How to Pack for Cordillera Blanca Day Hikes & Treks

Weather in the Cordillera Blanca

The Lazy Dog Inn Mountain Lodge is located at the base of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range, near Huaraz. We are on the border of Huascaran National Park, a Natural World Heritage Site, and the small indigenous community of Cachipampa Alta. We are located at 3,650 meters (or 11,975 feet) in elevation, making the lodge perfect for acclimatization, high-elevation training, and relaxing in the mountains. So let’s go over How to Pack for Cordillera Blanca Day Hikes & Treks.

The Peruvian Andes is made up of two seasons; the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season is from December thru April and you can expect clear blue skies until the afternoon thunderstorms roll-in. Typically, the highs are around 20’ Celsius in the daytime with lows of 5-8’ Celsius at night. The dry season is from May thru November with June – August having the hottest days and coldest nights with highs between 15’-20’ Celsius during the day and 3′-5’ Celsius at night. The dry season is the preferred season for summiting peaks, multi-day hikes, climbing and taking full advantage of the day-hikes the area has to offer.

Packing List for Day Hikes in the Cordillera Blanca:

• Trekking or hiking boots/shoes.
• Quick-dry long sleeve top.
• Hiking pants.
• Fleece.
• Rain jacket with hood.
• Sun hat.
• Bandana.
• Shoes to wear after hikes.
• Trekking poles (these mountains are rugged people).
• Water containers (Nalgene or similar water bottle, 32oz or reservoirs).
• Flashlight or headlamp.
• Tons of sunscreen.
• Lip balm.
• Insect repellent (we have the most intense little black flies around here here).
• Toilet paper (toilet paper is a luxury in Peru…..you never know).
• Day snacks (nuts, chocolates, energy bars).
• Day pack for lunch and extras such as sunscreen, etc.
• Lunch.

Packing List for Running in the Cordillera Blanca:

• See list above.
• Add running shorts and running shoes.
• Lite-weight running backpack with water and pockets for snacks and clothing.

Running is becoming more and more popular in the local area with various races for all abilities. If you enjoy trail-running feel free to connect with us by email, click here. We are happy to send out some beta on trails and the marathons/races, that are happening throughout the year.

Packing List for Birding in the Cordillera Blanca:

• See list above and add binoculars.

Packing List for Multi-Day Treks in the Cordillera Blanca:

• Trekking or hiking boots/shoes.
• Quick-dry long sleeve top.
• Hiking pants.
• Fleece.
• Rain jacket with hood.
• Rain pants (if coming during the rainy season).
• Warm down jacket.
• Sun hat.
• Warm fleece beanie.
• Fleece gloves.
• Bandana.
• Sandals.
• Headlamp.
• Tons of sunscreen.
• Lip balm.
• Insect repellent.
• Compressed toilet paper.
• Day snacks (nuts, chocolates, energy bars).
• Deck of cards.
• Book of choice or journal.

Trekking Operators in Huaraz

For multi-day treks there are many trek operators in the local area, with great gear, there’s no need to carry the extra weight of tents and sleeping bags during your travels. Please let us know if you would like any help coordinating a multi-day trek and we will be happy to connect you to our list of recommended operators, based on your budget and particularities. For multi-day treks, the Santa Cruz is the most well-known, however there are some seriously incredible multi-day treks off “the beaten path”, please feel free to communicate by email if you would like any additional information.

Why Stay At The Lazy Dog Inn Mountain Lodge?

Located at 3,650 meters, The Lazy Dog Inn a Mountain Lodge provides a great place to acclimatize not only for our location but we are a true eco-lodge, leaving a low-impact on the local environment through our closed-loop waste systems and farm-to-table meals with our locally sourced produce.

Our prices per night include: a 4-course dinner featuring fresh produce from our local gardens, filtered water, sauna and a full North American style breakfast with fresh juice and organic coffee. Lunches to go are available for an additional $6 and in-house lunch options are available upon request. Please inquire for lodging options and pricing here. Each stay directly supports the three neighboring indigenous communities through employment and our affiliated NGO Andean Alliance. Click Here to learn more, about our health and education programs. Experience the Andes from the inside at The Lazy Dog Inn Mountain Lodge.