Pastoruri Glacier: Best Day Trip from Huaraz, Peru
A popular day trip from Huaraz to Pastoruri Glacier in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru, takes you into the mountains - the glacier lies more than 5000 meters above sea level! Here's our Pastoruri Glacier travel guide, including tips on how to get there (with a tour), hike description, altitude tips, what to pack, and what you can expect to see.
It is only a matter of time for how long travelers will be able to visit Pastoruri Glacier in Peru.
Well, we usually do not start our travel guides in such a gloomy tone, but unfortunately, we feel there's no other way around it, and it just feels appropriate here.
Pastoruri Glacier, one of the few glaciers left in South America's tropical areas, is retreating quickly.
So quickly, that technically it is not even glacier in the right sense of meaning anymore as Pastoruri is no longer building up ice in the winter but is constantly losing its volume instead.
Forecasts say that it will be possible to visit remains of what once was a large glacier only for another decade or so - another reason why not to postpone your trip.
On the other (bright) side, the glacier is still enormous, and it is definitely worth your attention.
Frankly, we had no idea this glacier even existed before our trip to Huaraz, Peru's hiking capital. It is the city where it is possible to take multiple day trips to explore the beautiful surroundings.
You've surely already heard of places such as Laguna 69, Laguna Paron, or even Laguna Churup.
Well, Pastoruri Glacier is a new addition to must-visit places in the Cordillera Blanca.
It is still a bit off the beaten path natural attraction, but if you have one day to spare (as we had before the overnight bus to Lima), this trip is a must as Pastoruri Glacier is beyond exceptional, and we do not say it only because our senses were blurred because of the altitude.
Pastoruri Glacier sits more than 5000 meters above sea level in Huascaran National Park, so it is also a reason why you should wait with the visit until you're well-acclimatized, but more about it later.
If you're still wondering whether it is worth it to include Pastoruri Glacier in your Peru itinerary, keep reading.
In this travel guide, we share with you everything you need to know.
From how to get there, how much things cost, or what are other must-visit sights along the way except for the glacier, we've got you covered.
PASTORURI GLACIER FACTS
5250 meters, this is the exact altitude where you can find Pastoruri Glacier.
Although it is necessary to walk to the glacier's face for about 40 minutes, the park's winding road will take you quite high. It is actually one of the highest paved roads in the world.
Therefore, Pastoruri Glacier is one of the natural attractions that can be visited quite easily despite the altitude.
Hadn't it been for the thin air, we would have even said this trip is effortless, and travelers receive so much in exchange for undergoing quite a tiring journey on the bus.
ENTRANCE FEE
Pastoruri Glacier is located in Huascaran National Park, and the entrance fee costs S/.30.
Always make sure whether the ticket is included in your tour or not to avoid unpleasant surprises.
If you plan on hiking more extensively in Huascaran National Park, consider purchasing a multi-day pass.
Two to three-day pass costs S/60, or you can buy a ticket for the entire month for S/150.
HOW TO GET TO PASTORURI GLACIER FROM HUARAZ
Getting to Pastoruri Glacier is pretty straightforward, although we must disappoint all travelers who like to get around places independently.
Despite the fact that visiting places independently is our signature travel style, this time, we had to admit that it makes sense to take a tour for many reasons.
At the moment, there is no public transport to the part of Huascaran National Park where the glacier is located, so your only option is to take a private taxi or a tour, but traveling in a group with a travel agency is the most common (and also the cheapest) way how to visit Pastoruri Glacier.
There is a countless number of tour operators in Huaraz who operate one-day trips to Pastoruri Glacier.
It is hard to tell which one is better, but we think the service and sites you will see along the way are the same no matter which company you will choose.
Prices vary, but you should pay around S/30 (the company charged us S/25 per person because it was last minute booking and two of us).
If you want to arrange your travels before you arrive in Huaraz, it is possible to book your Pastoruri Glacier Tour in advance.
When the rate is cheap, do not expect that the food (lunch in the restaurant) and entrance fee to the national park is included.
