Laguna Juchuycocha: A Hidden Alpine Lake in Sacred Valley

Laguna Juchuycocha, a stunning alpine lake, lies hidden in the beautiful mountains behind Urubamba in Peru’s Sacred Valley. This untouched lake sits at almost 15,250 feet and remains a hidden treasure. The strenuous trek makes for a long, but rewarding day trip from Urubamba.

First, start in the village of San Isidro. Next, follow the gradual incline 3 mile walk to the trailhead. The trailhead is where the real adventure begins. Take the steep, yet scenic uphill climb to the alpine lake. The small trail twists and turns along the stunning hillside. There are multiple viewpoints of beautiful Chicón Mountain and its glistening glaciers.

Reach the glistening lake and basque in all its beauty, opt to take a refreshing, yet frigid dip, all while appreciating the views. Finally, return to Urubamba via the same trail. Laguna Juchuycocha is definitely worth the challenging uphill trek.

✔ Travel Resources | More beautiful lakes in the Sacred Valley Peru

Here’s how to hike to Laguna Juchuycocha, a stunning alpine lake near Urubamba Peru.

Table of Contents

Disclosure: This is part of my Hikes & Adventures series, which means these treks can be strenuous and challenging. These are my experiences and I am not an expert. Please have all the proper equipment, verify the weather conditions, use professional resources, do your own research, be mindful of constantly changing trail conditions, and take into consideration your own physical abilities and/or limitations. These guides are for entertainment purposes only. Please see my full disclosure for more information here.

• Map & Overview: Laguna Juchuycocha
• Urubamba: The Gateway Village to Laguna Juchuycocha
• San Isidro to Trailhead
• Trailhead to Laguna Juchuycocha
• The Stunning Laguna Juchuycocha
• Return: Laguna Juchuycocha to San Isidro Gate
• More Hikes Near Urubamba
• Laguna Juchuycocha: A Hidden Alpine Lake in Sacred Valley

Map & Overview: Laguna Juchuycocha

⁉️ If downloading the map, please verify that the map is correct and follows the waypoints. Oftentimes, there are daily updates to the site, map platforms, and other external issues that may cause a bug in downloading. Be mindful that this map is solely for entertainment purposes. Always hike responsibly and respect the mountains by following a no-trace philosophy, avoid hiking alone, be conscious of the weather and personal limitations, and do not stray from the visible trail.

A Quick Overview of the Hike to Laguna Juchuycocha

The trailhead to Laguna Juchuycocha begins in the tiny village of San Isidro. To save time and much needed energy, and your legs, take a taxi from Urubamba. This hike will take all day and would best suite those hikers who are physically fit, acclimated, and confident in their hiking abilities.

It’s possible to camp near the lake with proper cold weather gear and is a great way to help space out the intensity of the hike.

Mileage distances are rounded to the nearest quarter of a mile.

• Out & Back Trail
• Total Mileage: 11 Miles (from the San Isidro Gate)
  • One-Way: 5.5 Miles
• Duration: 8 – 12 hours
  • Dependent on how long you wish to enjoy Laguna Juchuycocha and hiking abilities
• Difficulty: Challenging, Tough, & Isolated
• Ascent: Over 4,000 feet
  • Reminder: Laguna Juchuycocha sits at almost 15,250 feet! Whew!
• Trail Markers: There are no “official” trail markers. The uphill trailhead is clear.
  • The following route can be hiked any time of the year, but it’s best during the dry season.
  • During the rainy season, be prepared for muddy paths and be mindful of rock slides. Of course, with the high altitude comes unpredictable weather.
• Day Trip Pack Essentials:
  • Water & a reliable water filter or tablets to refill from the lake and dam
  • Plenty of Snacks and Food
    • Enjoy a picnic @ Laguna Juchuycocha
    • Coca Leaves help with altitude sickness
  • Layered clothing, long sleeves is best for sun protection
  • Baseball cap, buff, sunscreen, and rain jacket
  • A well-stocked First Aid Kit
  • Swiss Army Knife
  • Hiking shoes with ankle support
  • Sunscreen & Insect Repellent
  • Headlamp
  • Emergency Blankets
• Camping Option: Sleep at Laguna Juchuycocha
  • Due to the high altitude, make sure to have proper equipment. A cold-weather sleeping bag is an absolute must at this altitude. Remember, the weight of the pack will slow down the pace.
• This trail is extremely isolated and is a long day, so it’s best to hike with at least one other person.
  • Find a hiking buddy in the Hike Club Cusco

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Urubamba: The Gateway Village to Laguna Juchuycocha

Urubamba is the gateway village to Laguna Juchuycocha and makes an excellent base when discovering all the highlights of the diverse Sacred Valley. The town has a bustling bus terminal connecting it to Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

First, this trek begins from the small village of San Isidro. Reach the trailhead via taxi.

