| The main destination
for visitors to the Callejon de Huaylas is the city
of Huaraz, about 8 hours by bus from Lima. The setting
of the city, at the foot of the Cordillera Blanca,
is spectacular. You can see over 20 snow-capped
peaks over 5000 meters, of which the most notable
is Huascaran (6,768m), the highest mountain in Peru.
The first thing that strikes you on arrival in Huaraz
is that it cannot exactly be called a pretty place,
with most of the buildings built from concrete.
This is because the town was completely rebuilt
following a catastrophic earthquake in 1970 which
flattened all but one street of buildings and killed
half of the city's population.
However, Huaraz can provide all the facilities and
infrastructure required by tourism. There are numerous
hotels and hostals of varying kinds. Some are very
basic, while some of the more expensive ones offer
a luxurious mountain retreat.
Just about everything you need is on or near the
main street, Calle Luzuriaga, including restaurants,
banks and the post office.
The city of Huaraz is the gateway to the mountains
of Peru. Situated on the edge of the Cordillera
Blanca and the Huascaran National Park, this area
is often referred to as the Switzerland of Peru
and it's easy to see why! There is the same selection
of pristine, crystal-clear lakes and jewelled white
peaks: the only difference is that you don't need
to take out a second mortgage to buy a pizza!
And, of course, the little matter that the spectacular
scenery that has made Huaraz Peru's trekking and
climbing capital also formed the cradle for one
of the most important pre-Inca cultures in South
America: the Chavin - so there's tons of archaeological
sites for you to explore as well. If it's trekking
and climbing adventure in Peru that you're after
then our guide Peru treks company should help you
to make it reality.
Just on the edge of Huaraz are the hot springs of
Monterrey. The waters are famous for their healing
properties and are a great place to relax and unwind
- especially after you've spent a few days trekking
and climbing! If you're looking for something more
intellectual then the Regional museum (Museo Regional
de Huaraz) is fairly small, but has an interesting
collection of Recuay, Huaylas and Chavin pieces.
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