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Travel Guide Huaraz

CITY OF HUARAZ

Huaraz is located in the middle of the Callejón de Huaylas, it is one of the most important cities in the Peruvian highlands. The city is visited by adventure and high mountain sports enthusiasts who practise it in the snow-capped Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Huayhuash.

The city is watched over by the Huascarán snow-capped mountain, and has a privileged geography with scenic places like the snow-capped mountains, lagoons, archaeological sites, thermal baths. These places will encourage you to make the trip and enjoy this beautiful city.

LOCATION

The city of Huaraz is located in the centre of Peru and north of the city of Lima.

HOW TO GET TO HUARAZ FROM LIMA?

Lima-Huaraz

By bus or car: 7 hours approximately

Using the Pan-American Highway until Pativilca, then you enter the Callejón de Huaylas, the trip takes approximately 8 hours. There are 4 hours by the Panamericana Norte and 4 hours for the ascent to Huaraz.

CURRENCY

Sol ( S/ ). is the official currency of Peru.

CLIMATE

Huaraz is considered a temperate tropical mountain climate, characterized by sunny days and cold nights. The highest temperature is 24 °C and the lowest is 4 °C.

TRANSPORT

  • In Huaraz the transport consists of public transport that includes minibuses and buses. These are the ones that have a determined route. These can be hired privately for tours around the city of Huaraz.
  • Taxis. – Taxis in Trujillo are one of the best options to move around during your stay in Lima.

LODGING

The best place to stay in Huaraz is the Plaza de Armas, and then make trips to the different snow-capped mountains. 

WHAT TO DO IN HUARAZ

1.- Historic Centre of Huaraz

In the central square of Huaraz we can appreciate the Central Cathedral, the Sagrario San Sebastian, the tourist office and the Museum of archaeology which presents the historical and cultural development of the region of Ancash. In the historical centre of Huaraz we can also see the Sanctuary of the Lord of Soledad which is a beautiful church located in the Soledad square.

It would also be a good experience to taste the “Sierra Andina” beer.

2.- Chavín de Huantar

It is one of the pre-Inca jewels and is more than three thousand years old. It is said that Chavin de Huantar served as inspiration many years later to the Incas to build the sanctuary of Macchu Picchu, in Chavin de Huantar we will find:

  • Cabezas Clavas. – These are stone sculptures representing human heads with wild eyes, snake figures and fangs. It is considered that their function was to guard the ceremonial centre. 
  • The Monolithic Lance. – A stone sculpture showing a being with feline fangs, hands and feet with claws and hair turned into snakes. It is considered one of the most important icons of the Chavin culture.
  • The Raimondi Stele. – It is a sculpture that represents the God of the Staffs, since it holds the Sacred Baculum in each hand. 

3.- Huascaran National Park

It is located in the Peruvian Central Andes, in the so called “Cordillera Blanca”. It is one of the natural jewels that contains remarkable ecosystems and a wide range of flora and fauna. It has the highest Andean snow-capped mountain in Peru called Huascaran.

4.- Lagoons

In the city of Huaraz we will find the National Park of Huascarán in which there are about 434 lagoons which have a glacier origin. Those with turquoise water. In which you will be able to initiate the trips to the different places of the alley of Huaylas, among which we will be able to observe the lagoons dé.

  • Querococha Lagoon
  • Lagoon 69
  • Alpamayo snow-capped mountain
  • Lagoon Paron
  • Lagoon of Llanganuco

5.- Pastoruri Mountain

The snow-capped mountain of Pastoruri is a mountain in the centre of Peru, located in the village of Pachapaqui, it is part of the Cordillera Blanca, its summit reaches 5.240 m above sea level.  Here you can observe the Patococha Lagoon and specimens of Puya Raimondi.