Huaraz

Huaraz is the town most hikers and climbers use as a base in the Cordillera Blanca, the Andean range with Peru's highest peaks.

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Huaraz is a city in the Ancash region of northern Peru, at about 3,000 meters (roughly 10,000 feet) in the Callejón de Huaylas. This long valley lies between the Cordillera Blanca to the east and the Cordillera Negra to the west. Most of the town's hotels, tour operators, cafés and restaurants sit along its central streets, which makes Huaraz the main service point for the mountains around it.

Most visitors come for the Cordillera Blanca. Its highest summit, Huascarán, is Peru's tallest mountain at 6,768 meters (22,205 feet), and the range has many glacier lakes that day hikes and multi-day treks reach. Hikers, climbers and photographers who want big mountain views, with places to eat and buy supplies nearby, will find the base suits them. Plan several days to acclimatize, since altitude affects many people. The dry season, roughly May to September, is the most reliable time for trails. Three to five days covers the main day hikes.

Huaraz in five

Acclimatize before the high trailsHuaraz sits at about 3,000 m, and the Laguna 69 trailhead is far higher. Spend a day or two in town before the long hike, and drink water steadily from the start.
Book Laguna 69 with a tour or a booked vanThe trailhead lies beyond Yungay, so the day has two transfers before the hike begins. A day tour or a booked van from town handles both and gets you to the trail early.Tours and tickets
Carry soles in small notesColectivos, mototaxis and market stalls often take only cash, usually in soles. Change larger notes at a bank or a shop before you head up the valley.Money and costs
Get the Huascarán park ticket before the trailEntry to Huascarán National Park is charged, and many of the valley's best hikes sit inside it. Check current fees and sales points with SERNANP, the national park service, before you go.
Set up an eSIM before the busMobile signal is patchy along the Callejón de Huaylas and gone on many trails. Set up an eSIM or local SIM and load offline maps for the Huaraz area before you travel.Phones and eSIM

Things to do in Huaraz

See all attractions in Huaraz

Sight · HuarazPiscigranja de Truchas - Huaraz

Sight · HuarazPolicia Nacional

A mountain range with a house in the foreground

Restaurant · HuarazJose Olaya

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to HuarazPut the places you like in Huaraz on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Sol (PEN)
Entry: Visa-free entry for many passports; immigration stamps your stay on arrival Read more
Emergency: 105 police, 116 fire, 106 ambulance
Tipping: Not required; some restaurants add a 10% service charge
Time: UTC-5, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain27 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Wet, cloudy
FebruaryRain25 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Wettest, cloudy
MarchRain28 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Rains, green
AprilRain25 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Rains easing
MayRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh17°Low7°Dry, clear skies
JunePartly cloudy6 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh17°Low6°Dry, cold nights
JulyPartly cloudy4 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh18°Low5°Dry, busy trails
AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh18°Low6°Dry, clear days
SeptemberRain17 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh18°Low7°Dry, warming
OctoberRain24 rainy days1 snowy day3 days with stormsHigh16°Low7°Rains begin
NovemberRain21 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh16°Low7°Rains begin
DecemberRain26 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh16°Low7°Wet season

Average daily high and low in Huaraz, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Huaraz

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 14°
Humidity: 53%
Wind: 8 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Huaraz

05:38 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today23°7°100%Monday: Rain. High 23°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 100%.
Tue22°9°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed22°8°90%Wednesday: Rain. High 22°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 90%.
Thu23°7°94%Thursday: Rain. High 23°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 94%.
Fri20°7°98%Friday: Rain. High 20°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 98%.
Sat20°8°94%Saturday: Rain. High 20°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 94%.
Sun21°8°94%Sunday: Rain. High 21°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 94%.

Updated 03:16 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.467 PEN

Amount

Converted to

PEN · Peruvian Sol

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Yungayabout 1 to 1.5 hours by roadThe town was buried by the 1970 earthquake and avalanche, and the cemetery is a solemn stop on the way to the lakes.
Llanganuco lakesabout 2 to 3 hours by roadTwo high lakes below the snowcapped peaks, reached on the road through Yungay.
Chavín de Huántarabout 3 to 4 hours by roadA pre-Inca temple site known for carved stone and a network of underground galleries, listed by UNESCO.
Carazabout 1.5 to 2 hours by roadA quiet market town on the valley floor, a base for the Lake Parón hike.

Before you go to Huaraz

eSIM for HuarazSignal drops in the valleyRead the guide

Travel insurance for PeruCheck cover for high-altitude hikesRead the guide

Money and cards in PeruCash for colectivos and marketsRead the guide

Stays in HuarazBases in town and the valleyRead the guide

Rules for Huaraz, checked

Peru admits many nationalities without a visa, and immigration stamps your stay on arrival. Check your passport status at migraciones.gob.pe before you book.
Declare food, plants and animal products on the customs form at arrival. Customs officers can check your luggage at the airport.
Coca leaves are sold in Peru, but they cannot be taken out of the country, so do not pack them for home.
Huascarán National Park charges an entry fee. Check current rules and prices with SERNANP before you go.

Plan around Huaraz

All of Peru

Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Peru trip

Read the guide Getting around Peru

Buses, flights and car hire between Lima, the coast and the Andes

Read the guide Where to stay

Places to base yourself in town and in the valley

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, cards and typical prices for food, rides and sights

Read the guide Visas and entry

Entry rules and what to check before you fly to Peru

Read the guide Tours and tickets

Day tours to the lakes and how to book park entry

Read the guide

Huaraz FAQ

Is Huaraz worth visiting?

Yes if you want mountains, glacier lakes and hiking in the Cordillera Blanca. The town is a practical base with restaurants and tour offices, but the walks are the main reason to come.

How hard is the Laguna 69 hike?

It is a long, high day with a steep climb near the end, and the thin air slows many hikers. Acclimatize in town first and start early, because the afternoon is often cloudy.

How do you get from Lima to Huaraz?

An overnight bus from Lima takes about 8 hours on a winding road. Some flights reach Huaraz's Anta airport, but schedules are limited, so check them before you book.

How many days do you need in Huaraz?

Plan at least four days to acclimatize, take one day trip and do one longer hike. A week lets you add a second valley base or a lake day without rushing.

Is Huaraz good for beginner hikers?

Yes, if you pick shorter valley walks first and build up. Several lakes are high enough that altitude is the hard part, not the trail itself.