Huaraz

Huaraz is a friendly town in the Ancash region of Peru.

Understand

Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. See Altitude sickness for advice and more information.

July is a good time to visit the region; the temperature is perfect for walking and the sky is free from clouds / rain. It's also a good time as the July period has many of Peru's annual event celebration dates. The town puts on a tremendous night of entertainment each year for most of the days, featuring live music and more. Well worth a look if you are in the region.

A town of 100,000, it blends a mix of modern and native culture. The town has many markets and shops catering to tourist needs and local needs. The food markets are especially interesting and are a great starting point for getting supplies for expeditions. Be sure to shop about before purchasing/hiring (especially for mountaineering gear) as often a better price can be found elsewhere with a bit of bargaining.

The town has many places offering cheap internet access; although a bit slow, the connection is usually reliable. The town has a big post office and a few banks. Huaraz also has a mix of old and new restaurants offering a variety of dishes. Cuy (guinea pig) is a national speciality; perhaps something to say one has tried but not something to make a diet off! The night life in the town is a lot better than that of Lima; there are a few night clubs and many bars open late. Clearly common sense would advise people not to travel alone at night, but one felt safe in the city where the locals were very willing to help out where possible. Like many places in Peru, it's not wise to take much money at with you in at anyone time if you can possibly avoid it.

Get in

Huaraz is approx. 6hr coach drive from Lima; it's simple and a reasonably cheap and reliable service.

There are several daily busses to and from Chimbote. It's a rough 8 hour busride, the road is horrible and the busses bad and overcrowded. The views are stunning. Price is around s/. 25.

Every 20 minutes or so combis leave for Caraz visiting Carhuaz and Yungay on the way.

Get around

In Huaraz, taxi's are cheap and fast for getting about the town.

Be wary of dubious taxi drivers / cabs. Peru does have a problem with taxis in some places, and tourists have been known to be mugged/assaulted in them. On a non-sexist note, female travellers should be careful not to travel alone, especially in taxis and especially at night.

See

• Movies. Those travellers hankering for a new release in a movie theater will be disappointed to learn that there is no movie theater in Huaraz. Approximately a decade ago there was a functioning theater but it shut down due to low profits. However, a cafe called the Huaraz Satyricon shows movies (often new releases) on their large 5 foot screen in the cafe, for 4 soles. Free popcorn is included with the price of admission, and the cafe also sells falafel sandwiches and large chocolate chip cookies.

Do

• Trekking - The region is a trekkers paradise; it features breath taking views and an escape from the hive of people seen in other famed trekking locations like the Inca trail. Although one could do it on ones own, it's advisable to get a guide / run it through a specialist company. There are many companies offering these services. Churup : A very friendly, family run service who run high quality hostel and organizes trekking. They offer a variety of treks around the region, from short walks to long treks. Well organised and experienced.

• Andean Kingdom, Kuzuriaga 522, is a well recommended travel agency. They provide info, rent out equipement and organize trekking or climbing tours. They also have a bouldering cave.

Warning - EuroInka Trek, a trek hire shop, has dubious equipment and an even more dubious safety record. It is important that you personally check all your kit that you hire before agreeing to pay for it, and make sure you don't accept sub-standard gear.

see Cordillera Blanca for more trekking info.

Eat

• Mercado central. On the second floor you can indulge in a true Peruvian setmeal of soup, rice and chicken and limonade. All for 2.50 soles. The first floor is good for stocking up for your trek.

• Chifas, there are several in town. There dishes are cheap and feed two. And in contrast to the Peruvian cuisine they tend to sneak in some veggies.

• Fuente de Salud. Very cheap, very tasty vegetarian food. Highly recommended for vegetarians and those who are feeling the effects of travellers diahrrea.

• Siam de los Andes. A traditional Thai restaurant in the middle of small-town Peru, serves up delicious curry and stir fry dishes. Price range: moderate: 15-50 soles per meal.

• Creperie Patrick. A well-known restaurant that serves up many different styles of sweet or savory crêpes, Creperie Patrick is also known to be relatively expensive: 25-50 soles per meal.

Drink

There are several bars clustered around José de la Mar and Cajamarca to still your thurst.

• California Café, Jr. 28 de Julio. Café with a big book exchange, also doubles as library. The Californian owner organizes extreme frisbee matches every friday. Just drop in at around 10am if you're interrested.

Sleep

• Hostel Charup, =>. Located 5 minutes walk from the center of town, this hostel offers an excellent service to travellers, including secure storage of luggage, breakfast, and washing facilities. Family run, they are very helpful and offer lots of useful advice on travel and trekking. Prices range from $4 to $32.
• El Tambo, Av. Confraternidad Oeste #122 (well hidden opposite the stadium). Fine hostel close to the busterminal and four blocks from the center. It offers free internet, laundry service, kitchen use, communal area with cable tv and dvd and a simple breakfast is included in the price. Low-season price s/.10 pppn.

Stay safe

• Eating. Be careful as to what you eat as it is almost certain that you will get food poisoning and/or diarrhea at some point during your travels in Peru. Being pro-active can limit your exposure:
• * Avoid drinking un-clean water
• * Be picky about what food you eat and ensure that it has been cooked properly. What might appear to be well established restaurants can be just as bad as street traders when it comes to food hygiene.

• Sunscreen. Since Huaraz is physically and visually far from the Pacific Coast beaches, it may not occur to casual visitors to buy and use sunscreen. For those people who are planning on trekking into the mountains, or doing mountain climbing, sunscreen is a vital resource. The thin air and high altitudes increase the effects of UV penetration.

Cope

• Toilet paper. Since most restaurants and hotels in Peru do not supply toilet paper, you would be well advised to buy and hold a steady supply of this vital resource.

Get out

• Caraz. Minibuses leave frequently and the trip takes about one hour.

>