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15 Things to do in Huaraz

If you’ve ever dreamed of a place where you can see massive mountains, turquoise lagoons, eat amazingly well, relax your body in hot springs, and end the day with a beer while watching the mountain range… that place exists, and it’s called Huaraz.

The things to do in Huaraz don’t fit into just one trip. In fact, most people plan to stay a few days… and end up wishing they had a full extra week. Here’s everything you can do to make the most of it, without rushing and without missing the best parts.

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things to do in huaraz

Why traveling to Huaraz is an experience every adventurer should live

Huaraz is that kind of destination that completely changes your mindset. You go from the noise of the city to the silence of the mountains in just a few hours, and suddenly you understand why there are so many things to do in Huaraz for those who are looking for adventure, disconnection, and landscapes that pull you out of the routine. Here, the air feels different, the mornings are cold, the days are sunny, and the nights are perfect for deep, restful sleep.

The best part is that Huaraz combines adventure, landscapes, relaxation, culture, and great food all in one place, which turns the things to do in Huaraz into experiences for every type of traveler. It’s perfect whether you’re a backpacker, traveling as a couple, with friends, or even solo.

4 Best natural places you can visit in Huaraz

This is where Huaraz brings out the heavy artillery: massive mountains, unreal-colored lagoons, and landscapes that look straight out of a wallpaper. If you’re coming for nature, this section alone justifies the trip and perfectly sums up many of the things to do in Huaraz for outdoor lovers.

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Visit Laguna 69

1. Visit Laguna 69

It’s the most famous one for a reason: the color of the water looks like it’s been edited with a filter. Laguna 69 is the ultimate dream for every traveler who arrives in Huaraz and one of the things to do in Huaraz that absolutely has to be on your list. The trek is demanding (about 3 hours uphill), yes… but every step is worth it.

What you should know as a traveler:

Why it’s worth it:
When you finally arrive and see that turquoise mirror surrounded by snow capped peaks, the exhaustion, the cold, the shaky legs… everything disappears.
You arrive completely wiped out, legs trembling… you pull out your phone, look around, and let out a “wow” without even realizing it. It never fails.

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Laguna Parón

2. Discover Laguna Parón

If you want spectacular landscapes without a brutal hike, Laguna Parón is your best option. It’s one of the largest lagoons in the Cordillera Blanca, and you can reach almost all the way to the shore by vehicle.

Ideal for:

The best part:
The reflection of the snow-capped peaks on the water is perfect for photos, relaxing, sitting down with something hot to drink, and simply enjoying the silence.

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Caminata a la Laguna Churup

3. Hike to Laguna Churup

This is the favorite for those looking for an intermediate challenge. It’s not as easy as Parón and not as tough as Laguna 69: it’s the perfect balance between challenge and enjoyment.

What makes it special:

How it feels when you arrive:
You feel genuinely proud. Not just because of the lagoon, but because you know you earned it step by step.

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Huascarán National Park

4. Explore Huascarán National Park

All of this takes place inside the impressive Huascarán National Park, one of the most important natural parks in South America and a Natural World Heritage Site and one of the places where the things to do in Huaraz are best experienced in total contact with nature.

Here you’ll find:

How it feels to be here:
Walking inside Huascarán gives you that strange and wonderful feeling of being in a place where nature still truly rules.

Trekking and adventure sports in Huaraz

Trekking and adventure sports in Huaraz

If you’re the kind of person who likes to move your body, really sweat, end up covered in dust, and sleep like a log at night, then Huaraz is not just a destination… it’s your natural playground and one of the best places to truly experience the things to do in Huaraz through adventure.

Here, adventure is not an extra activity added to the trip: it’s the heart of the journey. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a full on adrenaline junkie there’s always something for you within all the things to do in Huaraz for lovers of movement and mountains.

One Day Hikes from Huaraz

This is the best way to start if you don’t want to jump straight into the extreme stuff. From Huaraz, you can take one-day routes for all levels beginners, intermediate hikers, and experts—perfect for adding to your list of things to do in Huaraz without overcomplicating things.

The best part about these hikes:

You can end the day tired, yes but also with time for:

Ideal for travelers who want adventure without making things too complex.

High Mountain Routes

Now we’re talking pro level. High mountain routes are for those who want to go beyond “just a trek.” These are multi-day crossings with:

What it feels like to do one of these routes:
You start tired, stay tired, doubt yourself… and at the end of the day, when you look up at a sky packed with stars from your tent, you finally understand why you came.

Recommended only if you already have some experience or if you go with a guide.

Ice climbing for beginners

Yes, as crazy as it sounds, you can also climb frozen ice walls in Huaraz, even if you’ve never done it before one of the most intense things to do in Huaraz if you’re looking for a real adrenaline rush.

