Chilan and its surroundings: trails and mountain views

Nearby Laguna Willcacocha combines views of the Cordillera Blanca with a location in the Cordillera Negra. Trails from Santa Cruz and the road connection from Huaraz to Chilan provide concrete reference points for planning your trip; Huaraz and Ututupampa offer additional regional perspectives, each with its own character.

Laguna Willcacocha nearby

Laguna Willcacocha is close to Chilan, in the settlement center of Santa Cruz in the district of Huaraz, at 3,745 meters above sea level. It is located in the Cordillera Negra and offers views of the Cordillera Blanca from its lookout point. In the wider Huaraz travel destination, Laguna Willcacocha is also described as an acclimatization site for mountaineers.

Getting to the lagoon and its trails

From the junction near the Centro poblado Santa Cruz, a 3.5 km hiking trail leads to Laguna Willcacocha in about two hours. For travel by private car, the same junction is 6.5 km away, with a stated driving time of 20 minutes on a paved road. This offers two different ways to get there: on foot or by car; the stated distances and times apply to their respective routes. Confirm access details for the lagoon locally.

An older route estimate gives the road distance from Huaraz to Chilan as 21 km, with a travel time of 35 minutes. The route includes paved and unpaved sections. Treat the travel time as an older guide and check road conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Waterways in the regional landscape

Watercourses also shape the regional landscape. In Ututupampa, in the district of Olleros, the Quebrada Ututupampa carries water from the glacial lakes of Nevado Huanchan to the Río Santa. This adds a different dimension to the views from the lagoon: here, the focus is on the path water takes from the glacial lakes to the river. If you would like to explore a landscape’s geography as well as enjoy mountain views, this offers another point of interest for planning your trip.

Huaraz: views and culture

The wider Huaraz travel destination also includes urban and cultural sites. From the Plaza de Armas de Huaraz, you can see the landscapes of the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra; the square is described as a central starting point for tourist attractions in the Callejón de Huaylas and the Conchucos. A bronze fountain installed in 1870 stands in the square. The Mirador de Rataquenua offers panoramic views of Huaraz and the landscapes of both Cordilleras. A central urban space and a lookout point with panoramic views thus offer two different perspectives.

An archaeological highlight is also part of the Huaraz context: the lithic park at the Museo Arqueológico de Áncash Augusto Soriano Infante displays more than 100 monoliths from the Recuay culture. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can use your preferred day trips to guide your choice: Would you mainly like to plan around the nearby lookout point and its described access routes, or would you also like to include the viewpoints and museum park in the wider Huaraz area? This can help you choose a location that suits your travel interests.

For the wider travel guide: Huaraz.