PASTORURI GLACIER TOUR
Pastoruri Glacier tours are standardized as there's not much a tour operator could do differently. Here's how our day looked like and what you can expect from this day-trip from Huaraz.
You will depart from the parking lot where most of the travel agencies are situated, or you will be picked up at your hotel.
Usually, when you buy a tour in person, expect you will have to show up in front of the agency at the agreed time. Tours that are booked online usually offer hotel pick up.
All tours start at 9 AM which we found a bit late when we consider the best chance to have nice weather in the mountains (especially in shoulder season when we traveled) is in the morning and also when we take into account that it would be a miracle if we would have started on time (our bus left the parking lot an hour late when one of us was already nervous and grumpy).
The arrival back to Huaraz is around 6 PM so expect to spend the literally whole day on the road.
Our guide did not speak English at all, but we did not find it troublesome as the main reason for us to take the tour was lack of public transport - simply, we just needed a ride. Actually, this happens a lot on cheap tours, and it is one of the things you should know about Peru before you go.
There are a few noteworthy stops along the way, while there are two annoying (but compulsory) ones.
The first useless stop is about 30 minutes drive from Huaraz in a restaurant, where you can buy coca tea to keep yourself warm and try to prevent altitude sickness (S/2), you can have here your breakfast and also order your lunch/dinner because the bus stops here on the way back again. It is not obligatory to purchase anything, though.
We found the second stop on the way back even more annoying because we were cold, only a half an hour from our hotel, and we had to wait for a couple of people who decided to eat an overpriced traditional Peruvian food (understand regular chicken with rice).
This is the downside of those organized tours, but we enjoyed our visit to Pastoruri Glacier very much despite these little flaws.
Be prepared to spend a lot of time on a bus, though.
Before we reached the parking lot near Pastoruri Glacier, we made several stops to enjoy the Huascaran National Park's diverse nature.
Here's what we saw alias the best things you can expect that will be on your Pastoruri Glacier itinerary.
PUYA RAIMONDI PLANTS
Shortly after we drove through the national park checkpoint, we noticed large plants growing scattered on the surrounding hills' slopes.
The plant is called Puya Raimondi, also nicknamed the queen of the Andes.
The plant belongs to the Bromeliaceae family (and it is relative to pineapple), can be up to 15 meters high, and can be found in the high Andes in Peru or Bolivia.
It is pretty impressive to stand next to those giant plants.
PATOCOCHA LAKE
Just before the national park entrance lies Patococha lake, which offers nice reflections (if it's not windy) and is also known for its birdlife, the lake is sometimes nicknamed Duck Lake because of a large community of ducks who made this lake their home.
In reality, Patococha lake is a quick stop on your Pastoruri Glacier tour.
PUMAPAMPA
Pumapampa is a large plain with high mountains on the horizon, but the tour stops here because of a small colorful pond with bubbling mineral spring - this small lake is also known as 7 Color Lake.
We did not find the pond that interesting, but the combination of the water, grasslands, and towering mountains behind were well-worth it.
Here we found traveling with the group the most unpleasant as the tour guide was rushing us through the area (this place is also where the giant plants grow) despite the fact he was able to depart one hour late from Huaraz - sometimes logic in some South American countries is frustrating.
PASTORURI GLACIER HIKE
Now finally, the spot you've traveled all the way for. Be ready that the visit to Pastoruri Glacier is breathtaking in all senses of the term.
We stopped at the parking lot at 4800 meters above sea level and started our hike. The guide does not go with you so that you can set your own pace.
You don't need to walk with other travelers from your group too - there is only a certain time when you should be back in the car park.
The path that leads to the glacier is well-maintained and easy to follow, so you should not have any trouble getting to the glacier in 40 minutes (30 minutes should do for average fit hikers).
The weather at this place can change rapidly - we had the last rays of sunshine, a thunderstorm (actually a pretty scary experience in 5000 meters), rain, snow, and clear skies, all of that in less than an hour.
Don't forget to take at least a rain poncho and leave some dry clothes on the bus to change later.
