We will drive to Chiwipampa along 10km of paved highway to the south side of Huaraz.

Here we cross the Santa River by the small bridge in the direction of Santa Cruz Village, where we will start hiking up to the Palcacocha Lake. The short trek is a moderated ascent up a local trail for about an hour. 

During your hike, you will meet local people wearing their traditional colourful Andean clothes. You will pass by their typical adobe houses whilst taking the opportunity to appreciate the farming fields and observe the products they farm, such as wheat, barley, oats, corn and potatoes, and other unknown products in the rest of the world. 

Once you arrive at the lake, you may be surprised by the beautiful views of the Cordillera Blanca and the notoriously impressive Huascaran Massif being the highest peak in the Cordillera Blanca with its 6768 masl. 

There is an alternative trail to cross to the north side towards the Cordillera Negra and get to the Huascar village.

Here the car will wait for the return back to Huaraz. You can thus avoid the same trail to come back to Huaraz, or you can come back to Huaraz the same way if you prefer.

After a one day hike to Huillcacocha or Palcacocha, one may stay for the following challenges of the Cordillera Blanca or Huayhuash for long treks or for climbing.