What you need:

The guides teach you from scratch:

Real feeling:
At first, your legs are shaking, then you focus… and when you reach the top, you feel unstoppable.

Mountain biking in the Cordillera Blanca

If wheels are your thing, get ready because riding down dirt paths surrounded by snow capped peaks is one of the wildest experiences you can have in Huaraz.

What makes this plan unique:

Real warning:
You’re going to end up tired, dirty, probably sore… but with one of the best stories from your entire trip.

Adventure bonuses you can also find in Huaraz

In addition to all of the above, depending on the season, you can also enjoy:

Because in Huaraz, if you get bored… it’s because you don’t want to move yet and still haven’t explored all the things to do in Huaraz that this destination has saved for you.

Cultural experiences and towns you can visit from Huaraz

Cultural experiences and towns you can visit from Huaraz

Not everything in Huaraz is about sweating your way up mountains. There is also a calm, cultural, and deeply human side that is an essential part of the things to do in Huaraz. This side of the trip is perfect for resting your body, learning about local history, and connecting with real Andean life. These are ideal plans to mix in between one trek and another… or simply to slow down and enjoy without rushing.

Relaxing in the Monterrey hot springs

After a demanding hike, soaking in hot springs is literally a reward for the body. The Monterrey hot springs are just a few minutes from Huaraz and are one of the most grateful plans within the things to do in Huaraz when you need to recover your energy.

What makes them special:

Real traveler tip:
Go at sunset. You leave relaxed, without leg pain, and with a deep sense of rest that you simply can’t get from a normal shower.

Drive through the Callejón de Huaylas

The Callejón de Huaylas is one of the most beautiful routes in northern Peru. It’s a journey that connects several towns, agricultural fields, massive mountains, and a rural lifestyle that feels truly authentic—and it’s without a doubt one of the things to do in Huaraz that connects you the most with the essence of the Andes.

On this route you’ll see:

Real feeling:
It’s not an “adrenaline tour.” It’s a ride meant for looking out the window, slowing down, taking photos without rushing, and simply absorbing the landscape.

Visit Carhuaz

Carhuaz is the kind of town that invites you to walk slowly. It’s perfect for a quiet morning after several days of physical effort.

Things to do in Carhuaz:

What’s beautiful about Carhuaz:
It doesn’t try to impress. It simply lets itself be enjoyed.

History and memory in Yungay

Yungay is one of the most overwhelming places you can visit from Huaraz. This is where one of the greatest natural tragedies in Peruvian history occurred in 1970, when a massive landslide completely buried the old town.

Today, only these remain:

What it feels like to be there:
This is not a place you visit to “do tourism” in the classic sense. You visit to understand, to respect, and to remember. You leave different, with a knot in your throat and a deep reflection.

Why include these plans in your trip to Huaraz?

Because the things to do in Huaraz aren’t experienced only with your legs… they’re also lived through calm moments, history, food, and people. These plans allow you to:

And that balance is exactly what makes the things to do in Huaraz feel complete, real, and truly memorable.

What to eat in Huaraz and where to try the best local food

What to eat in Huaraz and where to try the best local food

After so much walking, so much cold, so much sun, and so many mountains… eating is no longer just a necessity: it becomes a sacred activity. And the best part is that in Huaraz the food is hearty, hot, and full of flavor, turning gastronomy into an essential part of the things to do in Huaraz.
Here you won’t find tiny portions or “decorative” dishes. Here, you eat to truly recover your energy.

Typical dishes from the Ancash Highlands

Highland cuisine is comforting, powerful, and full of flavor. These are the dishes you absolutely must try within the things to do in Huaraz if you want to get to know the destination through your taste buds as well:

Cuy Chactado

This is Andean gourmet food. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, served with potatoes, sauce, and chili. It’s not for everyone… but those who try it usually come back for more.

Real traveler tip:
Order it to share the first time. That way you can try it without pressure.

Pachamanca

This dish is a true ceremony. Meats, potatoes, broad beans, and humitas are cooked underground using hot stones.

What does it taste like?
Like smoke, countryside, mountains, and tradition. It’s more of an experience than just a dish.

Caldo de Gallina

Perfect for:

It’s strong, thick, hot, and brings you back to life in minutes.

Fried Trout

Straight from Andean rivers. Fresh, light, and crispy. Ideal for lunch after a long hike.

Recommended restaurants in Huaraz

You’ll find everything here, for all budgets and styles, and they’re also an essential part of the things to do in Huaraz when you want to end the day on a high note.

Cafés and artisanal chocolate shops

When the sun goes down, the cold starts to be felt… and that’s when Huaraz’s cafés come into play.

They’re perfect for:

Real feeling:
You walk in freezing from the street, step into a café, get served a steaming cup, look out the window as the mountains slowly darken… and you realize that moment alone was already worth the entire trip.

Why is food a key part of your trip to Huaraz?

