Huaraz, Perú (central Andes)

9:32S   77:32W     3100masl

It is now prohibited to go overnight trekking in the National Park without a guide.

Huaraz is in a spectacular location nestled amongst some of the finest mountains of the Andes and Perú´s highest. There are over 600 glaciers and 200 lakes. Quite a few of these can be reached by some excellent day hikes (... okay, some are very long days!) if being shackled to a guide and train of greenhorns is not your thing. The town itself is maybe not the prettiest - it was rebuilt quickly after it was almost completely demolished in the 1970 earthquake that left only one street standing as well as the three story 1500 year old Wilkawain temple.