Huandoy Glacier Hike + Keushu Lake

Peru's Huascarán National Park sits in an Andes mountain range called the Cordilerra Blanca. Inside the park there are several high-altitude peaks, including the Huandoy Mountain, which has four peaks: Huandoy Norte, Huandoy Sur, Huandoy Este, and Huandoy Oeste. During this trek you will find amazing views of the Huandoy glaciers, and you will be able to witness the glacial pit that has formed from these mountains.

The trail begins at the glacial lake, Lake Keushu, where you can also observe ancient ruins. You can walk in the forest, along a water canal, where you will have breathtaking views of the lake and the Cordillera Negra Mountains. Once inside the national park you will find a waterfall, snow-capped peaks, stunning rock formations, and the glaciers in your view. The end point of the trail is a pit of fallen glacier chunks and another waterfall.

You can camp at the lake or along the trail in the national park. Approximately 2 miles into the hike there will be a local's wooden house and his llamas, and this is where he collects the payment to enter the national park. Entrance costs only 10 soles at this entrance, and this entrance is only accessed by this hike, so odds are good that you will have the area to yourself. The trailhead at Lake Keushu is only a 30-minute drive to the main national park entrance, so it is a great hiking option for anyone who needs to get acclimated for a high-altitude hike inside the park because the highest elevation on this trail reaches 13,241 feet.