Location: Huaraz is in the central Andes at 3,000 meters (10,000 ft.) above sea level. It's located at 400 km. (250 miles) North of Lima and it takes six hours by car to get there.

Climate: Temperate, with sunny days and very cold nights, specially in winter (June to September).  It rains from December to March.

Landscapes: Huaraz is the biggest town in the Santa river valley, known as the "Callejon de Huaylas", that is located between two mountain ranges. This valley is blessed with extraordinary scenery, colorful flower fields, and the highest mountains of Peru, including the "Huascaran" (6,768 meters - 22,206 ft), that is the highest of Peru, and the second one in South America. It are also many other snow-capped mountains, lakes, hot springs and Andean animals like the puma, fox, lynx, deer, llamas, condor, etc.

History: This area was home of an ancient culture named “Chavin”, that developed between  1,500 and 300 BC. Its most important remain is known as the "the castle", and it's a building with a rectangular base, all done with rock. Inside is a network of tunnels and galleries and in one of its chambers is the "lanzon", a huge stone all carved with the face of a feline god. This temple was an important sanctuary, maybe the center of its cult. 

Activities: Mountain climbing is very popular here in Huaraz, and the reason is the high and beautiful, but dangerous, snow-capped mounts.  To climb the Huascaran Mount (highest of Peru) could take, with ideal weather, 3 or 4 days roundtrip, and it's an easy one, more difficult is the Siula Grande Mount, theme of the book "Touching the Void" of Joe Simpson. The best season to climb is from April to November.

You can also do long treks (more than a week) in the valley, and enjoy its beautiful sceneries, including snow-capped peaks, lakes and picturesque towns. Take a tour or hire a professional guide because it isn't lodges or rangers around.

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