Laguna 69 sits at about 4,600 m (15,090 ft) below Chacraraju peak in Huascarán National Park, about 3 hours by road from Huaraz. The hike starts at Cebollapampa (about 3,900 m) and takes 5 to 7 hours round trip: 13 to 15 km with roughly 700 m of elevation gain. Since February 9, 2026, you can only visit with an agency that holds a contract with SERNANP, the park authority, and swimming in the lake is forbidden.
Can you hike Laguna 69 without a tour in 2026?
No. Since February 9, 2026, SERNANP only allows visits to Laguna 69 with agencies that hold a current tourism services contract with Huascarán National Park. You can no longer go on your own and buy a ticket at the control post: the agency handles each visitor's digital ticket (Gestión, Jan 27, 2026).
In February 2026, SERNANP signed 12 new contracts with operators from the Ancash region for the Laguna 69 and Nevado Pisco routes (El Peruano, Feb 25, 2026). The park does not publish the list of companies, so before you pay, ask the agency to confirm its current contract for this route.
The rule is new, but it builds on the park regulations, which since 2006 require trekking and climbing to go through a licensed tour operator that is responsible for visitor safety (RJ 196-2006-INRENA, art. 7.1).
How high is Laguna 69 and where is it?
The lake sits at about 4,600 m above sea level (English Wikipedia gives 4,600 m; the Spanish edition, 4,604 m). It lies in the Llanganuco valley inside Huascarán National Park, below the glacier of Chacraraju, a 6,112 m (20,050 ft) peak according to SERNANP. Nevado Pisco is also visible from the shore.
Huaraz sits at about 3,050 m (10,000 ft), so the lake is more than 1,500 m higher than town. That is why altitude, not terrain, is the hard part of this hike.
| Place | Approx. altitude | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Huaraz (starting point) | 3,050 m | Wikipedia |
| Chinancocha lake (Llanganuco) | 3,850 m | Wikipedia, citing Peru's tourism inventory |
| Cebollapampa (trailhead) | 3,900 m | published routes |
| Laguna 69 | 4,600 m | Wikipedia |
| Chacraraju (summit) | 6,112 m | SERNANP |
How do you get to Laguna 69 from Huaraz?
The official route published by SERNANP is Huaraz – Llanganuco control post – Chinancocha lake – Orconcocha lake – Yuraccorral – Cebollapampa – Laguna 69. The road runs north through the Callejón de Huaylas to Yungay and then climbs the Llanganuco valley, whose control post is 84 km from Huaraz: about 3 hours each way.
You register at the control post with your passport or ID. The road ends at Cebollapampa; from there it is all on foot, up and back on the same trail. With the drive, it is a 12 to 14 hour day: you leave Huaraz before dawn and return in the evening.
If you are short on time, book the Laguna 69 tour after a couple of nights in town. The Llanganuco tour uses the same road with very little walking.
How hard is the Laguna 69 hike?
It is hard because of the altitude, not the terrain. The trail is clear and marked: first a meadow with waterfalls, then switchbacks, steepest in the last section. The challenge is about 3 hours of climbing, from 3,900 m to 4,600 m.
We recommend at least two nights in Huaraz and a shorter hike first, such as Laguna Churup. On the way up, turn around if you get a strong headache, confusion, dizziness or shortness of breath at rest: the CDC says to descend immediately with those signs. The full plan is in our Huaraz acclimatization guide.
| Item | Approx. value |
|---|---|
| Round-trip distance | 13 to 15 km (8 to 9.3 mi) |
| Elevation gain | 700 to 750 m (2,300 to 2,460 ft) |
| Hike up (Cebollapampa → lake) | about 3 h |
| Hike down | 2 to 3 h |
| Total hiking time | 5 to 7 h |
| Drive from Huaraz | about 3 h each way |
| Highest point | about 4,600 m |
Ranges based on routes published by agencies and specialist blogs (Explorandes, among others); there is no official measurement. Your time depends on your pace, the group and the weather.
