:: Andean Adventures: Bringing the world to Peru since 1985 ::
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HUARAZ [ANCASH]
Huaraz is the main town in the Cordillera Blanca, a region crowned by some of the most beautiful mountains in the world and dotted with green and blue highland lakes fed by glacial melt waters. The Cordillera Blanca is the highest tropical mountain chain on the planet, with more than fifty peaks soaring to over 5700 m above sea level, including Huascarán, which at 6768 m is the highest mountain in Peru. Below these permanent snows the possibilities for trekking are endless, through villages where life has gone on unchanged for centuries, across a landscape grazed by llamas and watered by frigid turquoise lakes and steaming thermal springs.
This is by far the most popular hike in the Cordillera Blanca, as it deserves to be. If one were to imagine a perfect mountain trip it could not be much better than this. The circuit passes beneath a dozen towering peaks, with panoramic views of other distant mountains. The three dominant peaks along the trail are Chopicalqui (6354m/20,841ft.), Chacra Ruju (20,047ft) and Taulliraju (5830m/18122ft.). Other peaks along the route include Huascaran (the highest in Peru), Huandoy, Contrahierbas, Rinrihirca, Artesonraju, Quitaraju, Alpamayu, Caraz and Abasraju.
Chavín de Huantar
A fortress temple, Chavín was built about 600 BC and is all that remains of what was once one of the most influential cultures of the Americas. The art of the Chavín culture (1300 to 400 BC) influenced all its neighbours and was felt long after its decline. Chavín was not a warlike culture and spread its influence through peaceful interaction with its neighbours. The 1970 earthquake which devastated the region destroyed many of the underground structures at the site and now only the first few levels can be visited, but work is in progress to both excavate and light the tunnels. The main attractions of the site, which was a ceremonial centre dedicated to deities such as the jaguar, eagle and anaconda, are the marvellous carved stone heads and relief drawings. The carvings are in excellent condition, though many of the best sculptures are now in museums in Huaraz and Lima. The famous dagger-shaped stone known as the Lanzon Monolith is located inside the temple tunnel.
On the way to Chavín we pass the typical villages of Recuay, Ticapampa and Catac, as well as Lake Querococha.
