Pastoruri Glacier And Puya Raimondi Plants

This tour offers a great opportunity to visit and walk on a glacier. The glacier is fairly flat and you don't need any special equipment but, at 5240m in altitude, you need to be well acclimatized before going (best to spend 2 days in Huaraz first). The trek up to the glacier takes about 45 minutes
Many Peruvians even bring their skis and snowboards along, although it's nothing compared to other skiing areas in South America. Remember to bring along a spare pair of shoes as yours will probably get wet on the glacier.
This trip is usually combined with a visit to the Puya de Raimondii plants. These strange plants, looking more like mutated cacti, are actually the largest member of the bromeliad family (relative of the pineapple). This species is considered to be one of the oldest in the world, and can be found in only a few isolated areas of the Andes. The low bushy base of the Puya Raimondii forms a large rosette of spiky, long leaves, about 1½m across.
The plant flowers just once in its life which can be up to 100 years. This usually takes place in the month of May, when a huge central stem is pushed up to 12 meters into the sky, covered in many thousands of blooming flowers. The plant dies shortly after it blooms. If you are lucky enough to witness this event, it's an unbelievable sight set against a spectacular snowy mountain back-drop.

Contact: info@peruviantreks.com for more information and pricing on these Peru treks and hikes