Huaraz: Paradise for Mountain Lovers

The Cordillera Blanca is arguably one of the most beautiful ranges in Peru. It has numerous "nevados", or snow-capped peaks, including Huascarán, the highest summit in Peru, which rises to 6768 meters. Many of these peaks have glaciers and attract mountaineers (known here as "andinistas") from all over the world.

The Cordillera Blanca is also a paradise for hikers and trekkers. It offers treks from 1 to 10 days through sumptuous mountain scenery. The best known is the Llanganuco-Santa Cruz trek, usually done in 4 days, which passes by, among other things, the turquoise Llanganuco lagoon. These hikes take place at an average altitude of nearly 4000 meters and cross passes at nearly 5000 meters. Excellent physical fitness is therefore recommended!

Another favorite area for lovers of big mountain treks is the Cordillera Huayhuash. Further away from Huaraz and therefore less easily accessible, it offers pristine mountain scenery, explored in particular during a great 10-day trek that circles it.

For those not drawn to long hikes, day excursions allow you to discover the magnificent scenery of the Cordillera Blanca without tiring yourself out. For example, a one-day excursion lets you admire the splendid Llanganuco lagoon in the heart of Huascarán National Park. It also passes through the villages of the Callejón de Huaylas, Caraz, Carhuaz, and finally the Yungay cemetery, where 25,000 people died when this small town was completely buried by a mudslide in 1970.

A day excursion also allows you to get close to the glacier of the Nevado Pastoruri, at 4900 meters of altitude. Another excursion lets you visit the archaeological site of Chavin de Huantar, one of the oldest in Peru, which includes underground passages.

Finally, the Callejon de Huaylas valley ends in a narrow, deep canyon called the "cañón del pato", which can be reached from the village of Caraz.