How much is the Laguna 69 entrance fee?
Foreign visitors pay the general rate of S/ 30 for a one-day ticket. Peruvian adults pay a special Laguna 69 rate of S/ 15 instead of the S/ 12 that applies elsewhere in the park (SERNANP, 2026).
| Visitor | 1 day | 2 to 3 days | 4 to 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| General rate (foreign visitors) | S/ 30 | S/ 60 | S/ 150 |
| Peruvian adults | S/ 15 | S/ 30 | S/ 75 |
| Peruvians aged 5 to 16 | S/ 8 | S/ 15 | S/ 35 |
| Local residents with Peruvian ID | S/ 8 | S/ 15 | S/ 35 |
| Children under 5 | free | free | free |
Fees as published on SERNANP's Huascarán National Park page, checked on October 27, 2026. Since the agency handles the digital ticket, ask when you book whether the tour price includes it or you pay it separately.
Can you swim in Laguna 69?
No. Swimming in the lake is forbidden and a sign on the shore says so, as the head of Huascarán National Park told the newspaper Expreso. The general park rules also apply: register at the control post, stay on the marked trail and pack out all your trash (SERNANP).
Best time to go and what to pack
SERNANP recommends visiting the park from May to October, in the dry season; the rainy season runs from October to April. Dry months bring more clear days to see Chacraraju. In the rainy season the tour still runs, but expect more clouds, and the trail can be muddy or snowy up high.
- Layers: thermal base layer, fleece and a waterproof jacket
- Warm hat, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen
- About 2 liters of water, a packed lunch and snacks
- Hiking shoes or boots with good grip
- Passport or ID for the control post
Want to compare it with other day hikes? See all our day tours from Huaraz.
FAQ
Can you hike Laguna 69 without a guide or on public transport?
Not since February 9, 2026. SERNANP only allows entry with agencies that hold a tourism services contract with Huascarán National Park, and the agency handles your digital ticket.
How long is the Laguna 69 hike?
13 to 15 km round trip from Cebollapampa, in 5 to 7 hours: about 3 hours up and 2 to 3 hours down. With the drive from Huaraz, the whole day takes 12 to 14 hours.
Is Laguna 69 harder than Laguna Churup?
It is longer and higher: Laguna 69 is at about 4,600 m and Laguna Churup at 4,450 m (14,600 ft), with a 6 to 8 km hike. Churup, however, ends with a rocky section with fixed ropes. Many hikers do Laguna Churup first as a test.
Can I hike Laguna 69 in December or January?
Yes. Those are rainy months, outside the May to October season that SERNANP recommends, but the hike still runs. Bring a waterproof jacket and pants, and expect clouds to hide the peak on some days.
Why is it called Laguna 69?
There is no official explanation. The most common version is that the name comes from a numbering of the lakes in the area made in 1975; another says it was number 69 in the order the lakes were recorded.
How many days should I acclimatize before Laguna 69?
We recommend at least two nights in Huaraz and a lower hike first. Peru's Ministry of Health considers the first 2 or 3 days above 2,500 m the normal adjustment period. See our Huaraz acclimatization guide.
Sources
- SERNANP · Parque Nacional Huascarán (rutas, tarifas, temporada)
- Gestión · Parque Nacional Huascarán: Laguna 69 y nevado Pisco con agencias (2026-01-27)
- El Peruano · SERNANP formaliza a 12 nuevos operadores turísticos (2026-02-25)
- Expreso · Laguna 69: prohibido bañarse (jefe del Parque Nacional Huascarán)
- RJ 196-2006-INRENA · Reglamento de Uso Turístico y Recreativo del PN Huascarán
- Wikipedia · Laguna 69
- Wikipedia · Lake 69
- Explorandes · Lake 69 trek
- CDC · Travel to High Altitudes
