Hiking Laguna 69 in Huaraz, Peru: Everything You Need to Know

Laguna 69 is one of the most famous and iconic hikes in Peru. Located in Huaraz, the hiking and trekking capital of Peru, the high-altitude day hike is not technically challenging – but the altitude makes Laguna 69 a strenuous hike.

Backpackers from all over come to Huaraz for extreme trekking and hiking in Peru, and Laguna 69 is one of its star attractions. 

Before you attempt to hike Laguna 69, here’s everything you need to know, from the elevation and altitude challenges you’ll experience while hiking, what to pack and who to book your tour with (and whether you need a tour at all).

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Psst, planning a trip to Peru? Here are some of our other posts that might be helpful!

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• 40 Things Nobody Tells You About Backpacking Peru
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What is Laguna 69’s Altitude?

Laguna 69, otherwise known as Lake 69, sits at the base of a giant glacier in the Cordillera Blancas called, adorably, Pisco Peak. Its elevation is approximately 15,000 feet, which is insane.

At 15,000 feet of elevation, Laguna 69 sits higher than everywhere in the continental United States, and is a mere 2,000 feet below Base Camp on Everest.

Once, Lia and I jumped out of a plane to skydive from the highest altitude they were legally able to fly us, and we were STILL lower than Laguna 69.

Somehow, no one we met in Huaraz seemed to be as amazed by this as we were. Maybe travelers from other countries are used to insane elevations but in the USA … well, we’re not.

I knew that hiking Laguna 69 would be no walk in the park, and I had absolutely no experience hiking at such a high altitude before. I was about to get a crash course.

Preparing for high altitude

The city of Huaraz sits at an elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level. We traveled to Huaraz directly after a week on the beach, which was a mistake. Despite guzzling altitude sickness pills, my poor wife was hit with a nasty case of altitude sickness. (Thanks a lot, modern medicine.)

I spent a few days acclimating before attempting to hike Laguna 69, but by the time I felt up for it, Lia still couldn’t walk down the hallway without feeling like death.

As she lay miserably in bed, a mug of coca leaf tea grasped between her weak hands, she whispered her last, dying wishes: to go on without her. Hiking, that is – the whole reason we came to Huaraz!

We had yet to do any trekking in Peru and were eager to add hiking in a brand new country to our list of failures achievements (like our disasters hikes in Colombia and Ecuador).

Little did I know that the Laguna 69 trek would be one of the hardest hikes I’d ever actually completed – including the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, but that’s mostly because I wasn’t able to complete it.

Tips for Hiking Laguna 69, Huaraz

Laguna 69, Peru, is not your average day hike. You’ll need to take special care to adjust to the altitude before and during your hike.

Here are some tips for hiking Laguna 69.

Train like crazy before you go hiking in Peru.

This doesn’t just apply to Laguna 69, but any hikes in Peru – the altitude is KILLER, and these hikes are really difficult if you’ve never hiked at a high altitude before!

We highly recommend picking up a respiratory restriction mask to help simulate the effects of altitude during your training. Sure, you’ll look like Bane from Batman, but you’ll also be training your body to handle the effects of altitude like a pro. Worth the awkward looks you’ll get at the gym!

Acclimate before you attempt Laguna 69.

You need to spend several days acclimating to the altitude of Huaraz before attempting to hike Laguna 69! Altitude sickness is no joke and you can REALLY hurt yourself.

Give yourself at least 3-4 days to acclimate in Huaraz before you attempt the hike, and take altitude sickness prevention medication the entire time. Consult your doctor for a Diamox prescription before you go to Peru.

A good way to make sure you’re acclimatized is to go on an easier hike before you attempt Laguna 69, such as the day hike to Laguna Churup.

Take your time hiking.

Frankly, you’re unlikely to get a picture of the lake with nobody else in it unless you’re a super-fit trekking expert, in which case, I’m jealous.

For the rest of us, don’t speed ahead early in the game as I did. Instead, take your time, go slow and steady, and take plenty of breaks for water, tea, and snacks.

Treat Laguna 69 like a hike, not a photo opp.

I saw a lot of ill-prepared hikers in inappropriate gear on the hike. I know we all do it for the ‘gram, but really, it’s unsafe (and uncomfortable) not to come prepared.

Your guides are there for emergencies, not to give you snacks and a rain jacket. Come prepared for a hike, not a photo opp. If you want that gorgeous Instagram-worthy photo, I recommend bringing a change of clothes to change into once you reach Laguna 69.

What to Pack for the Laguna 69 Hike

Although Laguna 69 is not a technically challenging hike – there’s no ice picks or climbing involved, like many of the other treks in Huaraz – it’s also not a casual day hike.

