Huaraz & the Cordillera Blanca

For high-altitude Andean mountain climbing, trekking, or just sightseeing, there's no better place in Peru than the breathtaking region around Huaraz. Only the Himalayas of South Asia can claim higher mountain peaks than the gorgeous Cordillera Blanca and more rugged Cordillera Huayhuash. The mountain town of Huaraz is a base camp that bustles with activity during peak tourist season, when alpinists, ice and rock climbers, mountain bikers, and backpacking trekkers flood the streets. Outfitters cater to any imaginable adventure and offer guided tours and treks, which are sometimes advisable due to safety concerns in remote areas. Huaraz is ...

For high-altitude Andean mountain climbing, trekking, or just sightseeing, there's no better place in Peru than the breathtaking region around Huaraz. Only the Himalayas of South Asia can claim higher mountain peaks than the gorgeous Cordillera Blanca and more rugged Cordillera Huayhuash. The mountain town of Huaraz is a base camp that bustles with activity during peak tourist season, when alpinists, ice and rock climbers, mountain bikers, and backpacking trekkers flood the streets. Outfitters cater to any imaginable adventure and offer guided tours and treks, which are sometimes advisable due to safety concerns in remote areas. Huaraz is also a hub for excursions to stunningly beautiful glacier-carved lakes, scenic viewpoints in the deep Cañon del Pato, and to Andean passes where rare Puya raimondii plants, members of the pineapple family, show off flowering spikes that grow up to 30 feet tall. The most famous day-trip destination around Huaraz is the ruins of Chavín de Huántar, a 3000-year-old ceremonial center with mystical underground chambers built by an artistic and culturally influential ancient civilization.

About the Expert

Sara Benson was the coordinating author for Lonely Planet's Peru and wrote the Peru chapter for South America on a Shoestring.