A Guide to hiking Laguna Churup in Huaraz Peru
When I arrived in Huaraz and was looking for hikes in Huaraz, many people told me that one of the best lagunas de huaraz is Laguna Churup which is located in the Huascaran National Park. This hike is near Huaraz and generally no tour companies go there. It is very easy to get the bus and go independently and is a great day hike to do from Huaraz.
Where is Laguna de Churup Huaraz
Laguna Churup is located in the cordillera blanca in parque nacional huascaran near Huaraz in northern Peru. It is around a 45 minute drive from the centre of Huaraz.
How to get to Laguna Churup Peru from Huaraz
Laguna Churup is located 20km from Huaraz and is around a 45 minute drive by bus (colectivo) to the start of the hike.
The colectivo goes from the corner opposite Av Agustin Gamarra with Las Americas. There is no official bus stop, but you will see the small colectivo (bus) parked up waiting for tourists. The colectivo is due to depart at around 7am, though it will leave when it is full (so expect to wait, especially if you are not visiting during high season). I went on a weekend around Easter and so there were many tourists in town and we left at 7.15am.
The colectivo goes to Pitec (the start of the hike), though I had people shouting Churup to me and telling where the colectivo left before I got near the street for it. The advantage of getting this colectivo is that the driver waits for you until around 2-2.30pm before returning to Huaraz.
If you miss this bus then the other option is to get the colectivo to Llupa (from the same bus stop), though this adds an extra hour walk each way to the hike. These buses are due to leave each hour on the hour, though if they aren’t full, they will wait until they are.
The cost of the colectivo is 10 soles each way, though you need to pay for the return trip up front, which you pay to the driver when exiting the colectivo.
What to do at Lake Churup Huaraz
Once you arrive at the trailhead which is at 3,840 metres above sea level, for the start of the hike to Churup laguna huaraz you need to pay the entrance fee.
When I went the entrance fee was collected in the car park just after we had left the colectivo. The entrance fee is 30 soles for a 1-day pass for noncitizens or 15 soles for Peruvians. If you are planning on spending longer time in the park then you can buy a multi-day pass. The 3-day pass is 60 soles and 150 soles for a 30-day pass. For Peruvians, it is 30 soles for the 3-day pass and 75 soles for the 30-day pass.
There is a control hut around 20 minutes into the hike for paying the entrance fee, though I am not sure whether this is used anymore, as I had to just pay in the car park, so be prepared to pay in either place.
The hike starts with steep and uneven steps going up for around 20 minutes. There are 2 shelters as you are hiking up this part, where you can stop and take a rest on the seats if you need to.
The path is then quite flat for around 15 minutes, though in a few places you have to negotiate a few rocky parts with ropes.
Around 1 hour into the hike, you have 2 options to get to the Laguna. The first option to the right is the harder option, though more direc,t where you will need to scramble and climb rocks using ropes and rope ladders. Towards the top, it is hard to decide which way is best to cross the stream that is coming down from the lake.
The second option takes you up more uneven and steep stairs and is a longer route. This way is supposed to be easier than option 1, though it is still a tough hike and is longer than the first option, as you have to go around the mountain and come down to the lake, so you do gain around another 100 metres in height going this way.
Once you reach the lake at 4,450m, you can relax, enjoy the views, and hike up to the viewpoint to get a full view of Laguna Churup, or if you have tim,e you can hike up to Laguna Churupita a bit higher up. It will take around another 45 minutes of hiking to get to the second laguna.
On the way back down, most people choose to go down via the stairs and the viewpoint, option 2, as it is easier and safer than trying to get down the rocks you climbed with the ropes and rope ladders.
A lot of people choose to go up via option 1 and then return via the stairs (option 2).
To get to the Laguna, it will take you, between 2 hours and 2 hours 30 minutes, depending on how fast you hike and how you find the altitude. Personally, I thought this hike was tougher than Laguna 69, and it took me around 2 hours and 20 minutes to get to the lake.
I was there on a cloudy day, but the lake is still beautiful and worth the visit, though I would like to return on a clear day to see the mountains in the background and see the sun reflecting off the lake.
The hike to Laguna Churup is around 5 hours return, though if you want to hike to the higher laguna or relax at the top for a bit, you will need more time.
If you miss the return bus, then you can always hike down to Llupa, which will take you around an hour, and get the colectivo from there back to Huaraz.
*This article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.*
Where to stay when visiting Laguna Churup Huaraz Peru
To visit Laguna Churup you will need to stay in Huaraz as it is only 45 minutes by colectivo and the largest town from the start of the hike.
Kame Hostel Hotel
The Kame Hostel is located just a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas in Huaraz. They have a nice roof terrace where you can enjoy beautiful views of the sunset and you can choose from either a dorm room or a double room.
There is a shared kitchen that you can use and a lounge with a fireplace to meet other travellers. The owner and his mum can also help you to book any tours that you might want to do while you are visiting Huaraz.
Click here for prices and more details on Kame House.
Krusty Hostel
My friend stayed at Krusty Hostel and really enjoyed it there. Breakfast is included and the staff are very friendly and it is one of the cheaper hostels in Huaraz.
Click here for prices and more details on Krusty Hostel.
What to pack to hike Laguna Churup Ancash
The weather in Huaraz has changed over the last few years due to climate change. It is wettest between November to April, though now it can rain during the dry season.
Here is what I recommend you need for this day trip:
FAQ’s about Hiking Laguna Churup
Yes, it is a hard hike, as you are constantly hiking uphill to the lake. The first part is easier as you are walking along a path, but then the path splits in two, and you can either choose the path where you climb rocks using rope and rope ladders, or you can choose the path which is more like stairs, but they are huge steps and it’s a workout to get to the top.
The hike is around a 7km round trip, though you can expect it to take around 5-6 hours.
The lake is at 4,450 metres above sea level, and the hike to get there, if you are starting at Pitec is 3,840 metres above sea level, so you will be climbing a height of 610 metres.
Save it for later
Disclaimer: Travels In Peru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and its partners. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Thank you for supporting Travels In Peru when you use the links.