Cordillera Blanca Lodge — Hotel in Yungay

I originally did not want to write a detailed reference for this place, but I changed my mind after reading the owner’s rude and offensive response to my companion’s feedback.

Hikes around the lodge: there are multiple, but all of them individually can be done within 1-4 hours, these are not day hikes. Hike to ruins takes an hour (return). For longer ones you need a transport. Some of the “day hikes” as called by the owner are on a very dusty road shared with cars, trucks and other vehicles. That’s why we decided not to do it… So if you really think about proper hikes directly from the lodge, there is one.

Food: Mandatory 55 USD payment for the food. Food was good, tasty, and made from local ingredients. We accepted the price, but local food simply costs much less elsewhere, and is of the same quality. Both me and my friend simply think that this price is quite high given the prices of ingredients in the area, and comparison with meals in the restaurants in the area.

Taxis: arranged “third-party transport with licensed, insured, well-maintaned vehicles” as stated by the owner is simply not true. Our arranged taxi that we used twice was anything, but not well-maintained. It was dusty from the beginning, old, and dirty. We did not mind, but saying it is well-maintained is simply a lie. My advice: find a local taxi driver that will give you a fair price (see below).

Taxi costs: we don’t need any calculator to do simple math. First of all, we were two people, not 4, so all the costs are divided by two, not four. As we moved to another place later, we just randomly found out that other taxi driver is charging one third of the price we had been charged in this lodge. Actually for even bigger distance, same road, same waiting time, and better car. As simple as that. And not to mention, that even though there was an official “price list” saying that a ride to Yungay costs 70 soles, our taxi driver wanted 100 soles (for only 4 kilometres actually, compared to 16 km drive to the city). Is this a fair deal? Definitely not. What about using s calculator now?

And, finally: Our hot water stopped working in the evening of the first night, and it was only fixed during the next day evening after I asked the staff to fix it multiple times. We were the only guests, and I honestly don’t understand why it was so difficult to check it before our arrival? For such an exclusive place, this should be a standard. When we were paying, we were also charged with the VAT even though we were not supposed to pay it as tourists. We had to proactively ask the owner to remove it. So, when booking, check it out.

This as well as my companion’s feedback was meant as a constructive feedback for the people who are thinking about coming to this place, and it’s up to them to decide if to visit or not. The owner fighting back, and reacting to literal meaning of every sentence is funny, and ridiculous.

What is the point of assessing if we were prepared or not, and we booked it last minute - it is very unprofessional to judge your guests and clients in any way. We actually were very well prepared, and ready to hike in the area.

It’s very easy for everyone who is reading these reviews to make their own conclusions from our reference as well as owner’s reactions. To sum it up, the biggest pitfalls of this place were the unfair taxi prices, and an owner who instead of accepting the feedback, fights back, and is unprofessional and offensive in...

To put it simply, if you’re coming to the Huaraz area and want to experience the outdoors, there is no better place than Llanganuco Mountain Lodge. The lodge’s owner, Charlie, has spent nearly two decades building the ideal spot for adventuring.

The experience he has handcrafted starts with the property itself. About two hours from the cacophony of Huaraz and 45 minutes from Yungay, the lodge is nestled in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range with a stunning view of icy Huandoy, the two mighty peaks of Huascaran, the valley below, and Cordillera Negra in the distance. This is the PERFECT springboard to all the famous hikes in the area – Lake 69, Ice of Huandoy, Llangunaco Lakes, and more! On top of the most popular ones, Charlie will share with you several hikes that will leave you breathless and you will not see a single other person on the trail. We never spent more than 45 minutes driving to a trek and for most of them we were able to literally walk from the lodge to the trailhead.

From our room there were panoramic views of the mountains that would take your breath away. You’re above 12,500ft (3,500m) so it can get chilly at night but there was a wood stoves that is lit every afternoon making the rooms exceptionally cozy. Amenities that you wouldn’t normally expect, like potable tap water and being able to flush your toilet paper down the toilet are standard. Charlie’s respect of the outdoors is shown through sustainable choices like solar panels for electricity and recycling for every type of material. If you are looking to work remote – look no farther. The lawn where you will enjoy breakfast (or laying out in a hammock) has access to lightning fast Starlink which was 100% dependable during our visit.

The food is exactly what any adventurer needs. Every morning the housekeeper and chef extraordinaire, Yanina, prepares fresh fruit, juice, and a hearty plate of eggs, avocado, bread (or pancakes), and a protein. The lunch consists of a couple packed sandwiches, fresh fruit, dehydrated fruits, and nuts with raisins since you’ll be on the trail seeing the sights. Dinner was always in the main lodge and consisted of three courses – a soup with bread, a Peruvian entrée (lomo saltado, aji de gallina, etc.) and then a dessert. You’ll be stuffed by the end of the meal but will not want to stop eating since it's so delicious!

As you can tell by this long review, my wife and I couldn’t have been happier staying at the Llanganuco Mountain Lodge. Charlie is such an amazing individual and what he’s created from the ground up is nothing short of remarkable. We’re so thankful we had the opportunity to have met him and stayed at his...

Fantabulous................! At best, words are poor approximation of experiences and particularly here in Llanganuco Lodge………… After 2 hours drive, part of it on an unpaved dirt road, we arrived at the lodge situated at 12000 feet below towering, magnificent snow caped Cordilleras Blanca. The view and the place literally and figuratively took our breath away, otherworldly.

The lodge itself consists of a number of buildings which are unobtrusive and blend with the mountainous environment. One can have as much or as little privacy as one desires and the atmosphere meditatively calm and peaceful.

We were greeted by two Rhodesian Ridgebacks who couldn’t be happier to see the two strangers appearing in their slice of heaven. We were taken to a spacious, beautiful room with a huge and inviting bed, wood burning stove and a bathtub/shower which provided our aching bones with much relief after incredible hikes.

The staff, starting with the owner Charlie, the manager, the volunteers, cooks and others were truly remarkable. Friendly, warm, helpful, knowledgeable, all without being intrusive. Long conversations about things which matter to all and to some more than to others. These people were such an important part of our experience, they will always be remembered and I hope that with some, our path will cross again……..

The food was plentiful, delicious and nutritious prepared with much care. Both breakfast and dinner were great opportunity to socialize and interact with staff and other guests as much or as little as one desired.

The lodge is a home to some incredible hikes and treks, be it day long or multi-day, all based on ability, desire and willingness. I have traveled the world over and suffice to say that these hikes are some of the most beautiful and challenging I ever experienced. The staff at the lodge provided us with detailed maps, printed/verbal instructions and guides if needed or desired. A word of caution though; one needs to be acclimatized to altitudes from 12000 feet and up otherwise, the beauty of the hikes will be lost in altitude sickness.

Llanganuco Lodge and its staff is a High place both literally ands figuratively. My heart’s desire is to...