Things to Do in Huaraz
Top 20 Things to Do in Huaraz/Ancash
The Peruvian city of Huaraz, comes from the Quechua language and means: dawn. This city was founded as “San Sebastian de Huaraz” on January 20, 1574.
During the independence of Peru, the city welcomed and supplied the liberating army with military equipment and materials; thus earning the emblematic name of “Very generous city of Huaraz” given by the liberator Simón Bolívar. In this blog article, we present you 20 incredible things to do in the department of Huaraz/Ancash.
How to get to Huaraz/Ancash ?
There are two ways to get to the very noble and generous city of Huaraz:
- By plane, from Lima the trip lasts about 1 hour.
- By land, from Lima the trip lasts approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes.
- In a car, from Tumbes the trip takes about 18 hours.
Where to sleep in Huaraz/Ancash ?
In Huaraz/Ancash you will find from really cheap hostels to much more comfortable hotels from 1 to 5 star. Most of the accommodations are located around or close its main square.
One of the most important things, if not the most important of the trips, is the lodging. Normally this represents 50% or more of your expense and can make your stay unforgettable, in a good or bad way.
To book a hotel always keep the following in mind:
- Location.
- Access to public transport.
- Cleaning.
- Breakfast.
- Free WIFI.
- Room size.
- Treatment of staff.
- Quality of service.
- Read reviews from other travelers.
Things to do in Huaraz/Ancash ?
Huaraz, is one of the Peruvian tourist destinations, most loved by lovers of hiking and adventure. Do not miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful landscape and cultural destination.
If you would like to visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu; click on the following link: Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu by train.
Huaraz city
This city is a living sample of the pre-Hispanic and colonial Peruvian legacy; the city is home to various scenic and cultural attractions, that are wonderful. These are: Archaeological Museum of Áncash, Sanctuary of the Lord of Solitude, Thermal Baths of Monterrey, Archaeological Remains of Wilcahuain, Wilcacocha lagoon.
Archaeological Monument of Chavín
Chavín is a ceremonial center, which is located 2 hours by car from Huaraz; this ceremonial monument includes a set of amazing temples. Masterpiece of our archaeological past. It was built around 1500 – 500 BC and discovered by Julio César Tello in 1919.
When you arrive at the town of Chavín de Huantar, you can see the Plaza Mayor, the White and Black Stairs, Building A, the Pórtico de las Falcónidas, the Circular Plaza and the Cabezas Clavas. In addition to the galleries and drainage channels; what is most striking is the Monolithic Lanzón: an impressive stone sculpture in the shape of a knife. This sculpture, which is 4.53 m tall, has been carefully carved with feline, bird and snake motifs.
Wilcahuain Ruins
It is an archaeological site, that is only 7 kilometers from the city of Huaraz; This Wari archaeological center was of great political and administrative importance to the Wari civilization.
Monterrey thermal baths
These thermo medicinal baths are located 15 minutes by car from the city of Huaraz. It has private pools and also a pool for children and adults. Its sulphurous brown waters, which reach a temperature of 49 degrees; They have healing properties for acne, rheumatism, stress, cramps, fatigue, anxiety, flu, bronchial tubes and others.
Chancos Thermal Baths
These thermo medicinal baths are located in the city of Carhuaz, which is half an hour from Huaraz. The source from which the water that feeds the Chancos pools emanates has a temperature between 68º and 72ºC, however, in order for it to be suitable for the use of visitors, it is tempered from 33°C to 48°C. The properties of Chancos waters make it suitable, especially, for patients with respiratory, rheumatic or skin problems.
Callejón de Huaylas
This beautiful inter-Andean valley is made up of magnificent villages along its 180 kilometers.
This valley full of microclimates begins at the Conococha lagoon located at 4100 meters of altitude and ends in the Pato valley located at 1800 meters of altitude.
Callejon de Conchucos
This beautiful agricultural valley is not as well known as the Callejon de Huaylas; however, it is a hidden landscape treasure in the department of Ancash. It is located three and a half hours from the city of Huaraz.
Churup Lagoon
This lagoon is located 1 hour and a half by car from the city of Huaraz; you arrive at the Pitec farmhouse, from where you hike for about 3 hours up to the lagoon with turquoise waters. This beautiful lagoon is surrounded by queñuales, quishuares and ichu. Around it, there are typical species of Andean fauna such as: vizcachas, wild cats and wild ducks.
