7 Fantastic Things to Do in Huaraz, Peru for Solo Travelers

7 Best Things to Do in Huaraz

Of course, the first thing to do when you arrive in a new city is to explore what the city center has to offer. Huaraz is a small city where most of the tourist-friendly activities are congested on a few streets, mainly on Av. Mariscal Toribio de Luzuriaga and the Antonio Raymondi streets. These streets are also where you can find plenty of outdoor stores, camping gear rental places, and travel agencies where you can book your tour to Laguna 69, Pastoruri Glacier, and Nevado Mateo Ice Climbing trip. Be sure to resupply your hiking-related stuff here before embarking on the journey.

There are a few places worth seeing in the city center as well, such as Plaza de Armas Huaraz square and the Main Market if you want to see how the people of Huaraz spend their days. For a nice cafe, you can go to California cafe, a great place to meet people (more on that later) or Ardino Cafe, a cafe with a view.

You also gotta try Ceviche from a street food cart along Antonio Raymondi Street. Walk around and you should see a lot of people eating and chatting in front of one of these carts at lunchtime. For a nice pint of beer and fun live music, you can head over to Trivio Resto Bar. It can get quite crowded on Fridays, so go early.

2. Find Hiking Partners or Enjoy the Coffee at California Cafe

California Cafe is a cafe in Huaraz run by a Californian woman. It is probably not the best place to have an authentic Peruvian experience, but it is a good place to have a proper coffee and a good Western breakfast fix. It is also the only place where you will be able to find a hiking partner if you do not want to go into the mountains alone.

They have a pin board at the entrance where anyone can post anything related to Huaraz. Keep an eye out for notices on the board, or you can simply ask the barista if there is anyone looking for other people to hike with.

3. Acclimatize by Hiking to Laguna 69 ❤️ Must Visit

One of the things you have to take into consideration here is the altitude. The city is 3,000m above sea level, and if you are planning to go hiking, you will need to spend a few days in Huaraz and acclimatize. The best way to do that is to go on a day hike to Laguna 69, a pristine alpine lake tucked away in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range.

I would recommend that you book a transportation service from any travel agency in the city for the next day, and they will organize pick-up and drop-off transportation for you. This is by far one of the most convenient and affordable ways to do Laguna 69. The bus should pick you up at 6 AM, and you will be back by 6:30 PM.

I know it’s touristy doing it this way, but the hike takes 3 hours to go up and 2 to go down, and people hike at different speeds, so it won’t feel as crowded as the beginning of the trail when you started hiking.

The difficulty is somewhat moderate with an easy-going first part, a little bit of a steep climb up to the first lake before you arrive at a plain where it’s another 30 mins stroll before the steep ascent to Laguna 69.

The landscape throughout the trail is stunning, which is why it is so popular among travelers in Huaraz. However, be very careful with the altitude, as the lake is at 4,600m above sea level, and the risk of altitude sickness is very real. So, take it slow.

If you are going on an organized tour, there will be a guide who will tell everybody when to start descending to be on the bus on time. The descent is pretty simple and should take you around 2 hours to get back. The bus should start heading back by 4:30 PM.

If you want to do it independently using public transport, here is a great guide: Hiking Laguna 69 | Everything You Need to Know.

4. Experience Pastoruri Glacier Up Close

Another great day trip that will get you up close to a glacier of the Andes is a trip to Pastoruri Glacier, south of Huaraz. You will have to book a seat on a bus from a tour agency in town to get there, or you can book one online here. The trip should start at 9 AM, returning to Huaraz by 5 PM.

You will be on the bus for about an hour before you arrive at the trail to the glacier. The trail takes only an hour, but do not underestimate it since you will be hiking at an altitude of 5,000m, which is no easy task. At this altitude, anyone will have difficulty breathing regularly, so be sure to walk slowly and breathe fully.

You will be able to stand under the towering Pastoruri glacier once you arrive at the top. It is quite a sight to behold. When I was there, it was snowing heavily, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the surrounding beautiful landscape. In fact, I think it looks prettier than on a clear day, don’t you think? 😉

5. Go Ice Climbing up the Nevado Mateo Summit

Looking for something really adventurous? How about ice climbing in the Andes? Huaraz is one of the best and cheapest places to ice climb as a beginner since quite a few peaks here are reachable in a day and are relatively easier than elsewhere. One of those peaks is the Nevado Mateo, a 5,200m snow-capped peak in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range.

I organized this trip via my guesthouse (La Casa De Maruja B & B) and they provided me with all the equipment for the climb. You can also Nevado Mateobook one online here. The tour begins with an early pick-up (3 AM), and we start our journey to the trailhead in the dark. The bus trip took around 2 hours before we arrived at an unmarked rocky trail near a 4,740m high, the highest and longest vehicular tunnel in the world. From here, we will have to ascend on foot for the next 2 hours.

Once you have reached the icy slope, you will have to put on your ice climbing gear and start climbing the ice. It’s not super steep or technical, but it is still challenging for a beginner (me). Don’t worry, though, as you will be hooked to your guide, and he often secures himself with a rope.

When I was there, it was snowing like crazy, so I didn’t get to see any of the delicious views people see up there. However, it was my first time climbing ice, and that was a fun experience to have. I hope you will be luckier with the weather than I was.

6. Trek the Santa Cruz Trail (4 days) ☀️ Great Multi-Day Trip

Santa Cruz is one of the best short treks you can do in Huaraz, and since you are already acclimatized with all the activities I suggested above, you are now ready for the big trek. The trek will take 4 days, and you will have to be camping, cooking your own food, and carrying everything yourself if you want to do it independently, as I did.

