The gateway to the spectacular Cordillera Blanca, Huaraz has become northern Peru's epicentre for adrenaline-fuelled activities and an outdoor lovers dream. In fact, what was not so long ago a sleepy town unknown to many on the backpacker circuit is quickly becoming a must-do stop on the way to or from Ecuador. With so many spectacular hikes in the surrounding areas it is likley to remain a top destination for trekkers and hikers for a while to come. If you love outdoor adventures, spectacular mountain scenery and camping under the stars, then Huaraz and the surrounding Cordillera Blanca is the perfect destination for you.

Mountaineers from all over the world have been defeated in their attempts to conquer this knife-edge summit of Alpamayo Mountain. Situated in the heart of Huascaran National Park, it is often described as the world’s most beautiful peak and attracts mountaineers and climbers from all over the world. Its pyramidal form ends in a pointed summit which appears to actually  touch the incredible  blue Andean sky above the Cordillera Blanca, the highest tropical mountain chain in the world. AlpamayoMountain is spectacular, both for those who admire it from below, and those who dare to climb it. The true definition of an Off The Beaten Track experience!

The most common activities in the Cordillera Huayhuash are trekking and climbing, the first being more popular. Recently, due to the construction of new unpaved roads, the access is greatly improved and you can now visit parts of the Cordillera Huayhuash even if you have only four days to spend.  In 2002 the Peruvian government declared the Cordillera Huayhuash a national reserve and the region is administered by seven communities, each charging an entry fee for their respective area. From the melting of the alpine ice and snow, beautiful lakes, streams and rivers are born, which flow to both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.