In this article we provide you with detailed information about Laguna 69, one of the most beautiful lagoons in the Huascarán National Park, nestled in the heart of the Cordillera Blanca.
This short hike allows you to get to know one of the most beautiful lagoons in the Cordillera Blanca. It is located at the foot of the imposing Pisco and Chacraraju snow-capped peaks. Its turquoise water and the beauty of the place make this short trek a highly recommended activity.
Lagoon 69 is located in the Yungay Province, Ancash department and belongs to the spectacular Cordillera Blanca mountain chain. It is one of the more than 400 lagoons that are part of the Huascarán National Park, considered a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and Natural Heritage of Humanity. The lagoon is fed by a waterfall that falls from the Nevado Chacraraju.
This beautiful lagoon has a height of 4,604 meters above sea level and is one of the most important tourist destinations in the region, visited mainly by fans of hiking and mountaineering, due to its easy access and spectacular landscapes that accompany this route.
Characteristics of Laguna 69
Color of its waters
Everyone who visits this lagoon wonders what the turquoise color of its waters is due to, basically the particular color is due to the minerals found inside the lagoon and its depth.
Origin of your name
Lagoon 69 is so called because, according to the inventory of the Huascarán National Park of high Andean lagoons, it is located in the sixty-ninth order of the more than 400 lagoons of glacial origin.
Temperature of its waters
According to the ecological niches, the location of lagoon 69 corresponds to the puna region, which ranges between 4,000 masl and 4,800 masl and for this reason the temperature of the waters of lagoon 69 is 5 ° C.
First option
Traveling from Lima to Huaraz overnight, it is an 8-hour trip to reach the capital of the department of Ancash: the city of Huaraz, which has a height of 3,100 meters above sea level and is the starting point for the trekking to lagoon 69 in one day. It is important that on the day of your arrival in the city of Huaraz you buy some coca leaves, rest, hydrate and eat well before starting your adventure.
The best option to get to know this destination is hiring a full day tour, do not be surprised by the tourist recruiters who are outside the travel agencies because they usually do not provide a guarantee service and you can end up scammed. Once you have these details ready, the tour you hire will start the next day when the tourist transport picks you up from your hotel between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Due to the enormous popularity and demand, the price to Laguna 69 is affordable and includes roundtrip tourist transportation service from Huaraz to Cebollapampa and vice versa, it also includes the certified walking guide for the tour, who will be responsible for the guidance, care of the physical condition of each tourist and management of the group throughout the walk. There are few tour operators that provide box lunch or picnic service for trekking, consider hiring one that provides this service to guarantee your well-being and safety during this unique experience.
Second option
It is to do the trekking on your own, it is not recommended because of how expensive and complicated it is to organize the trek. Your lack of experience can work against you: you can take more time than is needed for this activity at a higher cost and less security. However, we give you the details for your information:
From Huaraz take a combi for the Huaraz – Caraz route, there are departures from 3:00 am. Once you arrive in the city of Yungay, you can hire a private taxi service for the whole day or board another transport for the Yungay – Yanama route, but you must wait for the car to be filled with passengers to leave.
The return from Laguna 69 is complicated, due to the unavailability of return transportation, which will result in being offered this service for excessively high transportation payments. Therefore, the price of the tour to Laguna 69 may be too expensive for you.
Third option
The third option is to hire a private service, it is not usual but we recommend it in case you want to visit it with elderly people without experience, with the whole family or special occasions that you consider. Entry to Laguna 69 with children is prohibited, the minimum age is 16 years. The service includes a private walking guide, round trip private transportation at the time you need, constant assistance and a walking pace according to the physical condition of the tourists, food and personalized logistics. It will definitely be an unforgettable and unique experience as you have dreamed.
