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Situated at 3,050m (10,007ft), this thriving small town has a good climate and a lively atmosphere. It exudes energy, with its bustling Indian markets, some excellent discos, and plenty of hiking and climbing gringos.
You will meet plenty of people here and it is easy to get local information. This is an incredible hiking and climbing area, with fascinating flora and fauna and the remains of several pre-Inca cultures and also some Inca remains.
The focus of the area is the Callejón de Huaylas, the name given to the Río Santa valley which separates the Cordillera Negra (west) from the Cordillera Blanca (east) in the department of Ancash in Peru's northern highlands. The department capital, Huaraz, is at the southern end. A paved road runs through the length of this valley, linking the villages and providing spectacular views and access to the big Nevados of the Cordillera Blanca, including Huascaran, Peru's highest mountain.
THE CORDILLERAS BLANCA AND HUAYHUASH
There are three cordilleras (mountain ranges) in Ancash: the Cordillera Negra, the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera
Huayhuash.
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