Lac Carhuacocha (Peru)

Carhuacocha Lake will certainly be one of the most beautiful places you pitch your tent on your trek through the Cordillera Huayhuash mountain range. The scenery on each day of your walk will of course be captivating, but the views you get of the vertiginous heights of Yerupaja, Sarapo and Siula Grande from the lake are especially spectacular. Imagine waking up first thing in the morning, opening your tent, and being greeted by the sight of three immense snow-capped peaks directly in front of you. It's a pretty nice way to start the day, and a lot better than a triple espresso when it comes to getting you fully awake again after a spending a chilly night lulled by the thunderous sound of cracking glaciers.

I arrived at the lake on the second day of the walk, and the memory of picnicking up at that altitude is a particularly special one. The colour contrast presented by the scenery, with its combination of turquoise, dark blue, green and black, is quite breathtaking to see. Like virtually everyone else who does it, and as you've no doubt realised, I absolutely loved doing this walk!