The elements at a high altitude can change in a moment’s notice, and being prepared could mean the difference between enjoying yourself or getting ill.

• 50-100oz of water: We have a Camelbak Hydration Pack that fits 100oz of water, snacks, AND has some room for gear, too.
• Trekking poles  are SO important to help with sliding on the shale which comprises the Laguna 69 hike. We brought our Black Diamond trekking poles with us, folded down and tucked into a side pocket of our backpacks, for our entire 5 months in South America and they saved our knees, ankles, and pride.
• Rain Gear: We love our Ultra-Light Packable Rain Jackets (His & Hers) and we bring Waterproof Socks to wear under our Trail Runners, just in case.
• Hiking Clothes: Don’t hike in jeans, y’all! Or at least, change after your photo op. We prefer wool hiking gear thanks to its ability to cool you down in the heat and keep you warm in the rain – totally necessary for high-altitude mountain hiking, where the weather can change in a minute (so bring layers). Laguna 69 is a little chilly, but while you hike, you won’t need a jacket – I wore 2 layered wool shirts and that was perfect. We’ve tried a lot of different hiking clothing over the years, and these are our favorite tried and true picks.
  • Hiking Clothing for Her: T-shirt | Sports Bra | Half Zip | Hiking Pants
  • Hiking Clothing for Him: Short Sleeve shirt | Long Sleeve Shirt | Hiking Pants
• Hiking Shoes & Socks: We both hike in Trail Runners (his & hers) rather than heavy-duty hiking boots – they’re lightweight and travel-friendly, more flexible and comfortable, and they dry super quickly when it rains or after a water crossing, so your feet will stay toasty and try. Pair them with well-made wool socks. Our favorite wool sock brand is Darn Tough: soft, durable, and they come with a lifetime guarantee in the event of holes (that’s how you know it’s real).
• Snacks: You want something nutritious, with a good mix of complex carbs, fats, protein, and electrolytes to fuel your body. My favorite hiking snacks are peanut butter filled pretzels, dried fruit (like apple rings or dried mango), and almonds. Hit up a mercado to pick up some dried snacks for your hike.
• Coca Leaves to chew during your hike. The guides will give you Coca Tea, but I brought extra Coca Leaves to chew as I walked which really helped with the altitude. You’ll find Coca Leaves all over Peru, including mercados and even supermarkets. If the leaves are too gross for you (they taste like … well, leaves) there’s also Coca Leaf candy and gum.
• Sunscreen and a Hat or Sunglasses: The Laguna 69 hike is pretty exposed, so if it’s a sunny day, you’ll want sun protection.
• Camera:  Laguna 69 is stunning, so don’t forget to pack a camera! Most of my best shots were taken with my tiny little GoPro – the wide panoramic angle is perfect for the sweeping Glacier Lake vistas of Laguna 69. A perfect lightweight, hike-friendly camera that takes amazing photos while still fitting comfortably into your pocket is the Canon Powershot. We used this camera exclusively during our 5 months backpacking South America and were extremely pleased with it.

Booking the Laguna 69 Trek in Huaraz, Peru

As per the advice of everyone and the internet, I booked my Laguna 69 hike with an actual tour. Honestly, it came down to cost.

It’s possible to get to Laguna 69 and do the hike solo, but it actually costs more to take the combination of buses, taxis, and collectivos than it does to just book a tour.

Why you should book a Laguna 69 tour

This is probably the only time during our entire trip that booking a tour is both easier AND cheaper than doing it on our own.

Since it’s way easier AND cheaper (not to mention, arguably safer) booking a tour to hike Laguna 69 is definitely the way to go.

The problem with booking tours in Huaraz is there are about a hundred tour agencies. In the other adventure towns we’ve been to, there was a small handful to pull from, which made it easy to find reviews.

After some intense Googling, I settled on Huascaran Adventure Travel, the only agency that had multiple positive reviews and (as far as I could see) no negative reviews. I recommend them.

I booked my tour for the next day. The minute I finished booking the Laguna 69 trek, my nerves kicked in.

In the states, there are only a few mountains over 14,000 feet, and it’s a huge deal to hike them. Those hikes are called “fourteeners,” and I was about to do my first one, only it wasn’t in the US.

I had a carb-heavy dinner, packed my backpack full of snacks, rain gear, first aid supplies, and water, and went to bed telling myself I wasn’t going to die the next day.

Departure from Huaraz, Peru to Laguna 69

I woke up bright and early at 4 AM … and promptly went right back to sleep.

