made at Laguna Chinancocha, better known as Laguna Llanganuco. Be careful that before arriving at Chinancocha you have to pay your entrance fee (S/30.00 for foreigners and S/11.00 for nationals) to the Huascarán National Park.

After just 15 more minutes on the bus, the trekking begins. This is done along a perfectly marked path while you cross amazing landscapes at every moment. The first part of the walk is on a large plain crossed by small rivers, while around you you see the inspiring Cordillera Blanca. After an hour of walking, a climb of approximately 45 minutes begins. As you gain meters in height you begin to observe the landscape you are leaving behind, with incredible perspectives of the Huascarán National Park.

Next you must cross lagoons and waterfalls until you reach a second plain. The last part of the hike, and probably the most difficult, involves a 400 meter climb that takes just under an hour. The landscapes are still just as impressive, and although fatigue begins to sap your morale, suddenly you come across that turquoise miracle that makes it all worth it. The impression is overwhelming when observing such a wonder of nature. In the lagoon you can sit down to rest, have lunch and fill up with energy and then return to the road.

Attractions of Lake 69

Lake 69, located in the Cordillera Blanca, has many attractions that make it a special place to visit, among these are: its impressive landscape (characterized by the presence of imposing mountains and a beautiful turquoise color in the lake water), the crystal clear waters (a notable attraction that allows you to clearly see the bottom of the lake), the flora and fauna (the area surrounding the lake is rich in diversity, with a great variety of plants and animals endemic to the place). But that's not all, here we mention more interesting information:

Stunning landscape
The landscape of the Lake is truly impressive, it is surrounded by imposing mountains of the Cordillera Blanca, and also offers incredible panoramic views with snow-capped mountains and imposing peaks that create a setting of great beauty for visitors.
Crystalline waters
One of the most notable features of the lagoon, in addition to its impressive mountains, is its crystal clear waters. Therefore, thanks to this quality, you can clearly see the reflections of the glaciers found nearby and the bottom of the lake in its entirety, which makes this attraction a unique experience for visitors.
Flora and fauna
The environment of Lake 69 Peru is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, so in the area you can find a great variety of endemic plants, adapted to the extreme conditions of the Cordillera Blanca and among them, the beautiful wild flowers that stand out. They bloom during the spring and summer season; However, in terms of fauna, it is possible to observe a certain number of species such as the vizcacha and the partridge.

Recommendations for visiting Lake 69

When visiting the lagoon it is important to take into account various recommendations to ensure a good travel experience. So it is highly recommended to bring necessary equipment such as appropriate footwear, warm clothing, a waterproof jacket, hat and gloves; In fact, it is advisable to have a partial physical level for the tour and to hire the services of a specialized guide.

Necessary equipment
The equipment needed to visit Lake 69 includes a sturdy backpack (to take care of and carry your belongings), good footwear (to provide stability and grip on difficult terrain), warm clothing (to deal with the low temperatures in the area), hat and gloves (to protect yourself from the cold) and a bottle of water (to stay hydrated during the walk).
Recommended time
The recommended time to visit this lagoon is during the dry season, which runs from May to September, since the climatic conditions are more stable and the probability of rain is reduced. Likewise, the climate is usually milder and temperatures range between 10°C and 18°C during the day, but can drop at night.
Difficulty and duration of the walk
The walk to has a moderate level of difficulty, so it is necessary to be in good physical condition, since the route lasts approximately 4 to 5 hours (which includes steep and rocky sections, steep climbs and descents), depending on the route. of the pace and the stops that are made along the way.

Other attractions of the Ancash Region

You can discover most of the attractions of the Ancash Region and the Cordillera Blanca starting from the city of Huaraz. At Denomades we have 19 activities in this city, among which are trekking to Laguna Parón, or longer hikes such as the 4-day Santa Cruz trek or the 10-day trek through the Huayhuash Mountain Range. You can also find shorter activities such as our Nevado Pastoruri glacier tour or the Chavín de Huantar Pre-Inca Archaeological Center.

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