How to drive to Pastoruri Glacier in the Andes?
Peru, south-america
35 km
4,955 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk Pastoruri Glacier in the Ancash region of Peru! We're talking serious altitude here: 4,955m (16,256ft) above sea level!
You'll find this beauty nestled about 35 kilometers south of Huaraz, smack-dab in Huascarán National Park. It’s one of those rare tropical glaciers clinging on in the Andes' Cordillera Blanca. Heads up, though – climate change is hitting this spot hard. It's lost about 22% of its surface area in the last three decades. Used to be an ice cave, now it’s a lagoon.
Getting there is half the adventure. The road (Carretera a Pastoruri) is all dirt, pretty tight in places, with some steep climbs and rocky bits. Trust me, you'll want a vehicle with some ground clearance. And remember the altitude! Give yourself time to adjust before you head up.
The rough-and-tumble part of the road starts from Abra Huarapasca mountain pass and clocks in at only 1.8km (1.11 miles). It dumps you out at a parking lot with food. The last 500m or so to the glacier is on foot.
The whole trip is a visual feast of epic mountain views and valleys. Make sure you budget time to stop at Lake Patococha and the Pumapampa gasified springs. And keep your eyes peeled for thousands of Puya Raimondii, those crazy-tall giant flowers!
Where is it?
How to drive to Pastoruri Glacier in the Andes? is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -8.5814, -76.8476
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 35 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,955 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -8.5814, -76.8476
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