In order to prepare longer treks at high altitude, it was good to start with a short one near the dynamic city of Huaraz.
First we had to take a colectivo to reach the starting point at the Puente Santa Cruz (3100m). This 7km ride stopping every 2min to squeeze always more and more people in this small van was quite an adventure!
Once dropped, we followed the path which took us through traditional Andean villages where people were working and children playing. A pleasant surprise was that some habitants stopped us to discuss about how beautiful the Cordillera Blanca is!
Finally, after a little bit more than 2 hours, we arrived at the lake and could enjoy a restful picnic in front of a beautiful view of the Cordillera Blanca.
No surprise here, you get breathless very quickly, but this first test was good!
