The bus from Lima to Huaraz was delayed—not once, but twice. First by an hour for departure and then another for arrival. When I finally stepped off the bus in Huaraz, I was greeted with the not-so-pleasant news of a water and power outage. But just when I thought my day couldn’t get any better, Prima, the warm and spirited owner of the hostel, welcomed me like family. She guided me to her cozy inn, La Casa de Zarela, where vintage charm met modern comfort—and yes, there was heat! 🥹
On my first morning, the alarm blared at 4:30 AM for the much-anticipated trip to Laguna Paron. What was supposed to be a smooth pickup at the hostel turned into a chaotic self-assembly at the office. Once aboard, we realized a group had mistakenly boarded the bus destined for Laguna 69 instead of ours for Laguna Paron.
Panic ensued as we scrambled to transfer buses mid-journey. After a bone-rattling two-hour ride, we arrived at the base of the mountain, ready to hike. The guide kept reassuring us it was “just half an hour more,” but that promise stretched on endlessly. Finally, desperation kicked in, and we flagged down a car on the road to take us closer to our destination.
Four of us were charged a hefty 50 soles each 🫠. Thankfully, on the way back down, our charming guide negotiated a ride for us with three kind-hearted white girls in their private car, and this time, we only paid 20 soles each.
Day two brought me to Laguna Rotocuyoc, where I met an incredible local guide—responsible, knowledgeable, and brimming with stories. Along the trail, there was also a delightful little old man who enthusiastically offered to help snap photos 🥺. But Mother Nature had other plans. As we reached Laguna Congelada, hail and rain descended upon us like an icy deluge, drenching us to the bone.
The descent was no less challenging—a rough, interminable ride that left me battling both carsickness and altitude sickness. My eyes felt heavy, and all I wanted was to leap out of the car ( ). Somehow, though, we made it back to Huaraz in one piece, safe and sound 🥲.
