Cordillera Blanca — Huaraz to Llanganuco & PastoruriLoop.

Distance

360 km

Duration

2 days

Climb

4,800 m

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Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

Cordillera Blanca — Huaraz to Llanganuco & Pastoruri Loop.

Two days exploring the world's most extensive tropical ice-covered mountain range. The Cordillera Blanca holds five 6,000m+ peaks within a 200km strip — including Huascaran (6,768m), Peru's highest. Day 1 climbs the Callejon de Huaylas valley to the impossibly turquoise Llanganuco lakes beneath Huascaran's walls. Day 2 traces the high-altitude Conococha plateau to the Pastoruri Glacier road at 5,200m. Best ridden May–September (dry season).

Quick facts

SurfacePaved

Distance360 km

Days2

Total climb4,800 m

Fuel stops1 along route

DifficultyChallenging

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Day-by-day

2 days, 2 moods.

A suggested split across 2 days with 12 waypoints to discover along the way.

DAY 01

Huaraz → Caraz

6 stops

HuarazStart · Start in Huaraz (3,052m) — the trekking capital of Peru. Fuel up before climbing the Callejon de Huaylas. Acclimatise overnight before this ride if arriving from Lima.

CarhuazScenic Point · Small market town on the valley floor. Coffee stop. Huascaran rises 4,000m above to the east — the view from the plaza is unreal.

Yungay MemorialScenic Point · The original Yungay was buried by an alluvion from Huascaran in 1970, killing 25,000. The Campo Santo memorial sits on the burial site. Sobering and essential context.

Llanganuco Lakes — ChinancochaPhoto Spot · The female lake — turquoise glacial water at 3,850m beneath Huascaran and Huandoy. Possibly the most photographed lake in the Andes.

Portachuelo de Llanganuco Pass (4,767m)Mountain Pass · The high pass east of the lakes — 28 hairpins climbing to a saddle between two giant peaks. Snow possible year-round. Thin air.

CarazOvernight · Overnight in Caraz (2,256m) — a friendly low-altitude town at the north end of the Callejon. Excellent recovery from the day's altitude. Famous for manjar blanco caramel.

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DAY 02

Huaraz return through valley → Huaraz

6 stops

Huaraz return through valleyScenic Point · Return south down the Callejon. The whole eastern wall of the Cordillera Blanca lines the horizon. Easy 70km cruise.

Catac fuel stopFuel Stop · Last reliable fuel before the Pastoruri high road. The branch road east leaves Catac for the glacier.

Pumapampa Wetlands & PuyasScenic Point · High puna at 4,200m. The strange Puya raimondii — the world's largest bromeliad, 12m tall — grows here. Vicunas common.

Pastoruri Glacier (5,200m)Mountain Pass · The road end at the glacier base. 30-min walk to the ice. Glacier is rapidly retreating — visit while it still exists. Severe altitude.

RecuayRestaurant · Lunch back on the valley floor — pachamanca (earth-oven roast) is the regional specialty.

HuarazEnd · Return to Huaraz completing the loop.