Cordillera Blanca
Travelers come for snow-capped peaks, glacier-fed lakes and multi-day treks based from Huaraz.
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The Cordillera Blanca is a range of snow-capped Andean peaks in the Ancash region of north-central Peru. Its highest summit, Huascarán, rises to 6,768 meters, the tallest mountain in Peru, and much of the range lies inside Huascarán National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Glacier-fed lakes such as Laguna 69 and the Llanganuco lakes draw day hikers, and Huaraz is the usual base.
Travelers come for day hikes, multi-day treks such as the Santa Cruz trek, and long views of the peaks. Huaraz sits at about 3,000 meters, so give yourself a day or two to adjust before you climb high. The dry season, June to September, has the clearest skies. Plan at least three or four days for a short trip, and a week or more if you want to trek. Carry cash in soles and check entry rules before you book.
Cordillera Blanca in five
- Acclimatize in Huaraz before the high trailsHuaraz sits near 3,000 meters, and the lake and pass routes climb well above 4,000. Spend a day or two there first, drink water and go slowly on the first climbs.
- Book lake and glacier trips with a guideLaguna 69 and the Llanganuco lakes are the usual day trips, and many visitors book transport through an agency in Huaraz. Ask what is included before you pay.Tours and tickets
- Carry soles in small notesMany small shops, village kiosks and rural buses take only cash. Break larger notes early, since change runs short outside the town.Money and costs
- Take the bus from LimaHuaraz is about 8 hours by road from Lima, and the bus is the usual way in for most visitors. Buy your seat at a company's terminal office and keep your bag with you.Getting around
- Pack a windproof layer and a brimmed hatNights at the lake camps and high trailheads drop below freezing, and the sun is strong at this altitude. Bring a warm layer and a hat with a brim.
Need to know
- Currency
- Sol (PEN)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; tourist card issued on arrival Read more
- Emergency
- 105 police, 116 fire, 106 ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected; 10% common in restaurants
- Time
- UTC-5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- JanuaryWet, green
- FebruaryWet, cloudy
- MarchWet, rivers high
- AprilRains easing
- MayDry starts
- JuneDry, clear skies
- JulyDry, busy
- AugustDry, busy
- SeptemberDry, clear
- OctoberShowers return
- NovemberRains start
- DecemberWet, rain
Right now in Cordillera Blanca
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 63%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Cordillera Blanca
03:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today22°4°100%Monday: Rain. High 22°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue21°7°83%Tuesday: Rain. High 21°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Wed21°5°53%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Thu21°7°31%Thursday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Fri19°7°63%Friday: Rain. High 19°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Sat19°6°70%Saturday: Rain. High 19°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 70%.
- Sun19°7°78%Sunday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 78%.
Updated 11:23 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.467 PEN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Llanganuco lakesabout 3 to 4 hours by roadTurquoise lakes below Huascarán and a common day trip from the valley.
- Yungayabout 1 to 1.5 hours by roadA town rebuilt after the 1970 earthquake, and the base road for the Llanganuco lakes.
- Chavín de Huántarabout 3 to 4 hours by roadA stone temple complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site that predates the Inca.
- Pastoruri glacierabout 3 to 4 hours by roadA glacier reached by road, with a short walk at high altitude.
Before you go to Cordillera Blanca
Rules for Cordillera Blanca, checked
- Many nationalities enter Peru visa-free, and you receive a tourist card on arrival. Check entry rules on the Migraciones site before you book.Source
- Pre-Hispanic archaeological objects may not leave Peru, so do not buy or carry them. Check the rules with the Ministry of Culture.Source
- Huascarán National Park is run by SERNANP, so check its entry and trekking rules before you go.Source
Plan around Cordillera Blanca
Regions, entry rules and transport for a Peru trip
Read the guideGetting aroundBuses from Lima and local transport in the valleys
Read the guideMoney and costsSoles, cards and typical prices for the trip
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules and the tourist card for Peru
Read the guideTours and ticketsGuided lake and glacier trips from Huaraz
Read the guideWhere to stayHotels and guesthouses for the valley trip
Read the guideCordillera Blanca FAQ
How high is Huaraz, and do I need to acclimatize?
Huaraz sits at about 3,000 meters, so the altitude can be noticeable on the first day. Spend a day or two there before the high trails, drink water and climb slowly. Stop and descend if a headache or nausea starts.
What is the best time to visit the Cordillera Blanca?
June to September is the dry season, with the clearest skies. The wet season from December to March brings rain and cloud, and some trails become muddy.
How do you get to Huaraz from Lima?
The usual way is a bus from Lima, about 8 hours by road. Buy the ticket from a company's terminal office and check the departure time the day before.
How many days do you need in Huaraz?
Plan at least three to four days to acclimatize and see one lake or glacier trip. Add more days if you want a full trek in the high valleys.
Do you need a guide for Laguna 69?
A guide or agency makes the first trip simpler, since transport and timing are arranged for you. Independent hikers reach the lake on foot, so ask about the route and conditions locally before setting out.