The Ancash region, located on the north-western coast and mountains (Andes) of Peru, was established on February 28, 1839 by President Agustín Gamarra.
The department of Ancash includes both a coastal strip, not very rugged, as well as the highest snow-capped peaks in Peru, including Huascarán (6,768 masl), Huandoy (6,160) and Alpamayo (5,947).
Among the most popular folkloric manifestations of Ancash, the ancashina chuscada stands out, a dance characterized by its joy and bearable rhythm.
In the Ancashi artisan tradition, the making of typical costumes and the embroidery of colorful skirts stand out, in addition, the art of candle making is maintained, widely used in the various processions in the area.
The Ancash region offers all the facilities in tourist services to visitors and tourists, including hotels, means of transportation, tourism agencies and more. Especially important for tourism is the “Callejón de Huaylas” with adventure tourism (mountain climbing / rock and ice climbing), skiing, trekking, hiking, rafting, camping, etc).
Tourist attractions
Ancash is one of the regions with the most impressive landscapes in Peru. For many it is synonymous with snowy peaks, sky blue lagoons, and its White and Black mountain ranges. But Ancash also offers a wide coastal landscape, with a generous sea for fishing, full of unexplored corners, where some beaches have recently become fashionable, due to their clean and crystalline waters, in the midst of exuberant settings, not so visited and are a true haven of peace.
But Ancash also borders the Amazon and its jungle border is shared with Huánuco, perhaps one of its least developed areas for tourism that is expected to offer surprises in the coming years, although the Chavín de Huántar Archaeological Complex is very close.
The mountains of the Huascarán National Park are one of the world’s most desirable destinations for climbers and hikers, with their routes that cross incredible landscapes with a view of the perpetual snow peaks that shine on the clear sky.
Ancash is also famous for the Callejón de Huaylas, where the White and Black mountain ranges meet. In short, it is a land where tourism offers different experiences, which allow us to learn more about a Peru that reaches the heart.
What places to visit?
Imposing and beautiful Huascarán National Park
The dream of many mountaineers and hikers in the world is to visit the Huascarán National Park, just 83 km from the city of Huaraz, with an area of 3400 km2, it groups 434 lagoons, 712 glaciers, deep and green valleys and 41 rivers that flow into the Pacific mainly. It is home to a wide variety of animal life that attracts scientists, photographers, bird watchers, hikers with 52 trekking circuits, mountaineers with 102 climbing destinations, as well as campers who want to enjoy nature with as little intervention as possible. human being. Of all the lagoons that it has, some are very visited and offer all the facilities for tourists, some require optimal physical condition and others not so much, but in all cases they are to be impressed by the beauty, such as the Churup, Llanguanuco, Chinancocha lagoons. and Orconcocha, just to mention the best known.
In the Huascarán National Park, within the lagoons that it has the best known are the Quebrada de Llanguanuco, where the Chinancocha and Orconcocha lagoons converge at 3,860 meters, its waters come from the glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca. To get there you have to take a long walk, but when you get there you will find so much beauty that it will be worth the effort. For its part, Laguna Churup is reached after a four-hour walk from the town of Llupa, famous for the emerald color of its waters. Other of the best known is Laguna Llaca, a product of melting ice where the water also has a brilliant color between green and blue with exceptional views of the Ocshapalca (5,881 m.a.s.l.) and Ranrapalca (6,162 m.a.s.l.) snow-capped mountains.
Huarmey and its beaches
The most attractive coastal spots in the Ancash region are found in the city of Huarmey. This is because this city stands out for having the most eco-tourist beaches in Peru. One of these natural attractions that can be mentioned is Playa el Erizo, characterized by calm turquoise waters, housing a great marine biodiversity. The place is perfect for practicing sea sports such as diving and artisanal fishing.
In the city of Huarmey there is also Tuquillo beach, known for its incredible waves, which attract surfers from all over the world. In addition, this beach is ideal for consuming some delicious dishes, such as seafood ceviche.
Something that also characterizes Huarmey’s beaches is offering some of the most beautiful sunsets. It is for this reason that camping on its shores becomes a spectacle that you should not miss.
If you don’t have much time, without going any further from the city itself, in Huarmey you can taste delicious dishes, such as Huarmey duck ceviche and spicy guinea pig.
Casma and the archaeological complex of Sechín Alto
Tourism in Ancash, very close to Huarmey, offers you to visit the city of Casma, home to the famous Max Uhle regional museum. This museum exhibits important and ancient textiles, ceramics and various objects that show the polychronous art of the Sechin culture. There, you can also visit the enigmatic archaeological complex of Sechín Alto, on whose walls the greatness of the Sechin culture has been engraved. This complex is located in the vicinity of other archaeological sites of great importance to the Sehin culture, such as Cerro Sechín and Sechín Bajo.
The capital Huaraz and its beautiful mountains
A tourist trip in Áncash stands out for being able to offer its visitors the most captivating geographies of Peru, which can be seen in its capital Huaraz. This is because this city is part of the Peruvian highlands, standing out for having beautiful rivers, impressive valleys and majestic snow-capped mountains.
