Is Huaraz worth visiting?
Is Huaraz worth visiting?
The Andean Mountains are full of mysterious cultures and remote snowy towns, and Huaraz is the gateway to it all.
This small city is perfect for enjoying the more humble way of Peruvian living, and is the perfect base camp for exploring various glacial lakes and hikes within the nearby Huascarán National Park.
In this article we’ll list the seven best reasons to visit Huaraz, as well as cover any other important information you’ll need to know.
Is Huaraz worth visiting?
Quick Answer: Any traveler that loves hiking or seeing incredible mountain backdrops simply must visit Huaraz along their route through Peru.
The town remains very traditional, and walking around you’ll find many cozy restaurants which are perfect for getting a caldo and hot drink. It’s also full of scenic viewpoints, with the Mirador Rataquenua the very best for panoramic vistas.
It is obscure towns like Huaraz that make Peru worth visiting time and time again!
From Huaraz we can visit many stunning glacial lakes, with Parón and Churup the easiest to reach (both in terms of altitude and difficulty level).
Those after a challenge will prefer the infamous Laguna 69 hike. There’s also many incredible mountain hikes too, such as around the Santa Cruz circuit.
Travelers who prefer having everything organized for them will love this 4-Day Tour Highlights Tour of Huaraz, where you’ll visit Lake 69, Pastoruri Glacier as well as the ruins of Chavín de Huantár. This will literally take all the pain out of planning it yourself.
Where is Huaraz?
Huaraz is situated within the center of Peru, nestled between the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra mountain ranges.
This means that Huaraz is a high altitude city, located up at 3052m (a little less than Cusco, but still more than Arequipa and Ayacucho).
Despite Huaraz seemingly being located in the remote wilderness far from any other city, Lima is actually just a 6 hour bus ride away. The other somewhat close city is Trujillo, which is located on the Pacific Coast and takes around 8 hours to reach by bus.
How far is Huaraz from Lima?
Huaraz is located just over 400 km north of Lima, and the easiest way of getting here is by taking the bus.
You can easily book your bus on RedBus prior, with most companies departing from the Terminal Norte in the north of the city (although some also leave from Victoria which is closer to Miraflores).
Given the bus takes 6 hours, we recommend leaving on a late hour bus so you can arrive in the early morning. This way you avoid wasting daytime whilst traveling on the bus.
Be sure to bring a jumper and blanket on-board with you, since it can get quite cold at night (especially as many bus operators tend to bizarrely leave air-conditioning on too!).
Once you arrive you’ll want to take it slow the first day before hitting the hikes. Once you’ve adjusted to the higher altitudes, you can then check out the best hikes to do here.
Also, we highly recommend that you aim to book your accommodation in Huaraz (before you arrive here) because the best places tend to get booked up quicker than the rest.
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7 Reasons to Visit Huaraz
Are you still wondering if Huaraz is really worth the visit? Here’s 7 awesome reasons why you should head to this remote Andean city.
1. Unforgettable Mountain Hikes
Huaraz is known as the unofficial hiking capital of Peru, and for good reason too.
It’s sandwiched between the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra, and is also located close to the stunning Huascarán National Park. This means there’s a tonne of snow-capped peaks and hiking routes just waiting to be explored.
Those after a simple day trip will want to head up Nevado Mateo with this organized hike, which includes all transport, hiking gear and meals. Located up at 5180m, it’s not the easiest, however with proper preparation it will be a really fun and memorable hike.
If you’re after a true adventure, then you’ll want to take on the Santa Cruz Circuit which is arguably one of the most scenic in the entire country. On this 4-Day Trek you’ll have all meals and gear provided, as well as help bringing your extra bags with you.
You’ll also get to visit many hidden lakes like that of Jatuncocha, as well as have some epic sunrise views from your camp.
2. Experience a Humble Peruvian City
We’ll be honest – Peruvian Cities can be chaotic at the best of times, especially in certain areas in the larger ones like Lima and Arequipa.
However Huaraz is much more laid-back, and although still busy in the center it’s a great way of seeing the real Peru.
It’s common to see locals wearing traditional Andean clothing, and laughing over a hot caldo in the late evening.
You can also walk along Jirón José Olaya, which is officially the oldest street to remain in the city after a series of violent earthquakes had destroyed the rest. Walking along this tight avenue gives us a great insight into what life has always looked like in Huaraz, and also for its various shops and markets to pick up a souvenir or two.
So whilst the majority of travelers only head on day trips and hikes from Huaraz, be sure to use your off-days to get to know this incredible city and its roots. You won’t be disappointed.