Taxi Logistics | Urubamba to San Isidro | Fair Price 20 PEN ($5.75 USD) | 20 minutes

Psst… Looking for a place to sleep in Urubamba? Hampuy Valle Sagrado is a lovely private apartment with an amazing host family. It’s run by a power father and son team who are a chef and tour guide, respectively. Find hot showers, a beautiful garden, and located on quiet street on the outskirts of town. They are incredibly helpful and can help arrange fair taxis. Book here.

San Isidro to Trailhead

Honestly, the gravel road from San Isidro to the trailhead is quite uneventful. Pass by the green gate and for now, follow alongside the gravel road. Along the way there are two water streams that will need to be crossed.

The first bridge has a small bridge to the right that can be utilized, otherwise, during dry season, it’s quite easy to wade across. Continue along on the road until the second river ford. This one is a little more technical and utilize the rocks nearby. During the rainy season, I can imagine this river fording will be more technical.

Continue along the road, until you see the large dam. The dam is one of the last places to refill water before the steep uphill climb to Laguna Juchuycocha. The official trailhead is actually almost directly behind the dam.

If facing the dam there is a small footpath that follows along the left side of the dam; however, it requires climbing onto the dam and coming down over the other-side. The safest hiking option is to follow the gravel road past the dam and continue across the meadow to reach the trailhead. Always use your best judgement.

In the distance, you’ll see some beautiful terraces that are referenced as the Pampa. To the left, look to the hillside. The uphill trail to Laguna Juchuycocha should be visible. From the backside of the dam to the trailhead is only about 500 feet and should take less than 5 minutes to arrive at the trailhead.

San Isidro Gate to Trailhead | Distance: 3+ miles | Duration: 2 hours

Trailhead to Laguna Juchuycocha

Here comes the most challenging part of the day. Begin the steep ascent up to Laguna Juchuycocha. This trail is pretty apparent to follow, but it’s the altitude that will be the biggest challenge. There are multiple viewpoints along the route and places to take breaks and savor the views. To the right, Mount Chicón towers picturesquely off in the distance.

Continue to follow the path. Eventually, take a left turn by the large rocks. The turn is not as apparent, so make sure to check in with Maps.me or an offline map. Through this small path, you should see those first glimpses of the beautiful Laguna Juchuycocha.

Trailhead to Laguna Juchuycocha | Distance: 2.75 miles | Duration: Just under 3 hours

The Stunning Laguna Juchuycocha

What a climb! Now that you’ve made it to the incredible Laguna Juchuycocha, savor in those views. Along the shore of the lake is a great place to enjoy a picnic.

The lake is beautiful and we stayed for almost three hours soaking in the tranquil beauty here.

If looking to cool off, take a plunge into the frigid waters of this chilly alpine lake. Be mindful that the rocks can be slippy and the lake is freezing. I didn’t stay in the water more than 10 seconds. In some sections it’s hard to determine the depth of the lake, so avoid diving.

It’s easy to get lost in the beauty of this special place, but keep in mind that the sun goes down quick behind those grand mountains. Although the downhill is quicker, you don’t want to get stranded on the trail as it would be super hard to come down without the natural light. Pack a headlamp, just in case.

Camping Tip: There are some places to pitch a tent close to the lake. The small hills make a great place to protect from the wind and we were greeted by locals camping here. Please have all the proper equipment and prepare for a chilly night when the sun goes down. In the morning, 4,000 feet below, there was frost on the ground before the sun came out.

Exploring Past Laguna Juchuycocha

Upon arrival, there is a small path on the right of the lake. It’s possible to follow this path to another Laguna. This small lake offers incredible views of Chicón and has a completely look than Laguna Juchuycocha. This trail takes you closer to Chicón and gets you “more up close and personal” to the beautiful glacier. I walked along this short trail and it took me less than 30 minutes each way.