At 5, I was actually out of bed. The bus picked me up at our hostel at 5:30, and after kissing poor, altitude-sick Lia goodbye and saying our final, loving words of parting (something like “don’t die”, “ok you too”) I was off.

I was surprised by the bus situation. It was a large coach bus, similar to the ones we’ve taken in Ecuador. I had been picturing a collectivo van.

We drove around Huaraz picking more and more people up and eventually I was squished in my seat with my backpack, because the overhead bin was too full.

With the bus filled up, we headed north, deeper into the Callejon de Huaylas valley.

Briefing of what to expect

Our guide, Edward, told us all about the landscape surrounding Laguna 69 and gave us a rundown of what to expect from the hike.

He said the hike has three parts, each with increasing difficulty. Most people take about 3 to 3.5 hours to hike out, and 2 hours to return.

He stressed how important the timing was, because he wasn’t putting up with having to wait. Good thing Lia wasn’t with me – she would have hated that (I love my wife, but she hikes at a snail’s pace… and she hates to be rushed, whether by me, a guide, or impending sunset/doom).

Honestly, I felt a bit nervous about pacing too: I may be faster than Lia, but so is 99% of the population with working legs, so that isn’t saying much about my abilities.

The bus stopped for breakfast. Fully fueled up, we headed into the Cordillera Blancas.

I kept telling myself that my anxiety was unnecessary. I couldn’t feel the altitude at breakfast, so how bad could it be?

Our first stop in the Cordillera Blancas was at Chinancocha, another glacier lake next to the road on the way to Laguna 69. It has the same turquoise color and is actually bigger than Laguna 69, but the landscape around it pales in comparison.

After a few minutes of enjoying the view and building anticipation for the hike, Edward got the show on the road. Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the Laguna 69 trailhead.

Laguna 69 Hike, Section 1: The Valley

The Laguna 69 hike started the way most hikes that are going to kick your ass begin: a gentle stroll.

It was actually quite pretty. We were all hiking alongside a river between two giant, snow-covered glaciers looming in the distance.

The valley was very grassy and was filled with these unique, fascinating looking Queñua trees. These hardy trees are the only ones that can grow above 5 000 meters. They look like big manzanita trees and their bark is made up of paper-thin pieces.

After a few minutes of breathlessly admiring the scenery, I realized there was a problem: I was already tired. My breaths were labored. The slightest hill made me lean forward and struggle along.

I had heard from other hikers that you want to rush if you can; this way there are fewer people at Laguna 69 and thus you have a better chance to take The Picture that everyone is really hiking to Laguna 69 to get.

But my tour guide Edward advised against rushing, advising hikers to snack and briefly stop from time to time.

I knew there was no chance of being one of the first to finish, but I thought I could at least rush through the valley and then take my time on the upcoming switchbacks, so I plunged ahead.

Handling the Altitude Change while Hiking Laguna 69

As soon as I felt exhaustion set in, I came up with a time regimen. I would drink water as needed, but I had to keep walking. Only in dire straights (or to take photos) would I stop and catch my breath for one minute.

Every hour, I would stop for a snack. My hope was to hit the end of each section when I snacked, thus staying on time.

I allowed myself to slow my pace as I hiked through the valley, feeling slightly more confident that my plan would work. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

The valley ended. I felt the trail ascend and I looked at my watch. 10:15 AM. It was time for lunch.

Laguna 69 Hike, Section 2: Switchbacks

After some dried mango and almonds, I felt rejuvenated. I looked further down the trail and saw my next objective: hella switchbacks.

Usually I hate switchbacks, but I could see all of the trail from the valley, so I felt slightly less intimidated. I trudged up the hill, doing the usual dance of being passed by someone then passing them again when they rested.

The best part of the switchback portion was the view. As I got higher up the mountain, the valley stretched out below me. Directly across from the trail was a giant waterfall I couldn’t help but stare at.

The view alone kept me going. Sure, I had to stop for a breather every time the trail switch-backed, but I was enjoying it.

I tried to get an idea of how I was doing on time by looking for the last person in our group. Edward had said he would be at the end of the crowd to ensure arrival at the right time.

I saw a lot of people still in the valley, so I figured I was doing OK on time.

Halfway to Laguna 69

About forty-five minutes after my first snack break, I finished the first set of switchbacks. There was a clearing with people taking pictures. This was the trail’s middle.

Up ahead of me loomed a giant hill. My mind jumped back to my brief research of the trail. I couldn’t remember if there were two sets of switchbacks, or three.

Above the hill, I could just glimpse the top of the glacier. The problem was the glacier was stark white against clouds, so determining perspective was a fool’s game.