Llanganuco Lagoons
They are located 2 hours by car from Huaraz and 1 hour hike from the town of Yungay Nuevo. The lagoons are located within the Huascarán National Park and are born from the melting of the snowy mountains Huascarán, Huandoy, Pisco, Yanapaccha and Chopicalqui. The lagoons of intense turquoise color are called: Chinacocha and Orconcocha, both are surrounded by beautiful lupine flowers.
Lagoon 69
You drive for 3 hours from the city of Huaraz to the town of Cebollapampa, from where you hike for three and a half hours uphill to the beautiful and famous lagoon 69. In its surroundings you can see the snowy Chacraraju (6112 m.a.s.l.), Pisco ( 5752 m a.s.l.), Yanapaccha (5460 m.a.s.l.).
Querococha Lagoon
It is located an hour and a half from Huaraz, on the route to the town of Chavín. The visit to this lagoon is included in the tour to the Pre-Inca Archaeological Monument of Chavín de Huantar. The vegetation of the margins is composed of cattails and different varieties of grasses such as: Andean lupines.
Parón Lagoon
Parón has been classified as the largest lagoon in the Cordillera Blanca. This lagoon is located 3 hours from the city of Huaraz. It is born from the thawing of the snow-capped mountains: Aguja, Carás, Artesonraju, Pirámide Garchoso, Chacraraju, Pisco and Huandoy.
Purhuay Lagoon
It is located 5 hours from the city of Huaraz. In its intense blue waters live rainbow and gray trout and it is surrounded by vegetation typical of the Andean area such as: shrubs, blackberries, queñuales, alders and the huagancu flower (orchid). A few meters away are the pre-Inca archaeological remains of Llamacorral.
Llaca Lagoon
Its electric turquoise green waters, come from the subsoil and from the thaws of the nearby snow-capped mountains. Located an hour and a half by car from Huaraz. The Llaca lagoon can be accessed by taxi or private car or private service from a travel agency.
Nevado Pastoruri
Located 2 and a half hours by car from Huaraz. The visit to the snow- capped mountains, can be done with a travel agency, taxi or private car. There is no public transport. On the way you can see the Patococha lagoon, cave paintings, sparkling waters, Raimondi puyas and the Pumapashimi water hole. You can only go to the base of the snow and take pictures.
Santa Cruz hike
This hike is the best known and most visited in the Cordillera Blanca. It is hiked for 4 days and must be done through an authorized travel agency, because the Huascarán National Park is controlled by the Peruvian government.
Olleros-Chavín hike
It is a 37 km trail; the height is between 3450 and 4680 meters above sea level. It is an ancient route used by pre-Inca cultures to connect the beautiful Callejon de Huaylas with the Callejon de Conchucos area. It is a hike, that crosses the La Cordillera Blanca, through the Yanashallash pass and with an exceptional view of the snow-capped Uruashraju.
Nevado Huascarán
You travel from Huaraz by car for one hour and 20 minutes to the town of Mushu; from where you start a 4 hour hike to base camp. For those who decide to climb to the top of Huascaran (the highest in Peru, 6,768 m) the expedition lasts from 6 to 7 days. This challenge must be done with a travel agency and a high mountain guide.
Nevado Alpamayo
It is one of the most beautiful peaks in the world. The Alpamayo has a height of 5947 m and is surrounded by abundant Andean flora and fauna. It must be climbed for 6 days on a compulsory basis through a travel agency and a high mountain guide.
Cordillera Huayhuash
The hike through the Cordillera Huayhuash is one of the most beautiful in the world. Located south of the Cordillera Blanca and with an extension of 30 km; The Cordillera Huayhuash is an incredible but compact group of huge ice towers surrounded by dozens of streams, deep turquoise lagoons and a great diversity of flora and fauna. Here is the impressive Yerupajá (6,634 m), the second highest mountain in Peru and the legendary, Siula Grande (6,336 m), a mountain famous for being the setting for Joe Simpson’s epic survival story, “Touching the void”.
What are the top attractions to visit in Huaraz/Ancash ?
- Santa Cruz hike
- Cordillera Huayhuash
- Alpamayo Peak
- Nevado Huascarán
- Nevado Pastoruri
- Lagoon 69
- Churup Lagoon
- Parón Lagoon
- Callejón de Huaylas
What are the most popular things to do in Huaraz/Ancash with kids?
- Callejón de Huaylas
- Callejon de Conchucos
- Llanganuco Lagoons
- Querococha Lagoon
- Monterrey thermal baths
- Chancos Thermal Baths
If you would like to get to Machu Picchu hiking; click on the following link: Machu Picchu Treks.
5 typical and exotic dishes from Huaraz/Ancash
