HUARAZ AND THE CORDILLERA BLANCA

Trekkers who make it over Punta Unión, a pass at 4,750 meters in the Cordillera Blanca, rub their eyes in disbelief when they first see Alpamayo. This pyramid of fluted snow lures climbers from around the world. It is but one of dozens of majestic snow giants that spring from Peru’s high grasslands to form a spectacular tumble of broken glaciers, jagged peaks, and emerald lakes such as Lagunas Llanganuco. Besides trekking, the gentle valleys that thread the range also lure both horse packers and mountain bikers, while rafters test their mettle on the Class IV waters of the Río Santa. Further south, and separated by an area of high-altitude grasslands, the Cordillera Huayhuash rises in even more dramatic shapes. This remote range can be circumnavigated along a trail that includes eight passes over 4,600 meters.

Huaraz and Vicinity

Chavín de Huántar: Built nearly 2,000 years before the Incas, this center of the Chavín Culture includes underground tunnels that lead to the Lanzón, a carved rock pillar that was the center of a cult that spread across the Andes. (read more)

Lagunas Llanganuco: These turquoise-blue, high-altitude lakes glow in the midday sun beneath the Cordillera Blanca snow pyramids. (read more)

Trekking

Parque Nacional Huascarán: Two days is enough time for a quick jaunt through this park, which includes Peru’s tallest peak. (read more)

Cordillera Huayhuash: Spend two weeks circumnavigating this stunning range, with some of the finest mountain scenery on earth. (read more)

Cordillera Negra: This often-overlooked range, just west of the Cordillera Blanca, offers challenging mountain-bike routes with panoramas of glaciers and snow peaks. (read more)