14km to laguna 69… was it worth it? + 180° reclining bus review back to Lima

Описание: huaraz, peru, laguna 69 at 4,600m.

welcome to episode 33

today is the long-awaited laguna 69 hike. after a proper sleep and finally feeling somewhat acclimatised, we wake up early, eat breakfast near the trailhead, and start the 14km journey into the mountains.

i’ve done higher altitudes before and felt fine. so part of me thought this would be straightforward. but altitude doesn’t really care about confidence. the weather shifts, my body feels heavier than expected, oscar loses my pants, we celebrate a birthday at the lake, and somewhere in the middle of it all i realise how much i’ve changed.

old me would’ve pushed harder. ignored the breaks. tried to prove something. this time, i pace myself. i stop. i listen. i let the mountain be the mountain.

after dinner in huaraz with new friends, i board the 180° reclining night bus back to lima and test whether it’s actually worth the price difference.

sometimes growth looks dramatic. sometimes it just looks like resting when you need to.

playlist:
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0:00 made it to laguna 69 — was it worth it?
0:39 cost breakdown (bus + entry fees)
2:19 starting the 14km laguna 69 hike
2:52 altitude struggle begins
3:33 learning to pace myself at 4,600m and listen to my body
4:49 the race is long but in the end its only with yourself
6:05 finally seeing laguna 69
7:13 birthday at 4,600m
7:40 lost my pants on the mountain
8:19 cow moment + quiet reflection, rivers carve themselves out of the mountain
9:27 bring me to food
11:28 showered and sussing the stressed vibes of everyone at the hostel getting ready for nightbus
12:36 on the way to my bus, Huaraz tuesday nightlife
14:16 180° reclining bus to lima — worth it?