Cordillera Blanca hiking: Quebrada and Laguna Llaca

Cordillera Blanca hiking: Quebrada Llaca to the Laguna Llaca.

Huascaran National Park, Huaraz (Ancash), Peru
Cordillera Blanca, Andes.

September 2022

Link to the Alltrails itinerary:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/rec...

Itinerary:
Quebrada Llaca road junction to the Laguna Llaca.
Approx. 11 mi out and back, 2,650 ft elevation gain. Max elevation: 4,474 m, 14,678 ft.


Hike / Trek Notes:
This was our first hike of our hiking vacation to the Cordillera Blanca region (Huaraz, Peru). It was a so called "altitude acclimatization" hike in preparation to more challenging hiking and backpacking in the following days. We reached Huaraz two nights before, we rested a day in town, then we went for this hike.
Although a bit longer than we anticipated, it was a perfect first hike requiring relatively moderate effort for a great scenery reward. Both the Quebrada (high valley / gully) and the Laguna Llaca are truly beautiful. The Ranrapalca and Ocshapalca Nevados offer a stunning backdrop to the Laguna. In my opinion, compared to other more popular "Lagunas day hikes" in the area the Laguna Llaca trek has the added bonus that it is not far from Huaraz (less than one hour drive) and it is normally not as crowded.
There is a road leading up to the Refugio Llaca nearby the Laguna. To make our first hike easier we mostly hiked the road up, with a few shortcuts; then we hiked back on the trail that goes through the Quebrada along the creek. The perfect start for our Cordillera Blanca hiking experience.

Music:
Life on the Shore by David Celeste
Licensed by Epidemic Sound.