I could have sworn there were two sets of switchbacks and the last one was harder than the first. Now I wasn’t sure what to believe.

I have a habit of being too optimistic on hikes (my trail name, coined by Lia, is Optimist Sass. Cuz I’m optimistic, but also sassy). So, I figured I might as well take my second snack break early and deal with this hill fully fueled.

The second set of switchbacks were about as tough as the first, but in a different way. There was a steeper grade, but shorter distance.

When I reached the top, I was greeted with a small lake. Damn, I thought, this would have been a way better snack spot.

Laguna 69 Hike, Section 3: The Hard Part

As I passed the lake, I was dreading what was next.

I knew I was approaching the “hard” section. I realized after the hike that I had just become a fourteener, but there was no time for thinking about it.

To my surprise, the next part of the hike was…easy. I had entered a grassland. I could hike through a grassland all damn day at that point. There were cows and gentle streams. It was tranquil AF.

I couldn’t help but think, “How is this the hard section?” Famous last words….

The trail began to vanish, fading into a wide stretch of field. Everyone began taking different routes to cross the many streams criss-crossing the grassy knoll.

We were all heading the same direction, but we were fanning out. I decided to follow a guide. Edward said he has been doing this tour for 20 years and he does it 4 times a week. I figured the guide I was following would know the best way.

After about twenty minutes of gently strolling through grass, I looked ahead and thought to myself, “Oh…this is why it’s the hard part.”

Laguna 69 Hike: The Wild Zone

Ahead of me was what is called “Zona Sylvestre,” or Wild Zone. Maybe it wasn’t officially called that, but a sign said it and I thought it was fitting.

This was the last set of switchbacks, and boy were they serious.

The altitude here increased sharply and quickly by about 700 feet. The trail was made up of small granite stones – the kind some people put in their yards to fight off weeds – which made finding footing difficult.

I looked behind me and saw Edward crossing the grass, which meant I was officially one of the last people. So much for my snack strategy.

From the start of the incline, my feet were slipping. Every step turned stones over and pulled me backwards as I fought to move forward. My (actually Lia’s) trekking poles were incredibly helpful. Still, I almost rolled my ankle multiple times. “This isn’t so bad really,” my inner Optimist Sass piped up, “It’s just steep. You’ve done steep.”

Steep proved to not be my enemy. Before hikes like Laguna 69, people always say things like “it’s not the distance, it’s the altitude.” They were right. I was gasping for every breath.

Were this hike at sea level, I wouldn’t have been struggling at all. But up here at nearly 15,000 feet, the air was thin, and I found myself already exhausted.

All the more frustrating was one of the guides. He kept coming up behind me and yelling “¡Vamos!” I quickly realized this was not a hike I could go at my own pace. They had a schedule to keep. I guess Lia and I both hate to be rushed.

I thrust my trekking poles into the ground and hoisted myself forward, willing myself to keep moving. Another guide passing by encouragingly let me know that Laguna 69 was directly over the next hill.

Knowing I was almost done was a bad thing. I exerted more energy per step because I figured didn’t have many steps left.

With every inch up the hill, I felt the pressure building in my chest. My lungs were expanding from the lower pressure. They were fighting for breath in the lighter oxygen. My fingers and toes started to tingle.

I felt like I was going to pass out.

Laguna 69: The Final Push

That’s when I realized something: I was standing higher than I’ve ever been. That meant every step was a new personal best.

My thoughts drifted back to a conversation the day before with a friend of mine who is a skilled hiker (she’s hiking goals AF, if I’m being honest). She said to not think about the distance left, but instead just think about putting one foot in front of the other. So that’s what I did.

I had this vision of myself in my head before the hike.

In the last stretch, I would put my headphones on and throw on some rap. I’d trudge up, huffing and puffing with the intensity of Daredevil in that episode where he beats like 30 guys down a stairwell. Just as Kanye would be telling me “No one man should have all that power,” I would rise above the crest of the hill and be greeted with the clearest blue lake, feeling like a superhero.

Instead, I was dizzy, disoriented, and on the verge of tears trying to just get halfway up the damn switchbacks. I also forgot to put on music.  Thanks a lot, hypoxia.

In the final stretch, I took a seat next to a guy from Israel. He told me he too had lived on the coast his entire life and therefore had never been at this high of an altitude either.

Finally, I had a brother in arms, which felt good after seeing everyone else in their tight jeans skipping joyfully up the mountain to Laguna 69 while snapping magically unsweaty Instagram photos.

My new friend and I got up and continued huffing and puffing along.