The trail begins at Vaquería, where you can take a collectivo in the early morning. From there, you will have to hike along the valley to your first camping site, Paria.

On day 2, you will be ascending steeply into the Punta Union pass (4,750m), the highest point of the trail, so start as early as you can. From there, you can branch out and do a side trip to the Arhuaycocha Alpamayo viewpoint, or you can rest at the Taullipampa campsite and do the viewpoint the next morning. The campsite here has the perfect view of the Tawllirahu mountain.

Day 3 will be a simple descent to the lake and from the lake to the Llamacorrel campsite, your last night in the mountains.

Day 4 is all about descending to Cashapampa and from there taking a collectivo to Caraz and then to Huaraz for a proper shower and a good night’s sleep.

For a complete guide about Santa Cruz:How To Hike The Santa Cruz Trail, Huaraz Independently

7. Trek the Huayhuash Trail (10 days)

Hiking for 4 days in the Cordillera Blanca isn’t enough? How about a 10-day trek through the Huayhuash mountain range? I gotta admit, I didn’t have the power, time, and forecasted clear days to do this trail, but if you are looking for the best adventure of your life, a 10-day Huayhuash trail is for you.

The Huayhuash trail is considered to be one of the most beautiful trekking circuits in the world and for good reasons. The Cordillera Huayhuash is home to mountains like Yerupaja (6,634m), the second highest in the country, and Siula Grande, the infamous mountain of the incident that was captured in the book, “Touching the Void” by Joe Simpson (excellent to read while in Huaraz).

It is a very challenging trek, as you will be hiking above 4,000m most of the time. So, it would be better if you go with a travel agency that will help organize the logistics of camping gear, food, and other equipment for you.

For more details on the trek: Hiking the Cordillera Huayhuash Without a Guide

First time in South America? Check out:20 Best Places to Visit in South America

When to Visit Huaraz?

The best time to visit Huaraz is from May to October to maximize the number of clear days you will have, as most of the things I recommended here are all outdoor activities. That said, with good weather, more hikers come to hit the trail. That might be a good thing, but if you want to have the places to yourself, try visiting during the shoulder season, like late April or November.

How to Get to Huaraz?

You can fly to Lima with Delta, United, and American Airlines if you are from the US, Air France, KLM, British Airlines if you are from Europe or Asia, or Avianca or LATAM if you are within South America. To find the cheapest deal, be sure to browse through Skyscanner or Expedia and get a flight that works for your itinerary.

From Lima, you have two options: fly domestically, which is more expensive (150+ USD) but fast, or take an overnight bus, which is cheaper (7 – 20 USD) but slower. I would recommend taking the bus as it will help you with acclimatization since Huaraz is 3000m above sea level. Go with either Cruz del Sur or Oltursa bus companies as they have the most comfortable seats and services out there.

Keep in mind: Buses in Peru operate differently from those in other countries, as each bus company has its own bus terminal in a different location. Therefore, make sure you go to the right one.

How to Get around Huaraz?

Collectivos (minivans) are your best bet for getting around Huaraz cheaply, and it’s FUN! For only around 1 PEN, you will need to get on the right minivan (ask your hostel where you want to go, and they will let you know the collectivo number), sit among the locals and, with the help of Google Maps, shout “Pare Aqui, Por Favor”, pay the driver and get off. That’s it. Super cheap, easy, and fun to practice your Spanish with the driver! 😁

You can also take a private taxi if you have a lot of luggage, but be sure to negotiate the price before you get on one.

To go further, to reach the starting point of a hiking trail (Santa Cruz, Huayhuash), you can either flag down a collectivo on the road heading towards the trail direction and ask the driver if they are going to Yungay (for Santa Cruz trail) or Chiquian (for Huayhuash trail), or you can go to the Empresas De Transporte (bus terminal) and catch the collectivo from there.

For further remote areas, more often than not, you will find a transfer service from a tour agency that leaves every day, and you will be sharing with other tourists towards a destination. Laguna 69, Pastoruri Glacier, and Nevado Mateo can be done like this, or with a daily tour you can book a day prior from Huaraz city center.

What to Pack for Huaraz, Peru?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Huaraz, Peru:

Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.

Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.

Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi’s jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.

Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).

Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It’s lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.

Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker’s towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.

Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.

Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.

Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It’s a total game-changer.

Universal Adapter: You’ll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.

Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.

Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It’s large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it’s stylish as hell!

Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can’t go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Looking for a more comprehensive packing list for South America? Check out:What to Pack For South America: The Essential Packing List

Further Reading for Peru

Peru is one of my favorite countries in South America, and there is a ton to do in the country. To better plan your trip to Peru, here are a selection of articles about Peru you might like:

Looking for a complete travel guide for Peru? Here’s a one-month backpacking itinerary for Peru.
Looking for a complete backpacking guide to the entire South America continent? Here is the ultimate 6-month Backpacking Itinerary for South America.

First time in South America? Check out the 20 Best Places to Visit in South America.
Packing for a trip to visit South America can be extremely daunting. Here’s a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for South America.
One of the best treks you can do in Huaraz if you have 4 days to spare is the Santa Cruz trek. Here’s everything you need to know to trek the Santa Cruz trail independently.
Machu Picchu is perhaps one of the most crowded tourist attractions in South America, but there are ways to avoid that and have the whole place to yourself without hiking. Here is how to avoid the crowds in Machu Picchu based on my personal experience.
You can also watch my Peru travel video here: Purely Peru travel video.
To see all articles about Peru, visit the Peru Travel Guide page.
Looking for a place to go after Peru? How about Ecuador or Bolivia?
Looking for more travel guides for South America? You can find more on my South America Travel Guide page.
For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.