v2.webp){kind=logo}
- Laguna’s turquoise bowl — that intense, glassy blue/green water is the obvious showpiece: clear reflections of the sky and surrounding ice, chunks of glacial ice bobbing at the edge, and a color contrast you don’t see on most non-glacial hikes.
- Glacial cirque and exposed ice — steep headwalls, moraines and the raw, sculpted ice make the geology itself a highlight. You can get unusually close to glacial formations here, so the scale and texture of ice and rock feel immediate rather than distant.
- Panoramic skyline of Andean peaks — short, punchy viewpoints above the lake give sweeping views of jagged summits surrounding the basin. The way the peaks drop straight into the lagoon makes the vistas more dramatic than many rolling-hill treks.
- Puna wildlife and alpine flora — look for vizcachas
- Laguna’s turquoise bowl — that intense, glassy blue/green water is the obvious showpiece: clear reflections of the sky and surrounding ice, chunks of glacial ice bobbing at the edge, and a color contrast you don’t see on most non-glacial hikes.
- Glacial cirque and exposed ice — steep headwalls, moraines and the raw, sculpted ice make the geology itself a highlight. You can get unusually close to glacial formations here, so the scale and texture of ice and rock feel immediate rather than distant.
- Panoramic skyline of Andean peaks — short, punchy viewpoints above the lake give sweeping views of jagged summits surrounding the basin. The way the peaks drop straight into the lagoon makes the vistas more dramatic than many rolling-hill treks.
- Puna wildlife and alpine flora — look for vizcachas on the rocks, Andean waterfowl and hardy cushion plants and wildflowers in season. Sparse human traffic means wildlife encounters are quieter and often closer than on more frequented trails.
- Traditional herding and stone trails (personal favorite) — local shepherd camps, llamas/alpacas grazing and old stone paths give the hike a human, lived-in feel. That blend of high-altitude nature and simple Andean life is what makes the place stick in your memory.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.
TIWANAKU - PUMA PUNKU, The cradle of andean civilizations
✓ Free cancellation
Bus Copacabana To La Paz
✓ Free cancellation
CONDORIRI Mountain 5650m. 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT. TREKKING. English guide. Shared Tour
✓ Free cancellation
Uyuni Salt Flats 2-Day Tour from La Paz by flight
✓ Free cancellation
Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 p.m.
Acotango Volcano 2 Day Private Tour
✓ Free cancellation
Huayna Potosi 6088m. 2 Day Climb
✓ Free cancellation
Best Backpacking
.jpg)
Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.