As I followed him I kept having defeatist thoughts: “What if I gave up now? I saw a lot of cool stuff along the way…that wouldn’t be the worst thing right? Maybe I should lie down and just embrace death. God, Lia would be so pissed at me if I died like that. ‘Well kids, you would have had a different dad but he laid down on a hike in Peru like an idiot and died.’”

As though it heard my thoughts, suddenly there it was…

Finally Reaching Laguna 69

I made it!

I was the last of my group, and in the bottom ten overall, but whatever, I made it! The Israeli guy said it best as we increased our speed: “I can’t stop smiling.” It’s true.

It was the most incredible feeling to finally be at Laguna 69. And damn, what a beautiful lake it was: crystalline blue, flanked by a razor-thin waterfall gushing ice cold glacier water from the most incredible, humbling, blindingly white snow-covered mountains I’d ever seen in person.

Everyone was all smiles.

Some brave souls decided to jump in the freezing water. One guy did it in white briefs (…really bro? People are eating). I finished off some leftover spaghetti, chips, and a celebration Snickers bar, because if you can’t eat junk food while hiking at 15,000 feet, when the hell can you?

Edward passed around some Coca Tea and everyone else passed around congratulations.

After about 30 minutes, Edward told us to get our stuff together. He pointed me to the “restroom” before we left. It’s basically a two-foot wall of rocks with three sides and you can see way more than you want to. To put it politely, I recommend not using it.

With a farewell to Laguna 69, I turned to start the journey back.

Laguna 69 Hike: The Return

I left Laguna 69 before most people in anticipation of being slow on my return. The guides were back to herding everyone, and I didn’t want to deal with being rushed.

As I descended down the wild zone, it began sprinkling. Thankfully, I came prepared for rain, so I threw on my rain jacket and backpack cover.

The climb down became more treacherous with the rain, so at a certain point, my trekking poles became ski poles. Thankfully, I came out of it with zero injuries (for once)!

There must have been heavier rain high up in the mountains, because the small streams I had to jump over before had gotten much more intense.

The view on our return took on fairy tale levels of beauty from the growing fog and rain. I had to try hard not to trip over my feet because I was busy looking out off the mountain.

As I hit the easier switchbacks, it rained harder. Idiotically, I decided to not put on my rain pants and waterproof socks for the same reason I usually use to opt-out of something: laziness. Look, at least I didn’t wear jeans.

Laguna 69 Hike: Vengeance of the Gods

Just when I decided to let my laziness take over, I heard a bellowing from the skies: thunder. The thunder grew more frequent.

I realized Catequil (the Incan god of thunder, GEEZ read a book) would not let up, so I stopped to put on my other rain gear. It’s a good thing too, because five minutes after, the skies opened up into a torrential downpour.

On the warm and cramped bus, the driver handed me a cup of coca tea. I heard my wife’s voice in my head: “don’t forget to stretch! If you don’t, you’ll cramp up on the ride home and be sore tomorrow.” She is a wise woman full of brilliant advice that I never listen to, so I stood up to stretch.

Unfortunately for me, right as I stood, my tour guide told us all to sit down so we could leave.

We got back into Huaraz about two and a half hours later. Lia was right: I was cramped up and sore. Balls.

We celebrated our reunion with delivery pizza and Netflix, unable to muster up the energy for much else.

Should You Hike Laguna 69 in Huaraz, Peru

So was it worth it? Absolutely. Every labored step. Each bead of sweat.

I hated the hike every inch of the way, but seeing the blue water of Laguna 69 made it worth the three and a half hours of struggle. If you’re considering hiking Laguna 69 and you’re in reasonable shape, definitely do it! Just acclimate first, and take your time.

Oh, and I found out the reason behind the funny name is actually pretty boring.

There are 474 lakes in Huascaran National Park. Laguna 69 was the 69th on the list and they just never came up with an alternate name for it. I feel like this is a half-truth, because if any of the lakes didn’t have a name, shouldn’t it be Laguna 474? I guess we’ll never know.

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So, dear reader, what questions do you have about hiking Laguna 69 or hiking in Peru? Have you had a similar experience with high altitude hiking? Share in the comments!

Psst, planning a trip to Peru? Here are some of our other posts that might be helpful!

• 13 Things To Know Before You Go To Cusco And Machu Picchu, Peru
• How To Get From Ecuador To Peru: La Balsa Border Crossing
• 40 Things Nobody Tells You About Backpacking In Peru

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If you are looking for more tour tips during your visit to Peru the amazing guys over at ViaHero will connect you with a local person who will share all their juicy knowledge and help you plan your perfect itinerary. Check it out here. If you’re wanting to find more treks, check out these 46 best hikes in South America.

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