The hike to Laguna Wilcacocha is a perfect way to get used to the altitude if you are staying in the Peruvian city of Huaraz. This is what the hike looks like.
Hiking in Huaraz
Located at an altitude of 3052 meters, the Peruvian city of Huaraz is the ideal base for hiking in the Andes. To get used to the altitude, it is best to do some short hikes to acclimatize and one of these is the hike to Laguna Wilcacocha, a beautiful mountain lake.
Laguna Wilcacocha is located just outside Huaraz, near Puenta Santa Cruz. This hamlet is at 3160 meters and the lake itself is at 3725 meters. The hike is 3.3 kilometers one way, so you’ll ascend just under 600 meters. That doesn’t seem like much, but at such an altitude it’s pretty tough. Since many hiking trails in the region go to even higher elevations, this is a perfect hike to start with. Then you can discover how your body deals with the altitude.
The hike to Laguna Wilcacocha
Would you like to do the hike to Laguna Wilcacocha? Below I describe how to get to the starting point, what the hike looks like, and how I experienced it.
From Huaraz to the start of the hike
To get here, it is best to take a collectivo (a small van that is filled to capacity until no one else can get on). There are two different ones you can take: bus E or bus 10. They stop at the corner of Av. Raymondi and Jr Hualcan in Huaraz.
The ride costs 2 or 2.50 sol and if you tell them right away that you need to be at Puenta Santa Cruz or Laguna Wilcacocha, they will let you know where to get out. A ride takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
Start of the walk
When you get off the bus you see a bridge. You cross the beautiful Rio Santa River and follow the road until you see the path on the left. It immediately goes up steeply, but take it easy because it’s tough at this altitude (you’ll be out of breath in no time). The smaller your steps are, the easier it goes.
Santa Cruz Village
After about 45 minutes you’ll reach the little village of Santa Cruz. Here the roads split and it doesn’t matter much whether you go left or right. As long as you go up. You will also meet some locals around the village. It’s fun to strike up a conversation with them, although chances are you won’t understand anything. They speak Quechua here and not Spanish.
Don’t forget to look back from time to time, as the views are quite spectacular.
After about an hour and fifteen minutes you will reach a staircase and at the top is Laguna Wilcacocha. The staircase is one of the toughest points of the hike because when you get there you are at an altitude of 3,700 meters.
Laguna Wilcacocha
Yes, you are there! After a tough hike where you climb almost 600 meters, you have a great place to relax for a bit.
The views are incredibly beautiful. You can see many snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca and you can also see Huaraz.
The lake is not very big, so if you feel like it, you can also walk around the lake. This will take about fifteen to twenty minutes.
Then it is time to walk back again. This is via the same path as the way there. The advantage is that now you can enjoy the surroundings more (and take better pictures). You will also notice that the more you descend, the more oxygen you get.
My experience
I hiked this trail in July 2018. I had arrived in Huaraz two days earlier and after a day of doing nothing (aka acclimatizing), I felt well enough to do a short hike. Together with two people from my hostel, I set out and I was very happy not to be alone.
The hike was much harder than I had expected. I (fortunately) had no symptoms of altitude sickness (you really have to be careful with that in Peru!), but I did notice that I ran out of breath faster with every step. So I took it easy and, thanks to the encouragement of my hostel mates, I made it to the top. This felt like a victory moment, as this was my very first hike at altitude.
After this, it went a lot better and I was really glad I did this hike first to get used to the altitude. It has the perfect length in that respect, not too long and not too short.
Practical
Huaraz is a true hiking paradise and a great first stop during a one-month backpacking trip in Northern Peru. This hike to Laguna Wilcacocha is a perfect hike to start with if you plan to do longer treks at high altitude.
A brief summary of the walk:
- Distance: 6.6 kilometers (round trip)
Ascent: 585 meters
Time: about 2 hours of ascent to get to Laguna Wilcacocha and 1 hour to walk back.
Even though it is not very hot, you might get a sun burn at this altitude as you are closer to the sun. So cover up and be sure to wear a hat or cap.
By the way, at the lake, there are some animals walking around, mostly dogs. In my experience they were not aggressive, they usually sat quietly next to us.
I slept in Huaraz at Hostel Akilpo (which unfortunately no longer exists). The owners know all about the hikes in the area and I was even given a map of the hike to Laguna Wilcacocha. It definitely pays to ask at your accommodation for information about short hikes in the area.
Book a trip to Peru
These were my tips for hiking to Laguna Wilcacocha. Do you enjoy hiking near Huaraz during a tour of Peru? Use the websites below to book your trip.
✈️ Plane tickets – Lima has a major international airport. Check Skyscanner to find the best deals on plane tickets. From Lima, you can take a bus to Huaraz, this takes about 8 hours.
🚍 Bus tickets – To get from A to B in Peru it is best to use long-distance buses. These are very comfortable and often include a meal. I often booked first class (which was not very expensive at all) and the seats were amazing! This is especially a good idea when traveling on night buses. You can book bus tickets via Busbud.
🚘 Rental Car – You can also discover Peru with a rental car. Then you are flexible and can stop wherever you want. Check Discover Cars to find the best deals.
📱E-SIM – Do you prefer having cell service during your trip? Get an e-SIM via Airalo, so you can use mobile internet to navigate and keep in touch with family and friends.
💊 Travel insurance – Don’t forget your travel insurance, as it will give you peace of mind during your trip. Check out Insubuy to find the travel insurance that fits your needs.
🧗🏼 Tours & activities – There are many fun day tours and adventurous activities to do in Peru. Check Viator and Get Your Guide for all the options.
Read more about Peru
Want to read more about the most beautiful places in Peru? Then order one of these fine travel guides.
I myself traveled around beautiful Peru for a month and it was an unforgettable trip! That is why you can read more about Peru on this website. Check out one of these articles:
- The perfect 1 month Peru itinerary
- Hiking the Inca Trail: everything you need to know
- Peru packing list: must haves for your trip
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This article was published in January 2019. Last update: September 2024.
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