Kraig Adams
The film of Laguna 69 Watch the film

347K views on YouTube. This guide is that trip, day by day.

Cordillera Blanca, Peru · 2 days or 1 · 14.3 miles · Peru

Laguna 69 Hiking Guide

In June 2021 I hiked to Laguna 69 in Peru's Cordillera Blanca. After a few days in Huaraz getting used to the altitude, I walked up the Llanganuco valley to Refugio Perú, slept at the stone hut at about 15,320 ft, and crossed a high shoulder the next morning to come down to the lake from above. It's the trip from my film Hiking to Laguna 69 in Peru. Since 2026 Laguna 69 is visited only through an agency authorized by the park, so this guide tells my trip and how to do it now, as a day hike or the same two-day loop: my GPX files, maps and notes for both days, the 2026 rules and tickets, getting to Huaraz, acclimatizing, Refugio Perú, costs, altitude and safety, and a trip sheet.

Days
2 days or 1
Distance
14.3 miles
Climbing
About 4,140 ft (1,260 m) up
Route
The road above Chinancocha to the Cebollapampa trailhead

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$19

Instant download: PDF + GPX files.
Not useful? Email me within 30 days for a refund.

Free updates. 2027 season edition, updated October 2026. When I update the guide, your download link gets the new version.

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The cover of the Laguna 69 Hiking Guide

What's inside

The route

My GPS recording of 2 days, simplified. The numbers are where each day starts; the dot is the finish. The full GPX files and the maps come with the guide.

122 km (1.2 mi)N

Elevation, start to finish: highest 15,910 ft (4,848 m), lowest 12,560 ft (3,827 m).

Look inside

At a glance page from the Laguna 69 Hiking Guide
At a glance
A day page page from the Laguna 69 Hiking Guide
A day page
A day map and elevation profile page from the Laguna 69 Hiking Guide
A day map and elevation profile
Is it open? (October 2026) page from the Laguna 69 Hiking Guide
Is it open? (October 2026)

The details

Format
A 40-page PDF sized for a phone (A5, prints fine too) and a folder of GPX files, in one zip download.
Edition
2027 season edition, updated October 2026.
Delivery
Instant. After you pay you get a private download link. Bookmark it to download again on any device.
Payment
Secure checkout through Stripe, in your own currency. Tax is included in the price, except in the US and Canada, where any sales tax is added at checkout.
Refunds
Not useful? Email me within 30 days for a refund: kraig@kraigadams.com.
Questions
Email kraig@kraigadams.com.

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$19

Questions

Can you hike Laguna 69 without a tour in 2026?
Not on your own. Since February 9, 2026, Huascarán National Park only lets visitors into Laguna 69 and the Nevado Pisco circuit through travel agencies with a SERNANP contract, which buy the digital tickets. A day tour from Huaraz is the simplest way to go.
How much does it cost to visit Laguna 69?
In 2026 a day tour from Huaraz is about S/50 to 80 (about $15 to $23), and foreigners pay the S/30 park ticket on top (S/60 for a 2 to 3 day visit). A two-day trip with a night at Refugio Perú runs about $175 to $520 a person through an agency, depending on group size.
How long is the Laguna 69 hike?
By my GPS the trail from the Cebollapampa trailhead to the lake is 4.2 miles (6.7 km) each way, about 8.3 miles round trip with about 2,300 ft of climbing, to about 15,090 ft (4,600 m). Most people take about 3 hours up and 2 down.
How high is Laguna 69 and do I need to acclimatize?
The lake is at about 15,090 ft (4,600 m), about 5,100 ft above Huaraz. Spend at least two or three nights in Huaraz first, with an acclimatization hike such as Laguna Wilcacocha or Laguna Churup.
Can you stay overnight near Laguna 69?
Yes, at Refugio Perú, a staffed hut at about 15,320 ft below Nevado Pisco, open May 1 to September 30. In 2026 a night with dinner and breakfast was S/212 with tax. You can't camp at the lake, and since 2026 the hut route also goes through an authorized agency.
When is the best time to hike Laguna 69?
The dry season, May to September, with June to August almost rainless. The rains run from October to April. Start early: clouds build in the afternoon.
Can you swim in Laguna 69?
No. Swimming is banned and there's a sign at the lake; in 2026 a visitor who swam faced a fine of up to S/55,000. Drones need a SERNANP permit and dogs aren't allowed.

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