Postcard from Huaraz

In a couple of years it will no longer be possible to enter Machu Picchu, only to view it from a viewing platform, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to do the Inca Trail as it's getting very worn and it has to be preserved.  However, this area is equally beautiful and has very good trekking.

This is the city of Huaraz, which is situated in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range in central Peru. It has a population of approximately 100,000 and is the capital of the Ancash region. Huaraz is situated at an altitude of 9,000ft in the Andes, about 280 miles north of Lima, and we're using it as our centre for exploring the surrounding area.

Huaraz sits in the agriculturally important Callejon de Huaylas valley, at the foot of the aforementioned Cordillera Blanca mountain range, which includes Huascaran, the highest mountain in Peru at 22,334ft. Mount Everest has an altitude of 29,029 ft. Huascaran National Park is a popular destination for tourism and trekking in particular, and Huaraz is a frequent base for expeditions to the Cordilleras Blancas and Huayhuash. Tourists often come from Argentina, Italy, Switzerland, Israel, Germany, the UK and the United States.

There is trekking by foot, mules and packhorses or you can take a minibus into the mountains.  

Tourists normally go to the Colca Canyon to see the condors, but they can be seen here equally well.  There are also protected plant species such as the Puya Raimondi and the queñual tree.

This is the Puya Raimondi tree - above - and below are a couple of photos of a very popular destination, Lake Llanganuco.

Rather different from the Inca Baths in Cajamarca are the thermal springs of Monterrey:

Sorry it's rather blurred!
In the Callejon de Conchucos, south-east of Huaras, is the archaeological complex of Chavin de Huantar which consists of temples, tunnels, stone buildings and carvings.  This site was the most important ceremonial centre of the ancient Chavin culture (900BC to 200BC) and in one of its tunnels is the Lanzón, an impressive and fierce looking mythical figure over 14 feet tall.

This is engraved rock:

And here's a Chavin carved head

And this is the Lanzón:

The area's most demanding and impressive trek, which lasts for 8 days, starts at the town of Chiquian.

Here are some more photos:

This, above, is Pastoruri and below is the Rio Santa Valley:

And this is the White Mountain range.

The best time to come here is between May and September when skies are clear. The snowline starts at 15,000 ft and nights are cold at high altitude and cool in Huaraz and other towns.

As with elsewhere in the Andes, the area is rich in arts and crafts such as lambswool blankets from Chavín, Tarica pottery, wrought iron objects, embossed leather, baskets and ponchos.

As I said at the beginning of this post, it is getting increasingly difficult to go to Machu Picchu and to do the Inca Trail, so this area is a wonderful alternative.