Huaraz is famous across South America as the "trekking capital of Peru", but as well as the stunning trekking opportunities the city is also surrounded by interesting sights worth visiting on a Huaraz tour, including the thermal baths, the vivid turquoise lake of Llanganuco, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chavin de Huantar.
This tour can be added on to any of our holidays in Peru, or can be booked in isolation - just enquire for further details.
Tour Information
Huaraz and surrounding region – 4 days / 3 nights
Highlights:Thermal baths, Yungay, mountain views of the Andes and Huascaran mountain.
Departures: Daily from Huaraz. Note that this extension ends late on the final day, so one option may be to consider an extra night in Huaraz. The city of Huaraz can be reached by bus from various cities across Peru, including Lima, and by flight from Lima. Please contact us to discuss options.
This extension can be added to any tour package – this includes any of our standard tour itineraries, or as part of a unique itinerary to suit your travel plans.
Day 1, Huaraz City Tour and Thermal Baths of Monterrey:
Upon arrival in the city of Huaraz you will be collected and transported to your hotel to check in. Later in the morning you will go on a city tour of Huaraz to visit the most impressive tourist sights in the area, including the beautiful white church of “Señor de la Soledad”, a typical and very traditional Andean city street called José Olaya street, a local trout farm and a look-out point over the city and the mountains in the background. The tour will conclude with a visit to the thermal baths of Monterrey, used by the local indigenous community for many generations.
Meals: None
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Day 2, Callejon de Huaylas and Llanganuco Lake:
After breakfast in your hotel you will depart on a truly exceptional tour day. You will depart by bus up the Huaylas valley, with fabulous views of the Andean mountain range. During the journey you will be able to appreciate the traditional villages of Anta, Marcara, and Carhuaz, where you will be able to taste local ice cream prepared using pure fruit. The tour will continue to “El Campo Santo de Yungay”, a protected national cemetery and garden in memory of the thousands of people who died in the town as a consequence of the 1970 Ancash earthquake. The cemetery is built on a small hill overlooking the site where the town once stood, with views towards the giant mountain of Huascarán (6768m) only 15km away. Continuing further into the mountains the tour will reach Llanganuco Lake, famous throughout Peru due to its beautiful location and vivid turquoise colour. On the return back to Huaraz the tour will stop at the town of Caraz, where you will be able to try traditional Peruvian deserts, and the village of Taricá before returning to your hotel in Huaraz for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 3, Chavin de Huantar Tour:
After breakfast in your hotel you will set off towards the famous ruins of Chavin de Huantar on a route that will pass and will allow you to appreciate the Andean villages of Recuay and Tica Pampa, the fabulous Querococha lake, and will pass through the Cahuish tunnel, one of the highest tunnels in the world. You will then arrive at your destination: the impressive Unesco World Heritage archaeological site of Chavin de Huantar, situated over 3000m above sea level and over 3000 years old, where you will be able to see the site including the subterranean tunnels, the famous Chavin lances, and the Chavin stone skull sculptures. After visiting the site you will return to Huaraz to be returned to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 4, Mountain Springs and Ancient Cave Paintings:
In the morning you will travel by bus to the Andean villages of Recuay, Ticapampa and Catac where you will be able to see traditional Andean life in traditional and colonial villages. Your journey will continue deeper into the Andes, where you will be able to see Lake Patococha, which is home to native bird species including the Andean duck with its blue beak. You will also visit natural marvels, including Pumapampa – a natural hot water spring, Pumashimi – a beautiful water spring with a dazzling natural array of sharp contrasting colours, and see many Puya Raymondi – natural plants of astonishing height. As the journey continues into the Andes you will stop off to see ancient cave paintings, before reaching your final destination in the roof of the Andes where you can play and slide on Andean mountain snow.
Meals: Breakfast
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