3. Visit Stunning Glacial Lakes
Whilst we can find lakes throughout the country like that of Lake Titicaca, those around Huaraz are by far the most scenic with their backdrop of ever-present snow and rugged mountains.
Laguna 69 is the bucket-list visit here, and could easily be one of the most memorable parts of your trip to Huaraz.
It’s a challenging hike, so you’ll want to first get acclimated (difficult terrain in an altitude of circa 4600m), however the end view will be worth it. You can join this half-day hiking tour, which includes hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Getting to these incredible lakes doesn’t have to be difficult though, and Lake Parón is our top choice for travelers who have just arrived in Huaraz or want to take it easy.
Here you’ll be able to see the icy blue lake (or green depending on cloud cover) in all its glory, and only need to hike for an hour to reach the mirador.
4. Try Andean Cuisine
If you’re heading to Huaraz, then you simply cannot miss out on the food scene here.
It’s similar to what’s found in Cusco and Arequipa, however is less for “tourists eyes” and feels much more authentic.
Hot soups are a must in the early morning or evening when temperatures are chilly, and we recommend getting a Sopa a la Minuta or Sancochado to kick things off.
You can then try other local staples too such as a Papa a la Huancaina (potato slices with a creamy sauce native from Peru’s mountains) or the famous green dish of Ocopo (similar but with a smoother-tasting sauce).
There are a couple of local restaurants next to the Parque del Bombero worth visiting (can’t remember the name, but it’s just a block north of the Plaza de Armas.
There’s also the nearby El Rinconcito Minero too for both local dishes and comfort foods. You can also eat Cuy here in Huaraz, which whilst will put many off, is a true highlight of Peruvian cuisine!
5. Wander around Novel Churches on your days off from Hiking
Definitely one of the least mentioned parts of visiting Huaraz, the town has many charming cathedrals worth seeing when relaxing in the city.
The Iglesia Del Señor De La Soledad is frequently missed, however is the most stunning and is just 6 blocks east of the main Plaza de Armas (within the Plazuela de la Soledad). It’s known for its beautiful architecture, and stands out amongst the rest of the buildings in the city.
The Catedral de la Diócesis de Huaraz is another must-visit too, and is the main cathedral found in the Plaza de Armas. You’ll most likely pass it several times walking around, and after visiting you can also head to the indoor market next-door.
You can also visit the nearby town of Yungay, where its cathedral is in a more remote setting with an incredible backdrop of mountains behind.
6. Explore the lesser-known Ancient Culture of Peru
If you’ve already been traveling around Peru, then you’ll most likely have already seen various ancient ruins.
And from the cultures of Lima to the Incas who ruled from the mountains around Cusco, there’s all sorts to see in this country. The Ancash region (of which Huaraz is part of) was once home to the Chavín culture, which flourished between 900-200 BCE and pre-dates the Incas and many other civilisations.
They were known for their abilities in refining gold, as well as creating sites that used advanced architectural techniques to adapt to the harsher environmental pressures.
One of the most famous sites to visit is Chavín de Huántar, which was built over 5000 years ago.
Located within the remote mountains, it was the beating heart of the empire and was used for various rituals and gatherings.
You can visit with this day tour, where you’ll also get to stop at Querococha Lake along the way.
7. Visit one of South America’s last remaining Glaciers
Everyone has heard about Perito Moreno in Argentina, however Peru also has its own giant glacier worth visiting.
Pastoruri Glacier is located within the Cordillera Blanca, and is special since it’s one of just a handful of glaciers still remaining within the tropical areas of the continent.
Whilst you used to be able to get here independently, it’s now only accessible via a tour in order to further protect the site.
We recommend heading with this day tour, which includes all transport and entrance tickets. Make sure to bring a rain-jacket since hail and stormy weather is common here, as well as the impromptu thunderstorms.
Pastoruri is located at a sobering altitude of 5250m, so it’s best to leave this one until last once your body has acclimated to the higher altitudes and previous treks you’ve done from Huaraz.
Is Huaraz worth visiting?
And that’s all for our guide on why you should visit Huaraz.
A must for hiking enthusiasts, we also think Huaraz should be on every traveler’s itinerary as they head through Peru.
Here we’ll find many snow-capped mountains, giant glaciers and also bright blue lagoons tucked away in the Huascarán National Park. The town also provides a cozy and warm culture too, which is perfect for relaxing in between day trips and hikes.
Be sure to read our Backpacking Peru Itinerary for more ideas on where to go in this diverse South American nation.
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