Start date
End date
Activities
Countries
Peru’s Pastoruri Glacier sits in a stunning part of the Cordillera Blanca and Huascaran National Park. The glacier rises from a small mountain lake and is surrounded by several snow-capped peaks. Making the ascent up to the base – and even onto – the glacier is a great way to enjoy this unique and beautiful scenery.
Country Code:
+51
Currency:
Sol (PEN)
Best time to hike:
April to October
Language:
Spanish, Aymara, Quechua and various other indigenous languages
What’s the weather like?
During the hiking season, average daily temperatures in the national park near the glacier range between 11 ºC and 17 ºC (52 ºF to 63 ºF). Rain during the hiking season is very uncommon
How to get there:
Any trip to Pastoruri Glacier begins with a flight into Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM), in Lima. From here, Huaraz can be reached in 8 hours by bus. From Huaraz, the glacier is another 1.5 hours by direct transport
Sprawling over 8 square kilometers (3.1 square miles) and stretching for 4 kilometers (2.5) from one end to the other, Pastoruri Glacier is one of the few glaciers left in the tropics of South America. Technically, Pastoruri Glacier is not a glacier by definition because it does not gain any mass during the rainy season and is disappearing quickly. Some scientists believe that it will all be gone in a few decades, which means it should shoot up to the top of any hiker’s to-do list in Peru. From the trailhead to the glacier, which sits at about 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) in elevation, the hike is about 40 minutes, making it perfect for a day trip. The hiking is not very technically challenging, but made more difficult by the altitude