Huaraz Travel Guide

Huaraz, Peru’s adventure capital, is nestled in the steep-sided Callejon de Huaylas valley between the mountain ranges of the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordilllera Negra, some 400km north of Lima. The capital of the department of Ancash, the town may not look very attractive at first glance, not least because 90 per cent of it was destroyed in a devastating earthquake in 1970. But Huaraz’s privileged location at the foot of the perennially snow-capped peaks of the ‘White Range’ make it the perfect base for exploring the surrounding mountainous region. And, despite the lack of beauty, it is a pleasant town, with a lively atmosphere, where adventure-seeking travellers and locals in colourful traditional attire wander the streets side by side. Many quality restaurants, bars and hotels catering to all budgets can be found in the town, as well as an interesting museum and some pleasant squares and churches. Whatever your interests – whether scaling 6000m peaks, trekking through pristine alpine valleys, climbing immense granite walls, mountain biking on unmade roads with spectacular vistas, encountering unusual and exotic flora, wandering through traditional Andean villages, or discovering enigmatic pre-Inca ruins - Huaraz has something for everyone.