Laid back Huanchaco, Peru

From the Andes, we decided to take a bus and head back to the beach to check out a town by the name of Huanchaco. This time we had another partner in crime with us. We met Jessica in Huaraz and happened to be heading in the same direction, so the three of us boarded an overnight bus to the coast.

Huanchaco beach

Huanchaco beach

We all stayed at a funky beach hostel with a collection of the furriest rabbits we’d ever seen. This town had a very relaxed vibe and we wanted to take advantage of that after our tough couple of treks.

Our funky, fun beach hostel Casa Amelia

Our funky, fun beach hostel Casa Amelia

View from our window

View from our window

Bunny rabbits at our hostel, Casa Amelia

Bunny rabbits at our hostel, Casa Amelia

During the day we took some strolls along the beach, checked out the locals and watched them fish off of the pier. Their style of fishing does not include a rod, but a square wooden paddle with fishing line attached to it. It works! You can actually purchase one of these contraptions for a mere 5 soles (about $1.50 US dollars) and cast your line out into the Pacific ocean, and hope for the best!

Checking out Huanchaco pier with Jessica

Checking out Huanchaco pier with Jessica

The wooden paddles the locals use for fishing

The wooden paddles the locals use for fishing

Sandcrabs are used for bait

Sandcrabs are used for bait

Fishing off the pier in Huanchaco

Fishing off the pier in Huanchaco

The wooden paddle and fishing line actually work!

The wooden paddle and fishing line actually work!

Watching the waves roll in and out from the end of the pier

Watching the waves roll in and out from the end of the pier

Huanchaco is known for its excellent surfing, and also the “Caballitos de totora”, which are small boats made out of reeds and used by Peruvian fisherman for 3,000 years. They still actively use them today! You can see them lined up on the beach, waiting to get into the water.

The Huanchaco coast, notice all the totora reed boats

The Huanchaco coast, notice all the totora reed boats

Caballitos de totora lined up on the shore

Caballitos de totora lined up on the shore

Caballitos de totora ready to take off

Caballitos de totora ready to take off

No night in a new town is complete without checking out a local band playing at a nearby bar. Good music, good friends and good pisco sours, check!

Sampling Huanchaco's nightlife with our friend Jessica

Sampling Huanchaco’s nightlife with our friend Jessica

 

Trekking in paradise in Huaraz, Peru

Our Lima host Eugenia was kind enough to tell us about a place north of Lima called Huaraz. It’s known for its natural beauty and abundance of trails perfect for one day or multiple day treks. We decided it sounded like a peaceful place to get back in touch with nature after being in the big, crazy city of Lima.

We started with the one day trek to Laguna 69 to help us acclimatize to the high altitude of Huaraz (3,052 meters above sea level), also known as the “Switzerland of Peru.” We started the trek at an altitude of 3,800 meters and climbed 800 meters to Laguna 69, located at 4,600 meters above sea level. That’s higher than Dead Woman’s Pass along the Inka Trail! The altitude definitely took its toll, especially on Jen, but she pushed through and made it. The scenery along the trail was incredible and when we got our first glimpse of the crystal blue Laguna 69, it was almost unreal!

Start of the trail

Start of the trail

The hike starts in a beautiful valley before ascending 800 meters to the lake

The hike starts in a beautiful valley before ascending 800 meters to the lake

Its about 7 km to the lake

Its about 7 km to the lake

NO FILTERS on this picture of Laguna 69 - an unbelievable sight

NO FILTERS on this picture of Laguna 69 – an unbelievable sight

We found the Laguna 69 trek to be both extremely challenging and rewarding

We found the Laguna 69 trek to be both extremely challenging and rewarding

The following day we were to start our 4 day Santa Cruz trek. We were a bit nervous because Laguna 69 was supposed to be a warmup but we both found it incredibly challenging. The Santa Cruz trek cuts into the Cordillera Blanca, known as the highest tropical mountain range in the world. It contains the highest mountain in Peru, Huascarán, standing at an impressive 6,768 meters above sea level! We weren’t going to be climbing that high, but our highest pass was still an impressive 4,750 meters, our highest elevation climb to date!

Just as expected, the trek was extremely challenging for us, but we managed to keep a steady pace for the 4 days and finished successfully. We have to admit, the scenery competed with the beautiful places we saw in Patagonia!

The scary road on the way to our starting point looked like some sort of wicked race track perched on the edge of a vertical cliff!

The scary road on the way to our starting point looked like some sort of wicked race track perched on the edge of a vertical cliff!

Stopping at a vantage point. Llanganuco lake

Stopping at a vantage point. Llanganuco lake

Starting point of the trek, Vaqueria pueblo

Starting point of the trek, Vaqueria pueblo

Donkeys carried our things this time instead of porters!

Donkeys carried our things this time instead of porters!

Day 2 on our way up to the highest point

Day 2 on our way up to the highest point

Reaching our highest point at 4,750 meters. Shortly after we started descending, it started hailing meteor sized pieces of ice. Fun!!! Shannon almost quit.

Reaching our highest point at 4,750 meters. Shortly after we started descending, it started hailing meteor sized pieces of ice. Fun!!! Shannon almost quit.

The MUD and ROCKS! They never ended. It made the trek even more challenging.

The MUD and ROCKS! They never ended. It made the trek even more challenging.

Stopping for a moment to take in this incredible sight

Stopping for a moment to take in this incredible sight

This is the mountain that Paramount Pictures designed their logo from!

This is the mountain that Paramount Pictures designed their logo from!

Us with our group on our last day of the trek

We had a big group of fun people!

Celebrating our finish with an ice cold Cusqueña beer!

Celebrating our finish with an ice cold Cusqueña beer!

Check out more pics from both treks below!

4 Day Santa Cruz Trek

Laguna 69

Delicious Lima