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TOURIST INFORMATION
ANCASH |
| GENERAL DATA |
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Location:
The department of Ancash is located north of Lima between
the Pacific Ocean and the Marañón River
Peru Area: 35
029 km2
Capital:
Huaraz
Altitude:
3 091 m.a.s.l.
Average
annual temperature: 18º C (maximum 18º
C and minimum 9º C). The rainy season runs from December
through April. |
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| ACCESS ROUTES |
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By land:
The most recommended is the Lima-Pativilca-Huaraz route
(408 km) about 7 hours drive.
Other routes include:
Casma-Huaraz (149 km) about 6 h 30 minutes drive.
Santa-Huallanca-Huaraz (145 km) about 5 h 30 minutes drive.
By air: Non-regular
flight services. Flight takes approximately 35 minutes. |
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| BRIEF HISTORIC OVERVIEW |
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A region with a rich historical past, it
was the cradle of Chavín culture (about 1 700 years
BC) which influenced other regions and later cultures.
Recuay and Huaylas cultures developed on the first millenium
of this era, leaving interesting traces of pottery and
stone statues. The Incas conquered the region in the middle
of the 15th century and attached it to their vast empire.
During the Spanish domination, the system imposed by the
conquistadors was reflected in a total abandonment of
the region’s material and cultural development,
leading it to take an active role in the fight for National
Independence.
Today, Ancash is one of the most important tourist centers
in Peru due to its archaeological ruins and privileged
geography, including glaciers and snow-capped peaks of
over 6 000 meter high.
The department of Ancash consists mainly in two clearly
defined regions: The Coast, where one can find commercial
cities such as Chimbote and Casma, and the Highlands,
where visitors can find towns full of traditions all over
the Callejón de Huaylas. |
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| ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF HUARAZ |
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Ancash Archaeological
Museum
Av. Luzuriaga 762, Huaraz.
Phone: (044) 72-1819 / 72-1551.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:00-17:00, Sunday 9:00-14:00.
Collection of pieces from the Chavin, Recuay, Huaraz,
Mochica, Chimú and Huari cultures. Textiles, ceramics
and pre-Columbian lithic pieces.
Señor
de La Soledad Sanctuary
Plazuela del Señor de la Soledad.
Phone: (044) 72-1073.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 8:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00.
Located in the Barrio de La Soledad. This is the Huaraz
Patron’s Church.
Rataquenua
Watchtower
Located 7 km from the city of Huaraz (east of the hill),
where visitors can enjoy the city’s landscape. |
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| OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY |
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Monterrey
Located 7 km from Huaraz and about 5 minutes drive. Famous
for its landscapes and hot springs for the treatment of
rheumatic illnesses.
Callejón
de Huaylas
Vast Andean valley spreading across 200 km, between the
Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra (the White
and Black Mountain Range). The Santa River that has its
source at the Conococha Lagoon 4 100 m.a.s.l., crosses
the entire valley skirting the most picturesque cities
and villages, the most important of which are Recuay,
Huaraz, Carhuaz, Yungay and Caraz.
Recuay
Located 3 400 m.a.s.l. and 25 km south of Huaraz. Its
humble and hardworking people are engaged in agriculture
and mining activities. Recuay is home to the Pueblo Viejo
Archaeological Ruins.
Carhuaz
Located 2 650 m.a.s.l. and 34 km north of Huaraz. Traditional
city built in the mestizo style. Its large Main Square
features modern buildings such as the Civic Center and
the Virgen de las Mercedes Sanctuary, whose feast is celebrated
on September 24TH.
Yungay
Located 2 500 m.a.s.l. and 55 km north of Huaraz, this
city lies at the foot of the famous snow-capped Mount
Huascarán. The name of this city comes from the
Quechua word Yunga that means “warm lands”.
The old city was buried by an alluvion in 1 979, however
it was rebuilt 1,5 km away from its original location.
It is from here that the road leading to the Llanganuco
lagoons starts.
Caraz
Located 2 285 m.a.s.l. and 67 km north of Huaraz. This
picturesque city preserves all the beauty of the ancient
highland villages. Its countryside has a fascinating beauty
and exhibits a variety of carnation cultures. The magnificent
Mount Alpamayo (5 947 m.a.s.l.), was declared the “World’s
Most Beautiful Mountain” in the World Competition
of Scenic Beauty held in Munich, Germany in 1 966.
