How fit do I need to be?

Reasonably fit with good acclimatisation. The trek starts with a steep climb to Laguna 69, crosses the Punta Unión pass with a long descent, and — on the 4-day option — finishes with a long day of up to 8 hours.

Laguna 69 is one of the most famous and brilliantly blue alpine lakes in the Cordillera Blanca, ringed by Chacraraju and Pisco, with views towards Huascarán and Chopicalqui on the return.

Expedition Dossier

Laguna 69 & Santa Cruz Trek — 4 or 5 Days

Q: What is the difference between the 4 and 5 day versions?

The 5-day version splits the long final day into two shorter, easier days, hiking via Alpamayo Base Camp to camp at Llamacorral before descending to Cashapampa.

This trek combines the famous Santa Cruz circuit with a hike to the pristine, brilliantly blue alpine lake of Laguna 69 — some of the most amazing scenery in the Cordillera Blanca, condensed into a short four or five days.

Expect snow-covered mountains, vertical rock walls, turquoise lakes and the challenging Punta Unión pass (4750m), with the chance to meet local villagers and see their traditional farming along the way.

Duration

4 or 5 Days trekking

Grade

Medium to Hard

Highest Point

4750m

Huascarán National Park · Cordillera Blanca

Laguna 69 and the Punta Unión pass

Grade: Medium to Hard
Duration: 4 or 5 days
Highest point: Punta Unión 4750m
Highlight: the brilliant-blue Laguna 69 (4500m)
Above 4000m for much of the route

It is graded medium to hard: the trek opens with a steep zig-zag climb to Laguna 69 on the first day, then crosses the Punta Unión pass with a long descent. The altitude makes it harder than a comparable lower trek, so good acclimatisation, some hill-walking experience and the ability to hike a 6 to 7 hour day are needed.

Expedition Logistics

Essential Trekking Notes & Rules

Grading

We grade the trek medium to hard: it starts with a steep climb to Laguna 69 (4500m), then a 2½ to 3 hour climb to the Punta Unión pass (4750m) and a long descent. The 4-day option has a long final day of up to 8 hours. You need good acclimatisation, reasonable fitness, some hill-walking experience and to manage a 6 to 7 hour day.

4 or 5 Day Option

The 5-day version splits the long final day of the 4-day trek into two shorter, easier days, hiking via Alpamayo Base Camp to camp at Llamacorral before the final descent to Cashapampa.

Special Interest — Supporting Local Communities

Starting from Vaquería gives work to donkey drivers from the villages of Colcabamba and Vaquería, who by local rules may only work on treks beginning there. This income is vital to these families and helps them educate their children.

Access Roads

Access roads to and from the trek are generally unpaved mountain roads and can be bumpy, so road travel times are slower than the distance suggests.

Route Progression

High Altitude Tactical Itinerary

Review the route day by day: altitudes, distances and acclimatisation.

Technical Timeline // Day 01

Drive to the Llanganuco lakes, hike to Laguna 69 and camp at Yurakcoral

Distance

Time Window

about 6 hours round trip

Max Altitude

4500m

Delta Profile

A 2½ hour drive from Huaraz past the Llanganuco lakes to Cebollapampa (3850m). We follow the valley, then climb a continuous zig-zag for about 2 hours 40 minutes to the brilliant-blue Laguna 69 (4500m), ringed by Chacraraju and Pisco. We return the same way and walk on to camp at Yurakcoral (3850m).

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