Picture yourself looking down at dazzling turquoise waters lying beneath cascading waterfalls and gorgeous glaciers, occasionally hearing the loud thunder of a distant avalanche. It's no wonder that Laguna 69 is at the top of any hikers list visiting Huaraz and not to be missed.

Eager to visit and somewhat selfishly have it all to myself, I spent a few good hours researching online and talking to locals. Here's a step by step guide on how to visit away from the tour groups....

Located in the Huascarán National Park around 1.5 hours outside of Huaraz, Laguna Churup is one of the few lakes that can be done on your own without a guide or a tour bus. If you're looking to hike somewhere without the crowds of tour buses...