Because the things to do in Huaraz aren’t lived only with your legs… they’re also lived with your stomach. Eating well here means:

Things to do in Huaraz at night

Huaraz is not a city of wild parties, giant nightclubs, or endless nights until sunrise… but it does have a very special nighttime vibe traveler friendly, relaxed, and perfect for closing the day after an adventure packed morning. And yes, going out at night is also part of the things to do in Huaraz, especially if you enjoy sharing, talking, and slowing things down a bit.

Here, the night isn’t about rushing it’s about sharing, chatting, resting, and getting ready for what comes tomorrow.

Bars and pubs with a traveler vibe

This is the heart of nightlife in Huaraz. The bars are usually filled with:

What you experience in these bars:

A real, typical scene:
You arrive exhausted, order a beer, sit next to someone you don’t know… and two hours later you’re exchanging routes, guide contacts, and stories of impossible trips. Without a doubt, one of the things to do in Huaraz that most connects you with other travelers.

Live music and Peñas

If you like authentic experiences, you’re going to love this. On some nights you can find:

What’s beautiful about these peñas:

Real feeling:
You’re sitting there with a hot drink, listening to a slow guitar, watching people softly sing… and you realize you don’t need a giant nightclub to have a great time. These moments also add to the things to do in Huaraz far from the noise.

Quiet places to rest

Now, if your body is completely done for the day (which happens often in Huaraz), there are also zero-noise, zero stress nighttime plans:

This is the most honest version of Huaraz at night:
A warm bed, silence, tired legs… and guaranteed deep sleep.

What is nightlife in Huaraz really like?

It’s:

Perfect for:

And of course, it’s also part of the things to do in Huaraz when you travel looking for balance between adventure and rest.

Why is the night also part of the trip?

Because the things to do in Huaraz don’t only happen in the mountains. They also happen:

And many times, the best memories aren’t born at a lagoon… they’re born in a nighttime conversation that was never in the plan.

Key tips before traveling to Huaraz for the first time

Key tips before traveling to Huaraz for the first time

This is the section that will literally save you from headaches, physical discomfort, and bad decisions. Before jumping in to enjoy all the things to do in Huaraz, it’s important to understand that this destination is incredible, yes… but it also demands a little respect for the altitude, the weather, and the mountains.
If you travel prepared, your experience changes completely.

Best time to visit Huaraz

The best season to travel to Huaraz is from May to September. Why? Because that’s when the weather is more stable, there’s less rain, and you get more clear days to enjoy lagoons, mountains, and trekking routes, which are a fundamental part of the things to do in Huaraz.

What to expect during this season:

Can you travel the rest of the year?
Yes, but between November and March it’s rainy season. The landscapes look greener, but:

Honest conclusion:
If it’s your first trip, go between May and September without hesitation.

What to pack in your backpack

This is not something you improvise. In Huaraz, bringing the right gear makes the difference between enjoying and suffering.

Extras almost no one mentions, but that save your trip:

How to acclimatize to the altitude properly

Huaraz sits at over 3,000 m (9,800 ft) above sea level, and you definitely feel it. The famous “shortness of breath,” headache, and dizziness are common if you don’t take care of yourself before diving into all the things to do in Huaraz.

Golden rules for your first day:

What you should NOT do:

Your body is wise:
If you listen to it, it adapts on its own. If you force it… it will make you pay.

Real first time traveler tip

Many people make this mistake:
They arrive at dawn, sleep very little, and the next day want to go straight to Laguna 69.

Result:

Do it right:
On your first day, just walk around the city, eat well, rest, and drink coca tea. That way, the next day you’ll truly be able to enjoy all the things to do in Huaraz without your body holding you back.

Is it worth traveling to Huaraz

Is it worth traveling to Huaraz?

After living all of this, I’ll tell you straight, with no fine print and with my hand on my heart:
yes, it is absolutely worth traveling to Huaraz. And it’s not only worth it because of the incredible photos or because you can cross it off your destination list. It’s worth it because among all the things to do in Huaraz, there’s something that goes far beyond tourism: Huaraz gets under your skin. It tires your body, yes… but at the same time it clears your mind, calms your anxiety, and reminds you how simple life can be when you’re surrounded by mountains.

The things to do in Huaraz are not just tourist activities. They are:

Huaraz is:

It’s the kind of destination you don’t brag about… you remember it. One that doesn’t just leave images on your phone, but sensations in your body. And when you look back on everything you lived, you realize that the things to do in Huaraz end up being perfect excuses to reconnect with yourself.

My final recommendations, from one traveler to another

Because Huaraz is not meant to be lived in a hurry. It’s lived step by step, breath by breath, glance by glance.

If you’re looking for a place that:

Then don’t overthink it.

Huaraz doesn’t just wait for you… Huaraz transforms you.

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