Museo Amauta de Arte Ancashino
(Ancash Art Museum)
Av. Nueva Bazán Peralta cdra. 3, Caraz.
Phone: (044) 79-1004.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 9:00-12:00 and 15:00-17:00.
Unique exhibition of typical outfits from several villages
of Callejón de Huaylas and Callejón de Conchucos,
which are more than 100 years old.
Huascarán
National Park
Control stations:
Carpa Sector: At the entrance to Mount Pastoruri.
Llanganuco Sector: At the entrance to Llanganuco lagoon.
Located about 2 hours drive from Huaraz. It spreads across
an area of 340 thousand ha of the Cordillera Blanca (the
world’s highest tropical mountain range), where
the snow-capped Mount Huascarán (6 768 m.a.s.l.)
stands out. Huascarán is the highest peak of Peru.
It was declared National Park by the Peruvian Government
and World Natural Heritage Site in 1 987. Its natural
attractions include its exotic flora and fauna, its lagoons,
snow-capped mountains, gasified water sources and hot
springs.
Chavín
Archaeological Complex
Located in the Province of Huari, 110 km west of Huaraz,
about 3 h 30 minutes drive. It was discovered by Julio
César Tello en 1 919, and declared World Cultural
Heritage Site in 1 985.
The temple, with a truncated pyramidal base, was built
with huge symmetrical stone blocks, fastened by stone
wedges and stone mortar.
Inside the Old Temple, at the center, there is a gallery
known as Lanzón, that contains a 4,6 m high stone
shaped in the form of a gigantic spear point, representing
a personage with feline, bird and snake features.
The inner galleries are formed by stone walls. It seems
that they were originally mud plastered and painted. The
roof is made of big slabs that not only served their architectural
function but were also decorated with religious motifs
There are other galleries contemporary to the Old Temple
such as the ones of the camp, the offerings, the stairs,
the larders, the labyrinths of the bat and the captives
and the double corbel.
There is no certainty as to Chavín’s age,
but its origins date from 1 200 BC.
Sechín
Located 5 km southeast of the city of Casma.
Visits: Monday to Friday 8:00-17:00.
This archaeological complex consists of a stone and mud
temple-palace. Its main attractions include its lithic
sculptures, the only ones in the Peruvian coast, representing
beheaded and mutilated warriors.
Willcahuain
Paraje Paria, 7 km northeast of Huaraz.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:00-17:00 and Sun: 9:00-14:00.
This entirely stone-made temple with superposed platforms
is located some 35 minutes drive, about 3 h walk from
Huaraz. There is a series of galleries inside it. This
temple dates from the year 900 AD and is a clear evidence
of the Wari influence on the region.
Waullac
2 km from Huaraz.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 9:00-18:00.
Located 5 minutes drive, about 20 minutes walk from Huaraz,
the origins of the archaeological remains of Waullac are
probably Wari. The remains comprise stone structures with
5 elevated chambers.
Tumshukaico
2 km from the city of Caraz.
Located 5 minutes drive, about 20 minutes walk, these
are the archaeological remains of a big temple featuring
carved stone sculptures.
Trekking routes:
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Llanganuco – Santa Cruz: Duration: 4-5 days. |
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Distance: 50 km.
Difficulty: Moderate and difficult near Punta Unión
(4 750 m). |
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Santa Cruz – Yaino: |
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Duration: 6 days.
Distance: 55 km.
Difficulty: Moderate and difficult near Punta Unión
(4 750 m) and Alto Pucaraju (4 650 m). |
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Honda – Ulta: |
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Duration: 8-9 days.
Distance: 91 km.
Difficulty: Moderate and difficult near Honda (4
750 m) and Punta Yanayacu (4 850 m.). |
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Los Cedros – Alpamayo: |
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Duration: 8-9 days.
Distance: 92 km.
Difficulty: Difficult. |
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Jahuacocha Lagoon: |
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Duration: 5 days.
Distance: 68 km.
Difficulty: Easy and moderate near Pampa Llamac
(4 300 m). |
Within the scope of the Interactive Tourism project,
PromPerú sponsors the development of programs
such as:
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Peru Llama Trek, Adventure, ecology,
cultural exchange and archaeology. A tourism initiative
by a group of comuneros from the villages of Olleros
and Canrey Chico designed to promote the use of
llama as pack animal, making it a tourist attraction
of low environmental impact. This is a three-day
llama trek following the ancient pilgrimage route
to the archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar.