⁉️ Be mindful that after the second lake is the trail to Chicon Mountain is a technical moraine. This trail should be explored with an official mountaineering guide. In Cusco, the most reliable and trusted mountaineering companies include: Sky High Andes and Acense Sur.

The landscape after the second lakes becomes a technical moraine terrain and eventually leads to Chicón Mountain. Again, proper mountaineering equipment is required beyond here and for summiting this beautiful mountain, which towers at almost 18,150 feet.

Return to Urubamba | Laguna Juchuycocha to San Isidro Gate

When ready to depart the lake, follow the same trail back to the San Isidro Gate. The downhill is obviously quicker, but tired legs can feel heavy and make the downhill a little more “wobbly.” Hiking poles come in handy for tired legs.

From the lake, it took us around 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the trailhead. From there, we reached the San Isidro Gate in another 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Laguna Juchuycocha to San Isidro Gate Downhill | Distance: 5.75 miles | Duration: +/- 2.5 hours

From San Isidro Gate, it’s a long walk into Urubamba, as in over 3.5 miles. Begin to walk into the community and try to flag down a moto, or “tuk-tuk.” It’s almost impossible to make it back to Urubamba before nightfall without flagging down a moto on the way back.

We flagged down a driver when we were less than halfway back to Urubamba. It was the safest option, due to the fact that it gets dark super fast, usually by 18:00.

Moto Tip: Make sure to negotiate with moto drivers. We were able to get a moto for 4 people for 10 PEN ($3 USD)

Finally, after a long and incredible day, arrive back to Urubamba.

More Hikes Near Urubamba

Urubamba is an incredible village to really take some “off the beaten path” treks. Near the Urubamba Cemetery, find the trailhead to the powerful Saywa Archaeological Park. These two pillared ruins sits on top of the magical Saywa Mountain and offer lovely views of the Sacred Valley and alternative views of Chicón and the surrounding snowy mountain peaks.

Just down the road, in the village of Media Luna, take the casual trek to the Maras Salt Mines. Adventure hikers can add-on a hike from this popular tourist destination to the Moray Archaeological Park, which are part of the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico Cusco).

Further down the road, in the village of Pachar, find Ñaupa Iglesia. There are whispers that this little visited spot is actually a “dimensional portal” and has powerful connections to Egypt. There is a peculiar altar in the center of this sacred site. Farther past the site of Ñaupa Iglesia, find the Perolniyoc Waterfall and the ruins that sit on top of this cliffside falls.

Out & About in the Sacred Valley Peru

Urubamba is the perfect place to explore more of Peru’s Sacred Valley. Visit the four sprawling Archaeological Parks in the Sacred Valley including: Ollantaytambo, Moray, Chinchero, and Pisac. These Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley are highlights of the popular Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico Cusco). From Urubamba, it’s easy to reach all these villages via public transportation.

No Tour? No Problem! Visit ALL 16 Sites of the Cusco Tourist Ticket without a Tour

Nearby is the village of Calca, which has some peculiar ruins like Urqo and the interesting site of Ancasmarca is on the way to the lovely Lares hot springs. Another uphill climb is the nearby sacred site of Huchuy Qosqo, or “Little Cusco.”

In Ollantaytambo, don’t miss the incredible Sun Gate, or Inti Punku. This amazing hike follows the along the Old Inca Quarry Trail and eventually to the epic Sun Gate which boasts incredible views of Mount Veronica. This adorable village is also home to Pumamarca, another ruin site that is said to predate the Incas. Of course, Ollantaytambo is the gateway to main draw to the Sacred Valley: Machu Picchu.

➯ Detailed Travel Guide | The Complete Guide to the Sacred Valley Peru

Laguna Juchuycocha: A Hidden Alpine Lake in Sacred Valley

In short, a hike to Laguna Juchuycocha is a strenuous, but worthwhile and incredible hike in Peru’s Sacred Valley. This hidden alpine lake is rarely visited by tourists, but offers some of the most rewarding views of Chicón Mountain its beautiful glacier.

The uphill trail leads to the breathtaking Laguna Juchuycocha where it’s possible to take a quick dip in the frigid waters, savor the views, or explore the nearby lake. The difficult trek to Laguna Juchuycocha is worth the effort.

Have you heard of Laguna Juchuycocha? Did you enjoy this hidden alpine lake in the Sacred Valley? What did you think of this little trekked hiking trail? Let me know in the comments below!

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