Peru

The most beautiful places in the Cordillera Blanca

The best of the Cordillera Blanca

Petr Liška
Wrote 2496 articles and follows him / her 250 travelers
The most beautiful places in the Cordillera Blanca
Inserted: 27.09.2022
Author: Petr Liška © gigaplaces.com
Suitable for:
Climbers
Hikers

The Cordillera Blanca is considered one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Perú. A large part of it then falls into the Huascarán National Park. Here you will find not only beautiful high mountain treks, but of course a number of wonderful places in the form of lagoons, glaciers and impressive mountains. Let's take a look at the places that are definitely worth seeing.

1.
Alpamayo

The most beautiful mountain in Peru

Rating:
| Altitude: 5 947 m / 19 511 ft

Because Alpamayo looks like an impossibly beautiful glacier pyramid, it is ranked among one of the most beautiful mountains not only in Peru, but all over the world. Trekking routes lead both from the south (commercial) and northern (more adventurous) side of the mountain, so you can see it from virtually all sides. continue reading

2.
Pastoruri Glacier

Where the adventure starts in Glaciers of Peru

Rating:
| Altitude: 5 019 m / 16 467 ft

Located in the south part of the Cordillera Blanca, its one of the glaciers left in the tropical areas of South America; the glacier is around 8 square kms in size, and around 4km long with a terrestrial snow ending, the glacier is retreating quickly, it has lost 22% of its size and 15.5% on its ice mass in the last 30 years. The glacier occupies an Andean peak around 5250m asl and so has steep, cliff like edges, with heavily crevassed areas characteristic of a chirque glacier. continue reading

3.
Cullicocha Lagoon

Beautiful lake below Santa Cruz Massif

Rating:
| Altitude: 4 620 m / 15 157 ft

On a trek around the beautiful Alpamayo Mountain you will find a number of beautiful lakes. One of the most beautiful is the Laguna Cullicocha (4 620 m above sea level). Right next to her is a camp, so you can enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets continue reading

4.
Huascarán Sur

The highest mountain in Peru

Rating:
| Altitude: 6 746 m / 22 133 ft

The mighty Huascaran massif consists of only two peaks separated by the broad pass. The higher Huascaran Sur (6 746 m asl) is the highest mountain in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range and the entire country of Peru. A slightly smaller Huascaran Norte (6 655 m asl) is the second highest. Huascaran is beautifully visible from miles around, because it rises directly above the main valley of rio Santa.                                                                                                                                       continue reading

5.
Laguna Cancaracá

A famous road pass in the Cordillera Blanca

Altitude: 4 920 m / 16 142 ft

The road descends in an easterly direction through 16 bends to the turquoise lagoon of Cancaracá. Unfortunately, it is largely covered by a rock ridge when viewed from the saddle. continue reading

6.
Panorama of Safuna Alta lagoon

Lagoons under the Pucajirca massif

Altitude: 4 344 m / 14 252 ft

However, when walking along the edge of the moraine, be very careful not to slip into the lagoon, as the slopes are steep and rocky. The views are always great. continue reading

7.
Paron Lake

The most wonderful lakes in the Cordillera Blanca

Rating:
| Altitude: 4 193 m / 13 757 ft

Lake Paron 4200m asl is the largest lake in the Cordillera Blanca, on the Peruvian Andes, 32km east from the city Caraz. Its nested and surrounded by several snow peaks specially by Pyramid 5885masl from where the Paramount picture company logo was taken. Paron lake formed as a natural reservoir has a catchment area of 44.3km2, it is 3.7km long from east to west and average of 7000m width from north to south, the original depth was about 75m, but today the level was lowered 15m … continue reading

8.
Nevado Santa Cruz

Monumental mountain

Rating:
| Altitude: 6 241 m / 20 476 ft

Nevado Santa Cruz is a very beautiful mountain, which will surely captivate you already at first glance. It is the highest peak of the entire massif and one of the highest mountains of Cordillera Blanca. It dominates the entire walk to the lagoon Yuraccocha. continue reading

9.
Yuraccocha Lagoon

Lagoon below the massif of Santa Cruz

Rating:
| Altitude: 4 640 m / 15 223 ft

Lagoon Yuraccocha (4 640 m asl) is one of the less frequently visited lagoons because it does not lie directly on the route of Alpamayo trek. It is certainly worth seeing mainly thanks to the beautiful mountain scenery of the three top massif of Nevado Santa Cruz, which rises directly over the lagoon. continue reading

10.
The valley of the Rio Pumapampa

Site of occurrence of Puya Raymondi

Altitude: 4 301 m / 14 111 ft

On the way to the famous Pastoruri glacier, you will drive through the interesting valley of the Rio Pumapampa, where giant bromeliads Puya Raymondi are found. Towards the end of its life, the plant grows into a flower over 10 meters high. He then dies. continue reading

11.
Yanayacu lagoon

Lake overlooking Nevado Chopicalqui

Rating:
| Altitude: 4 523 m / 14 839 ft

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on the Punta Yanayacu Pass trek is the Yanayacu Lagoon. On its surface, the peak of Nevado Chopicalqui is mirrored continue reading

12.
Chavin de Huantar

The most important ancient monument in the Cordillera Blanca

Altitude: 3 175 m / 10 417 ft

Chavin de Huantar was the seat of the pre-Inca Chavin culture. The main part of the entire archaeological area is the central pyramid. The Chavin pyramids were not pointed, as we know them from Egypt, but with a flat top. You will also find a nice museum in the area. continue reading

13.
Laguna Querococha

Lagoon on the way to Chavin

After another ten kilometers, you will come to the beautiful Querococha lake (4,002m above sea level), where you can simply enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains or take a boat ride. Sometimes you will come across llamas here. At the lake, two valleys join – one leads to the pass and on to Chavin, and the other leads to mountain ridges and other small lagoons in a completely deserted landscape. continue reading

14.
Viewpoint of Al Mirador de Rataquenua

View over Huaraz

Rating:
| Altitude: 3 309 m / 10 856 ft

Huaraz also has his prospect with a cross. On the hill above the town you will find Al Mirador de Rataquenua (3,320 m above sea level) from where there is a beautiful view of the nearby glaciated giants. The ascent to the lookout is probably the only short walk you can take directly from Huaraz continue reading

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