Our most recommended things to do in Ancash

Huaraz: Pastoruri Glacier Day Trip

1. Huaraz: Pastoruri Glacier Day Trip

After pickup from your hotel in Huaraz, you will head to the South-East of the Callejón de Huaylas, passing by traditional towns like Recuay, Ticapampa and Catac. Arriving at Huascarán National Park, visit Pumashimin Lake, also known as the Lake of Seven Colors. You will also explore the nearby cave paintings. Next, trek for approximately 40-60 minutes to the Pastoruri Glacier, taking time to appreciate its formation and lagoons. After returning to the bus, you will head to a restaurant in Ticapampa or Catac, where meals cost about 15 soles for lunch. You'll then head back to Huaraz.  If you choose the private option, the bus will stop in a quiet area with a scenic view. Lunch will be served by the guide and the driver.

Huaraz: 3-hour Trek to Laguna 69 with Optional Lunch

2. Huaraz: 3-hour Trek to Laguna 69 with Optional Lunch

Your day will start at 5:00 AM, when your group departs Huaraz to head north. A small stop will be made at 7:00 AM to buy breakfast and snacks for the road at Yungay.  Around 9:00 AM, you will approach the Cordillera Blanca and enter Huascarán National Park via Quebrada de Llanganuco. Here, you will make a quick photo stop at the lakes of Chinancocha and Orconcocha. You will arrive in Cebollapampa and start the 8 km hike to Laguna 69, located at 4620 meters above sea level. The famous Laguna 69 is one of 400 lagoons in the Huascarán National Park. It is known for being a glacial lagoon with intensely blue waters, framed by a snowy mountain range, from where waterfalls flow down to the base of the lagoon. You’ll stay at the lake for about 30 minutes, and use your time to take photos and enjoy the view, as well as to rest. If you choose the private option, you will eat your packed lunch next to the lake. Around 2:00 PM, start your descent back to Cebollapampa, and then return to Huaraz.

From Huaraz: Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range

3. From Huaraz: Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range

We will pick you up from the hotel to take the north path along the Callejón de Huayhuash, passing through small Andean towns and admiring the beautiful snow capes of the Cordillera Blanca. Arriving to the town of Yungay, we will take the northeast route, where the Valley of Llanganuco is located. After the registration to enter the Huascarán National Park, we will pass near amazing lakes as Chinancocha and Orconcocha, until reach Cebolla Pampa (3,900 meters above sea level) the walking starting point. The Huascaran National Park has been a natural protected area since 1975, also a Unesco World Natural Heritage Site and a Reserve of Biosphere. The national service of protected natural areas is in charge of managing this place with a total extension of 3,400 kilometer squares. We will hike on a flat area for about 1 hour, enjoying the pretty views of the Huascarán Mountain, the highest in the White Mountain Range. We will ascend in a switchback path until we reach a small lake, and there visualize the glacial peaks of Chacraraju, Yanapaccha, Huascarán, Chopicalqui, and the waterfalls in the valley. The Cordillera Blanca surround the Callejon de Huaylas in the east and in the west the Cordillera Negra is situated. The Callejon de Huaylas has a total extension of 150 kilometers and the River Santa goes along the valley depth. Finally, we will arrive at Lake 69 located at 4,600 meters above sea level. We will have a lot of time to take pictures, and delight ourselves with spectacular landscapes and appreciate the crystal clear turquoise waters of this nature jewel. Then, we will begin the descent along the same path, until we reach Cebolla Pampa again, where our transport is waiting for you to take you back to the city of Huaraz.

From Trujillo: Temple of the Moon and Sun and Chan Chan

4. From Trujillo: Temple of the Moon and Sun and Chan Chan

Your experience begins with pickup from your accommodation in Trujillo at around 10:00AM. From there, depart for Campiña de Moche, a 20-minute drive away. Once there, begin with the Huacas de Moche Museum, where you can appreciate archaeological remain exhibited in three rooms. Following that, proceed to Huaca de La Luna, a religious architectural complex made of adobe, where the image of their deity Aia Paec is displayed. On top of that, iconography of warriors, dancers, spiders, and snakes can also be spotted. From the highest level of the Huaca de la Luna, you can see the 43-meter-high Huaca del Sol, which is used for administrative purposes for research. Next, travel to a restaurant where you are gifted time to enjoy lunch. Following lunch at 2:45PM, begin your Chan Chan tour with a visit to Huaca Arco Iris. This site is in the district of Hope and is also known as the Huaca del Dragon; dedicated to the rainbow as a symbol of fertility. Later, travel to the Chan Chan Site Museum, where ceramics, textiles, metal works, and construction materials are exhibited. In the second room you can see the pre-Hispanic cultural development of the region, before you finish with the room in which the Chimú story is told through projections of lights and sound effects. At the conclusion of your day, return to the city of Trujillo at 6:00PM.

From Huaraz: Full-Day Hike to Pastoruri Glacier

5. From Huaraz: Full-Day Hike to Pastoruri Glacier

Between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM, you will depart from the vibrant city of Huaraz towards the astounding Pastoruri Glacier. On the way, your first stop will be at San Patricio Cave, followed by Parco, where you'll admire the majestic mountains of the Cordillera Blanca. The journey continues to the charming Laguna Pato Cocha, home to local wild ducks. Explore further, visiting the carbonated water source of Puma Pampa and the impressive Puyas Raymondi. Next, you'll head to the serene Laguna de Pumapashimin, from where you'll embark on an hour-long hike to reach the majestic Pastoruri Glacier, a crucial part of the climate change route. After marveling at this natural spectacle, descend and proceed to a tourist restaurant for a revitalizing lunch. Finally, you'll return to the city of Huaraz, concluding your tour filled with fascinating explorations and unforgettable landscapes.