This circuit allows cultural interchange with the
inhabitants of the villages found on the route. |
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| FOLKLORE |
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| Typical folklore expressions include the
Ancash Chuscada which is cheerful and danceable, and is
a mix of Pasacalle, Marinera and Triste. Many dances express
the Inca and Colonial life; others represent war and conquest.
The most popular are: Shacshas, Huanquillas, Antihuanquillas,
Capitanes, Pallas and Negritos. |
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| HANDICRAFTS |
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| The making of traditional costumes and embroidered
polleras (skirts) is a widespread craft. There are also
experts who make wax candles for processions. Handicrafts
such as Chavín wool blankets, Taricá pottery,
forged iron, repoussé leather works and basketry
are popular. |
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| GASTRONOMY |
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Typical dishes
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Picante de cuy (spicy guinea pig stew
with peanut sauce and panca chili). |
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Cuchicanca (tender pork marinated in vinegar and
roasted, served with boiled potatoes and mature
corn). |
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Tamales (steamed corn dough stuffed with meat,
wrapped in banana leaves). |
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Charqui (cured llama meat). |
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Llunca kashki con gallina (boiled chicken with
wheat and black mint). |
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Pecan caldo (broth based on lamb head, tripe or
innards, legs and mint). |
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Pachamanca (assorted types of meats, potatoes
and tender corn or maize cooked underground amid
hot stones and aromatic herbs, pre-Hispanic style). |
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Humitas (steamed sweet corn dough stuffed with
cinnamon and raisins, wrapped in maize leaves). |
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Cebiche de Pato Casmeño (duck marinated
in orange and lemon juice). |
Other products include: buttery cheese, quesillo, ham,
butter, honey, milk jam, cider dessert, and a large
variety of fruits such as capulí, quince, eggfruit,
granadilla, custard apple, guava, prickly pear, etc.
The traditional drinks are: Chicha de jora, Chicha
de maní (fermented peanut drink). |
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| FESTIVITIES |
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The Week of Mountaineering
(May / June)
Competitions in several adventure tourism sports, cultural
and social activities. |
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| OTHER IMPORTANT FESTIVITIES |
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Carnival in Callejón de Huaylas (February)
May Festival or Feast of the Patron the Lord of La Soledad
(May).
The Virgen del Carmen Tourist Festivity, in Chavín
de Huántar (July).
The Virgen de las Mercedes Tourist Festivity (September).
The Lord of Burgos Tourist Festivity (September). |
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| SERVICES |
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Airport
Aeropuerto Tte. FAP Jaime de Montreuil
Panamericana Norte s/n, Chimbote.
Phone: (044) 31-1844.
Land Transport
El Chimbador
Urb. 27 de Octubre, Panamericana Norte, Chimbote.
Terminal Terrestre Huascarán
Prolongación Raymondi cdra. 8 s/n, Huaraz.
Health Centers
Chimbote
Hospital Regional de Chimbote.
Phone: (044) 31-1280.
24 hour service.
Huaraz
Hospital Emergencia.
Av. Luzuriaga s/n.
Phone: (044) 72-4146.
24 hour service.
Police Stations
Chimbote
Leoncio Prado 401.
Phone: (044) 32-1651.
24 hour service.
Huaraz
Emergencia Policía Nacional del Perú.
Phone: 105.
24 hour service.
Unidad de Salvamento de Alta Montaña.
Phone: (044) 79-3333.
Yungay
Policía Nacional del Perú.
Phone: (044) 79-3292.
24 hour service.
Handicrafts Markets
Centro Artesanal Callejón de Huaylas.
Oficina Serpost Plaza Mayor s/n, Huaraz.
Feria Artesanal La Plaza.
Plaza Mayor s/n.
Post Office
Chimbote
Av. Pardo 294.
Phone: (044) 32-4073 / 34-6299.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-19:00, Sunday 9:00-13:00.
Huaraz
Av. Luzuriaga 702.
Phone: (044) 72-1030 / 72-1031.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-19:00.
Caraz
Jr. San Martín 909.
Phone: (044) 79-1094.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-20:00. |
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