When you reach the glacier, there is one viewpoint, but we found a better spot on the glacier lake bank, which was impressive enough.
It is no longer permitted to walk on the glacier because of the massive melting, so stay safe and walk only in designated areas.
Pastoruri Glacier is really impressive, so take your time and as many photos as you can - the combination of the altitude and such a beautiful place is really exceptional even for Huascaran National Park that has so much to offer.
The whole trip from the parking lot to the glacier and back should take you about two hours, so it is pretty clear that the faster you walk, the longer time you can spend near this white giant.
WHERE TO STAY IN HUARAZ
Huaraz is a bustling city in the Cordillera Blanca where everyone, a backpacker on a budget or a vacationer seeking coziness and luxury, will find just the perfect accommodation.
The selection of hotels is extensive, and you should always consider a few criteria. We always wanted to be within walking distance from the bus terminal, market, and the center, where it was easy to get tours.
Here's our selection of the best hotels in Huaraz for every type of traveler.
Budget | Selina Huaraz - Selina is a hotel chain in South America. They offer pretty, clean accommodation that offers a high standard for a very reasonable rate - check out the one in Huaraz.
Mid-range | La Casa de Zarela - We probably did not meet a single traveler in Peru who's never heard of La Casa de Zarela. This super-popular hotel offers spacious, comfortable, and clean rooms, the staff is friendly, and except for a great breakfast, you can taste amazing Thai food.
Luxury | The Lazy Dog Inn a Mountain Lodge - If you are looking for something a bit different, this hotel with cozy rooms and a romantic fireplace in the common room is a winner. The hotel is away from the city center, so make sure the location works for you.
ALTITUDE
It is impossible to write Pastoruri Glacier's travel guide and not mention altitude and altitude sickness in a separate paragraph.
If you've never been hiking at an altitude, the information 5250 meters might sound to you like an ordinary number. But believe us, it's not.
Acclimatization is super important.
When we trekked two-week Annapurna Circuit in Nepal a few years ago, we were slowly acclimatizing for the entire time to be able to cross Thorong La Pass at 5416 meters.
Although Pastoruri Glacier is 'just' a day trip, one thing should be clear - do not underestimate the altitude as altitude sickness symptoms can develop into something pretty serious.
If you want to know more, read our detailed post on hiking at altitude.
Here we would like to recommend you ensure you're well-acclimatized before the Pastoruri Glacier trip.
It is wise to stay a few nights in Huaraz, hike for two or three days in the mountains, and leave this adventure for the very last days of your stay.
Luckily, there are plenty of day trips from Huaraz, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding one that suits you.
Moreover, drink enough water to stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol.
If you doubt how your body will react (if you had a recent bad experience), consider taking another trip - there's an endless number of beautiful spots in the Cordillera Blanca.
A small side note. In fact, this Pastoruri Glacier tour reminded us of our day trip to Rainbow Mountain in the Cusco area. So if you are heading in this direction, make sure to do a few day-trips from Cusco to properly acclimate before heading there.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Make sure your travel insurance also covers high altitude hiking.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHAT TO PACK
Even if it might seem you'll spend the majority of your time on a bus, if there's one crucial thing you should not underestimate, it is packing.
Although the trail is not that demanding, the hike to the glacier is really high in the mountains, and the weather can be unstable. Especially in the rainy season, which lasts from the end of October to April, expect rain in the afternoon, which is when you reach the glacier.
But no matter when you travel around the area, here are a few essentials you should pack.
A comfortable daypack with a waist strap will make your hike easier. What should you carry in it? A snack, water bottle, and certainly a travel camera.
As it rained, we were glad we brought a dry sack where we usually store our valuables.
Another must-have item is a rain jacket (or windbreaker and rain poncho), but also sunscreen, and lip balm.
This time you cannot overpack. If you take more layers than you need, there's an option to store them in a bus, in case you're sure you won't need them for the time of hiking to Pastoruri Glacier.
Also bring a warm layer such as down jacket in case you will wait for others before they return to the bus.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