However, before leaving for the attractions of this city, it is recommended to visit José Olaya Street and eat the delicious typical dishes of Huaraz, cooked in wood and clay ovens. The restaurants in this place offer dishes such as spicy guinea pig, pork charqui, pork rinds, humitas, tamales, pachamanca, chocho ceviche, among others.
Waullac archaeological site
3 km from the city of Huaraz, you can visit the pre-Inca archaeological site of Waullac. This place presents various constructions made of stones, and that were apparently used for funerary purposes by the Recuay culture. According to archaeologists, these tombs had the ability to be removable. This would suggest that the bodies deposited in this place were removed for ceremonial purposes.
Archaeological remains of Wilcahuain
Tourism in Ancash, 7 km from Huaraz, allows you to discover the archaeological remains of Wilcahuain, whose structures were made by the Huari culture. This place has a main building, considered by some historians as a Temple, but the reality is that it is a Mausoleum. Inside this construction three floors or platforms were found, and a total of 19 rooms. However, if you decide to go a little deeper into the history of this culture, then 1 km from this complex you can visit Ichic Wilcahuin. This is an archaeological site that has buildings even larger than those found in Wilcahuain.
Paya Bridge
If you are a person who loves extreme sports, then you cannot miss visiting the Payá Bridge. There, tourists are offered the chance to practice bungee jumping, with the help of experts and the right equipment.
Chavin
Tourism in Ancash offers places like the province of Huari, where a lot of history is offered in one of the most important architectural complexes in Peru, and which belonged to the Chavín culture. The Archaeological Site of Chavín de Huántar presents structures in the form of truncated pyramids, around important squares. The most important buildings of this archaeological site are the New Temple, Old Temple, Tello Pyramid, North Platform, South Platform, Circular Plaza and Quadrangular Plaza.
The supreme deity of the Chavín culture is represented in a huge Monolithic Lanzón 4 meters high. This Monolithic Lanzón is found in the Old Temple of Chavín, inside a kind of labyrinth.
Another of the most famous sculptures of this archaeological complex are the Cabezas Clavas. These were previously found in one of the walls of the Temple of Chavín de Huántar, however, today only one of them can be seen in its original place.
Yungay
Tourism in Áncash also takes us to see the old town of Yungay, known for having been buried, along with its inhabitants, during an avalanche in 1970. Today, this town has been rebuilt in order to pay homage to the more than 50 thousand people who died that fateful day.
At one end of this city is the Yungay Cemetery, which is a reminder of this event. This place is adorned by beautiful natural landscapes, mainly highlighting the imposing snow-capped Huascarán.
Caraz
Your tourist trip in Áncash can also take you to places like Caraz. The square of this city is very beautiful and in its center you can see a roundabout made of wood. Very close to this square is an old but majestic church made of stones.
A few kilometers from this square, you can visit the archaeological site of Tumshukayko, whose buildings are made of stone and are just being studied. It is for this reason that its function is unknown, but there are indications that it was used as a ceremonial center. Among the structures found in this complex, its platforms, stairways, circular walls, among others, stand out.
One of the natural attractions of Caraz is the Santa River, where tourists can practice adventure sports such as canoeing.
32 km from the city, is the Quebrada and Laguna de Paron. This lagoon of crystalline water is surrounded by beautiful necklaces of peaks and snow-capped mountains. In the surroundings of this lagoon, sports such as mountain trekking are practiced, due to its incredible geography. Without a doubt, this is one of the best natural landscapes offered by tourism in Ancash.
What is the climate of Ancash?
The climate in Ancash is varied, coming to depend a lot on the variable height it presents. In some places of this department even extreme temperatures are manifested. The part belonging to the coast has a warm climate, high humidity and little rain. On the other hand, in the part of the Andes it presents climates that depend on latitude. Bearing this in mind, it can be said that the Department of Ancash has the following climates:
- Coastal zone (up to 2,900 masl):Warm temperate that has variations between 12.2 ° C to 24.2 ° C.
- Mild cold (3,000 – 3,900 masl):Average temperatures between 6.2 ° C and 12.2 ° C, in winter it drops to 0.2 ° C.
- Boreal (dry-cold) in the highlands (greater than 4,000 masl):Temperatures below 6.2 ° C.
The rains are markedly seasonal and occur from November to April. The humidity on the coast can reach almost 100%, while in the mountains it can be variable (60% – 70% depending on the place).
What are the Natural Attractions in Ancash?
The best-known natural attractions are found in the Huascarán National Park, where imposing snow-capped mountains can be seen (a challenge for great climbers); crystalline lagoons of beautiful color, such as Llanganuco; and the Cordillera Huayhuash, one of the most important destinations for hiking in the world. You can enjoy adventure tourism while practicing canoeing on the Santa River or hiking.
Best Tours in Peru
Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
- Salcantay Trek Peru to Machu Picchu 5 days
- Palcoyo Mountain Tour
- Cusco to Manu Tour
- Humantay Lake Day Trip
- Huchuy Qosqo Day Hike
- Half Day Cusco City Tour
- Llactapata Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- Qoyllur Riti Festival
- Apurimac River Rafting
- Vilcabamba Trek to Machu Picchu
- Inti Raymi and Machu Picchu Tour
- Salkantay Inca Trail Combo
- Waqrapukara Peru Full Day Tour
If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.
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