Huaraz – Destination for Mountains & Culture

Vibrant Exciting Huaraz!

Adventure!
Mountains!
Culture!
History!

Huaraz is a mecca for outdoor adventure and is considered to be the centre for trekking, hiking & climbing in Peru.

It is also a very relaxing place to stay and “chill out” for those who appreciate incredible mountain scenery and local culture but maybe are not quite so active. With its very close proximity to the snow capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca Huaraz has one of the most majestic surroundings of anywhere in Perú or even in the world!.

The city is nestled into the valley Callon de Huaylas and is flanked by mountains – on one side the dry Cordillera Negra, the “wheat basket” of Ancash province, and the other side the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. The city skyline is dominated by the massive Huascaran, the highest peak in Peru at a daunting altitude of 6,768m.

Huaraz is the capital of the department of Ancash located about 400km north of Lima at altitude 3090m. It is a lively friendly city of around 150,000 inhabitants with colourful local markets, cafes, hotels, restaurants, night clubs, museums, archaeological sites, local crafts & ceramics, and natural hot springs.

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The city and people have endured a series of past natural disasters, including a 1941 massive avalanche from Palcaraju mountain which unleashed a flood of ice & rock completely destroying most of the city and then the 1970 earthquake & subsequent avalanche from Huascaran again demolishing the city of Huaraz and obliterating the satellite city of Yangay, with total loss of life estimated at more than 20,000 souls. The local people have tremendous spirit and fortitude, have rebuilt the city and surrounding villages and have a zest for life that shines through in their big smiles and cheery natures.

The city and surrounding area has a relaxed atmosphere; the local people retain a traditional way of life and are warm, friendly, open hearted and welcoming to visitors.

The atmosphere is much more relaxed and “laid back” than the other busier more touristy areas of Peru, and Huaraz offers the perfect place to escape from the frantic pace of the busy tourist circuits to appreciate local culture and spectacular mountains.

Huaraz is also LESS EXPENSIVE and relatively SAFER than some of the more publicised areas of Peru. You can browse through shops and street side craft stalls without being hassled to buy. Local people are friendly and helpful without being “pushy”.

Huaraz combines countless possibilities for day tours & hikes including to pre-Inca sites, trekking, hiking or climbing adventures with relaxing in the city in the sun in the many outdoor plazas and cafes.

Huaraz Offers:

• Pre Inca Archaeological Sites
• Cafes, Restaurants, Outdoor Plazas
• Museum of Ancash – contains the largest collection of ancient stone sculptures in South America
• Local Market
• Craft Fair
• Shopping in bustling local street markets
• Bars and Nightlife
• Thermal Baths
• Festivals
• Sightseeing Tours
• Hikes, Treks, Climbing, Mountain Biking
• Archaelogical pre-Inca sites – Chavin de Huantar, Wilkawain, Joncopampa
• Children friendly tours & hikes
• Friendly welcoming local people

And much more!

Huaraz has it all!

ESCAPE to Huaraz for the holiday of a lifetime!

Contact Us for help and advice in planning your Huaraz Peru holiday – whether it is a relaxing stay in Huaraz with tours, day hikes or a trekking or climbing adventure

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