Huaraz: Nevado Mateo Full-Day Climbing Excursion

6. Huaraz: Nevado Mateo Full-Day Climbing Excursion

Attend a briefing with a mountain guide he day before the trek. Then, start your day at 2:45 AM with pickup from your hotel in Huarez. Heading north, you will soon enter the Ulta Valley at Punta Olimpica, base of Nevado Mateo at 15,420 feet (4700 meters) above sea level. After a brief breakfast stop, start your hike to the summit of the mountain, passing through the moraine. Once at the summit at 16,896 feet (5150 meters), take in breathtaking views of the snowy peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. Nevado Mateo is a mountain of easy access, perfect for beginners. The summit of Mateo offers beautiful views over the highest Peruvian mountains, such as Huascaran, Chopicalqui, Ulta, Contrahierbas and others.

Chan chan and Huanchaco Shore Excursion from Salaverry Port

7. Chan chan and Huanchaco Shore Excursion from Salaverry Port

Today we explore north of Trujillo to visit the Huaca Dragon, also known as Huaca Arco Iris (Rainbow Pyramid), which belonged to the Chimu culture.This huaca is closed at moment by pandemia and it could be open soon.(ask if it already open ) We replace it by Chan Chan Site Museum which keep some artifacts found in chan chan excavations over 40 years. After This we continue to Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in America and then we drive to Huanchaco for some photos with ancients reed boats called : Caballitos de Totora

From Huaraz: Chavín de Huantar & Chavín Museum Day Trip

8. From Huaraz: Chavín de Huantar & Chavín Museum Day Trip

After an early morning pickup from your hotel, depart from Huaraz southeast of Callejón de Huaylas. Along the way, you'll travel via the intriguing cities of Recuay, Ticapampa, and Catac. Next, enter the National Park Huascarán and arrive at the Laguna de Querococha which is 3980 meters above sea level. Spend some much-needed break time here and take in the views. You'll have around 20 minutes to snap some photos and admire the scenery. Continue on to cross the Cordillera Blanca range through the Cahuish tunnel before entering the valley of Conchucos. Pass through Tambillos and the villages of Kercos, Machac, and the contemporary town of Chavín, located on the plush banks of the river Mosna. Enjoy lunch in Chavin, if the private option is selected, overlooking the unique landscape. Then, arrive at the Archaeological Monument of Chavín, called "Cultural Heritage of Humanity". This fascinating monument is the oldest stone structure in Peruvian culture. Finally, wander around the Chavin Museum, where your guide will take you through the many archaeological pieces on show. After your day of sightseeing, leave for Huaraz at around 3:00 PM in order to make it back by 07:30 PM.

Ancash: Route of the 69 Lagoon - trekking guide |Full day|

9. Ancash: Route of the 69 Lagoon - trekking guide |Full day|

Huaraz - Llanganuco Portachuelo - Laguna 69 hike The departure will be between 4:00 am heading north to the city of Yungay, from where we will take the detour and head east through a steep race to reach the Huascarán National Park. After more than 3 hours of driving we will arrive at the starting point of the trek (4 640 m), from here we get breathtaking views of Peru's highest mountains such as Huascarán (6,768m), Chopicalqui, Huandoy, Chacraraju and Pisco peaks. The first leg of our hike goes to a viewpoint near the Yanapacha glacier, where we get stunning and panoramic views of the high mountains around us. This is where we begin the first long descent through a path between rocks and then through a forest of Queñual trees to reach a glacial lake below Nevado Yanapaccha; from here we will continue descending to where we join the classic route to Laguna 69 at 4200 meters approx. altitude. Then we will ascend again for 3km, passing by a lagoon called Consuelo and some impressive waterfalls until we reach Laguna 69 at 4600 meters of altitude after approximately 1 and a half hours of ascent. Here you will have some time to relax, have lunch and take photos. The descent until reaching the vehicle will follow the classic path of Laguna 69 to Cebollapampa. Return to Huaraz.

From Huaraz: Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Day Tour

10. From Huaraz: Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Day Tour

We will pick you up from the hotel or meeting point located in the city of Huaraz, and then we will take the road to the south for 2 hours, until we reach the parking area of Pastoruri Glacier, located in the Huascaran National Park, declared as a World Natural Heritage in 1985. From here, we will begin a 1-hour hike until arrive to the nearest point of the glacier. Our professional guide will explain to us how this place has suffered a strong impact due to climate change, and how it generates a progressive decline of this famous snowy, and raise awareness of this serious phenomenon as a main goal. Also, this place had been used to practice skiing before, however, it is forbidden in order to preserve the glacier. After spending time in Pastoruri taking pictures and admiring the beautiful landscapes, we will back to our transport to go to the Valley of Carpa, where the Puyas Raimondi are located. These huge plants are part of the bromeliad family, and they can reach up to 39 ft. high and live up to 100 years. At the end, we will back to the meeting point located in the city of Huaraz to drop you off.

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