Welcome to the friendly city of Huaraz . . .
Huaraz is the capital of the department of Ancash and is located in the heart of the Callejon de Huaylas (Canyon of the Mountians) (Map). Approximately 100,000 people live in Huaraz and the city depends mostly on tourism and gold or silver mining. This combination, along with the local culture, creates an atmosphere full of energy, diversity, and enjoyment unlike any other region in Perú. We are also the center for all types of outdoor sports, possibly offering the greatest opportunity for adventure in all of the Andes. The Callejon de Huaylas stretches approximately 200 km. north to south and includes two large chains of mountains, the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra. The Río Santa, with headwaters in Lake Conococha at an altitude of 4,100 meters (approx. 13,530 ft), runs the entire length of the valley and is decorated by picturesque towns and villages; the following are the most important: Recuay, Huaraz, Carhuaz, Yungay y Caraz. The village of Conococha is at an altitude of 4080 meters, Caraz is at 2290 meters, and Huaraz is in the middle with an altitude of 3090 meters.
You can travel to Huaraz from Lima through a variety of bus agencies. The trip takes about seven hours (please visit transport for advice on agencies). From the north you can travel through Chimbote or Trujillo arriving in about eight hours. There is also a small airport in the village Anta (approximately ten minutes to the north by taxi) where flights arrive and depart to Lima and other national airports. For transport to local areas and other towns in the Callejon de Huaylas look for 'combis' near the Quillcay Bridge (Map).
The main attraction in Huaraz and the Callejon de Huaylas are the magnificent (some say awesome) Andes that form a giant playground for adventure, trekking, and climbing. All of the outdoor adventure sports (skiing, ice climbing, rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, and parachuting) are practiced in the mountains and canyons of the Andes near Huaraz. The city of Huaraz has all that you might need in terms of equipment and guides for these sports (Guides and Equipment ).
The second attraction in Huaraz is the culture of the region. There is plenty of live music, dances in the Plaza de Armas, parties in the streets, patriotic festivals, and a rich regional history full of ruins to vist and legends to learn. For all of these events and explorations, Huaraz offers a central location for the sharing and celebration of life. For the larger regional festivals up to 4,000 extra Peruvians flock to Huaraz to celebrate - if you plan to travel in these dates make your hotel reservations early (Hotels).
If you are not looking for the adventure or celebration that exists in Huaraz and it's surroundings you can relax in the quiet villages, visit the natural hot springs in Monterrey and Chancos, or simply enjoy the peace and natural beauty of the surrounding countryside. If you desire a little more, you can walk the hills, explore churches, and look for the history of the region. Huaraz offers all sorts of vacations; try it, you'll like it.
The climate of Huaraz and the Cordillera Blanca is tropical not warm. Sitting at about nine degrees south latitude, and with the influences of the Humbolt Current and the altitude, the region has one of the coolest tropical climates. The months of November through the beginning of May is considered the rainy season with temperatures ranging from 20-25 degrees centigrade. May through September are the best months to vist, but are a little colder (approx. 10-20 degrees centigrade), but without rain. This is the perfect time for all the mountain sports. Please explore Huaraz and the region with the maps in this site. If you need more informacion click here for telephone numbers or here for links to other sites with informacion related to Huaraz, the Callejon de Huaylas, or Perú. You can always write to us as well.
Information | Mountains |
Adventure | Trekking | Climbing | Culture |
