GuardTrailsPeru · July
The classic
The Classic Cordillera Blanca Highlights
The stops adventure tour operators put in their flagship trips here — even if it strays a little from your request.
The quintessential Cordillera Blanca experience, featuring iconic high-altitude turquoise lagoons, majestic glaciers, and the ancient temple of Chavín de Huántar.
- Includes high-altitude hikes like Laguna 69 and Laguna Churup which exceed the moderate effort limit and require strenuous hiking due to steep elevation gain.
- days13
- bases8
- stages12
- nights12
- transfer days8
- stage to stage627 km
- at the wheel, day by day18 h 27
Who this itinerary is for
This itinerary suits a traveller looking for: a trip in July, days of walking, a day hike, kayak or canoe, a village stroll, a town walk (2 h), easy cycling, via ferrata and wildlife watching.
The area
the classic turquoise lagoons, high glaciers, and ancient temples of the Cordillera Blanca
The map
Loading the map…
The days at a glance
One line per day: where you sleep, what the day is, the road, and how its time is split.
| Day | Evening base | The day | Road | Time of the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | Evening base : Huaraz | TransferHuaraz Gateway & Urban Culture | Road 27 min | 11.6 h usable |
| Day2 | Evening base : Huaraz | Day on siteHuaraz Gateway & Urban Culture | — | 11.6 h usable |
| Day3 | Evening base : Chavin de Huantar | TransferChavín de Huántar Ancient Temple | Road 1 h 34 | 11.6 h usable |
| Day4 | Evening base : Catac | TransferGiant Puyas | Road 1 h 28 | 11.6 h usable |
| Day5 | Evening base : Catac | Day excursionHatun Machay Stone Forest | Road 1 h 59 | 11.6 h usable |
| Day6 | Evening base : Huaraz | TransferQuebrada Quilcayhuanca Glacial Valley | Road 2 h 05 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day7 | Evening base : Tarica | TransferHoncopampa Ruins & Waterfalls | Road 1 h 29 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day8 | Evening base : Tarica | Day excursionYungay Memorial & Valley History | Road 1 h 08 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day9 | Evening base : Yungay | TransferLlanganuco Turquoise Lagoons | Road 1 h 14 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day10 | Evening base : Huaraz | TransferLaguna 69 Alpine Trek | Road 1 h 47 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day11 | Evening base : Caraz | TransferLaguna Parón Deep Blue Waters | Road 2 h 30 | 11.7 h usable |
| Day12 | Evening base : Caraz | Day excursionCañón del Pato Dramatic Gorge | Road 1 h 07 | 8.0 h usable |
| Day13 | — | DepartureHuaraz, departure | Road 1 h 39 | 11.6 h usable |
- programme
- road
- free time
Good to know
What it leaves aside
Leaves out the remote Huayhuash circuit to focus on the accessible wonders of the Huascarán National Park.
Places it did not keep
Cordillera Huayhuash · Conchucos Valley Deep Villages
Getting there
Fly to Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani Airport (ATA), 27 min by road from the start.
Where you sleep
Huaraz offers a wide range of accommodations including hostels, guesthouses, and hotels, while the surrounding trails feature basic mountain refuges and designated camping areas; booking in advance is highly recommended during the peak trekking season.
Safety
Peru: advice against all but essential travel to some regions only (FCDO) — areas named: Within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border · Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM). Advice of 2026-11-06 · Official advice
Check before booking and before taking out insurance: the advice may have changed since.
Why this version, the cost in detail and the sources are on the method page. Read the method →
When, and for how long
How long?
- You ask for
- 15days
- The area needs, at least
- 13days
- Days kept
- 13days
Travelling in July.
The climate — July
- Daily high, 1 day in 4 is hotter
- 21 °C
- Daily high, 1 day in 20 is hotter
- 22 °C
- Unfavourable day
- 1%
- Windy day
- 0%
Rain, wind and temperature are measured over the 8 h in the middle of the day, on a historical baseline of 80 observations (Open-Meteo). It is a measuring window, not the length of your day: each day of the programme counts 11 h 40 of usable time.
The itinerary, day by day
12 stages over 13 days, in the order of the days. A stage appears on the day you first reach it: you sleep several nights at some, and a day trip leaves from your base and brings you back to it. Each day has its own page.
