This dataset includes measured physicochemical variables in ten rivers of the glacial valleys of Parón, Huaytapallana and Llanganuco in the Cordillera Blanca, Ancash, Peru. The environmental variables measured in the rivers include pH, turbidity conductivity, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, metal ions and anions. Channel stability assessments using the Pfankuch index are also included. This data was used to analyse the physicochemical changes under glacial retreat, studying rivers in a gradient of glacial coverage, and relate it to the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates. The sampling work was carried out from October 14 to 30, 2019 and from October 7 to 16, 2020. The study was funded by NERC, Newton‐Paulet Fund and Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico, Tecnológico y de Innovación Tecnológica-Perú. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/3684da74-6c6d-4f25-867b-62b7b68175f6

This dataset includes taxonomic and abundance data at the of benthic macroinvertebrates in ten rivers within the glacial valleys of Parón, Huaytapallana and Llanganuco in the Cordillera Blanca, Ancash, Peru. This data was created to analyse the response of aquatic biodiversity to glacial retreat, studying rivers in a gradient of glacial coverage. The sampling work was carried out from October 14 to 30, 2019 and from October 7 to 16, 2020. The study was funded by NERC, Newton‐Paulet Fund and Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico, Tecnológico y de Innovación Tecnológica-Perú Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/db604b78-c616-471b-9028-2d0826a6f50c