A trip requiring excellent fitness: D10 includes a walk of more than 6 h 30 in one go.
The usable window changes from one day to the next: each day gives its own. Room to breathe — we have not padded these days to fill them: the free time left is part of the trip.
- Day 1Huaraz Gateway & Urban Culture · night in Huaraz2 h planned · 27 min on the road · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
- Day 2AT BASEHuaraz Gateway & Urban Culture · night in Huaraz8 h planned · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
Stage 2 · Chavin de Huantar
Chavín de Huántar Ancient Temple
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 3Chavín de Huántar Ancient Temple · night in Chavin de Huantar6 h planned · 1 h 34 on the road · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
Stage 3 · Catac
Giant Puyas
We sleep at Hospedaje Las Delicias, 9.7 km away
2 nights · sleeping at Hospedaje Las Delicias, 26 km from Catac · climate cold
- Day 4Giant Puyas · night at Hospedaje Las Delicias, 26 km from Catac6 h planned · 1 h 28 on the road · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
- Day 5EXCURSIONfrom Hospedaje Las Delicias, 26 km from Catac → Hatun Machay Stone Forest5 h planned · 1 h 59 on the road · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
Stage 5 · Huaraz
Quebrada Quilcayhuanca Glacial Valley
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 6Quebrada Quilcayhuanca Glacial Valley · night in Huaraz6 h planned · 2 h 05 on the road · 11 h 42 usableSee the day →
- Day 7Honcopampa Ruins & Waterfalls · night in Tarica6 h 30 planned · 1 h 29 on the road · 11 h 42 usableSee the day →
Stage 7 · Yungay
Yungay Memorial & Valley History
Day trip from Tarica · no night here · climate favourable
- Day 8EXCURSIONfrom Tarica → Yungay Memorial & Valley History7 h planned · 1 h 08 on the road · 11 h 42 usableSee the day →
Stage 8 · Yungay
Llanganuco Turquoise Lagoons
We sleep at Llanganuco Lodge, 6.2 km away
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 9Llanganuco Turquoise Lagoons · night in Yungay7 h planned · 1 h 14 on the road · 11 h 42 usableSee the day →
Stage 9 · Huaraz
Laguna 69 Alpine Trek
We sleep at Hospedaje Illariy, 8.1 km away
1 night · sleeping at Hospedaje Illariy, 30 km from Huaraz · climate cold
- Day 10Requires excellent fitnessHarder than the effort you asked forLaguna 69 Alpine Trek · night at Hospedaje Illariy, 30 km from Huaraz7 h planned · 1 h 47 on the road · 11 h 42 usableSee the day →
Stage 10 · Caraz
Laguna Parón Deep Blue Waters
We sleep in Caraz, 16.6 km from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 11TRANSFERLaguna Parón Deep Blue Waters · night in Caraz5 h planned · 2 h 30 on the road · 11 h 42 usableSee the day →
- Day 12EXCURSIONfrom Caraz → Cañón del Pato Dramatic Gorge6 h planned · 1 h 07 on the road · 8 h usableSee the day →
- Day 13DEPARTUREHuaraz, departure · end of the trip2 h planned · 1 h 39 on the road · 11 h 36 usableSee the day →
What it costs, roughly
€832 to €1,314 per person
€64 to €101 per day
Based on: 4 people.
The cost estimate and the availability of accommodation, transport and activities are as of 4 November 2026: prices and availability change over time.
Where the money goes, and how this figure is obtained →To check
3 points to look at before booking.
D9Quota-limited access: book in advance — Yungay Memorial & Valley History → Llanganuco Turquoise Lagoons
quota to apply for ~1 days ahead — to arrange before you leave
D10Check opening times and crowds for this season — Laguna 69 Alpine Trek
Sudden afternoon snowstorms or heavy rain can make the high-altitude trail dangerous.
What the review flagged
Our automatic checks flag these points to verify before booking.
- Days 3, 4, 6, 9, 10 and 11: the programme review flags a point to check (bothersome).
The method
Why this version, what sets it apart from the others, the cost in detail, the interest of the places, the automatic review and the sources.
Read the method →