Blogs from Huaraz, Ancash, Peru, South America - page 2

Even after hiking around many mountains in the world there is a serious ‘wow’ factor when seeing the Cordillera Blanca range surrounding Huaraz. I was fortunate to have this destination on my radar due to a Peruvian friend and her sharing wonderful pictures and reports of her hikes. On my first trip to Peru twelve years ago I didn’t even know this place existed as I was centrally focused on what most tourists think about coming to Peru – Machu Picchu. Well, I must say that trekking around Huaraz deserves equal billing in Peru. Thankfully, prices haven’t risen like they have in Cusco over the last decade so you can still sneak in a very affordable visit here. With the exception of some nice restaurants, it is not the city of Huaraz itself that stands out ... read more

Another early morning arrival, another town and it was once again time to kick off the flip flops and get out the fleeces, waterproofs and hiking shoes. We had arrived in Huaraz; gateway town to the Cordillera Blanca which is home to some of the highest and most spectacular peaks in Peru. Still half asleep from the overnight journey, we stumbled off the bus and into a taxi which took us five minutes around the corner to our hostel. With Gem's belly still not quite right we decided it was about time to see a doctor. Once we had both done our best mime act of a person with diarrhoea to the lady in our hostel, the penny finally dropped and she understood what we were getting at. A couple of hours later, with briefcase in ... read more

Départ de Trujillo à 05h30, comme prévu. Changement de bus pour Huaraz vers 08h30. Il était facile de somnoler jusqu'à ce qu'un vendeur d'encyclopédies muni d'un haut-parleur nous enlève tout espoir de sommeil... En nous réveillant, nous ouvrons les yeux sur un paysage magnifique, mais cela a un prix : nous frôlons les ravins, et même en passant la tête par la fenêtre, il est difficile de distinguer 5cm de la route. Lorsque le bus arrive au terminus, nous cherchons l'hôtel, mais comprenons au bout de 30min que ... nous ne sommes pas à Huaraz ! C'est donc parti pour un nouveau bus pour arriver 1h plus tard à Huaraz. Le lendemain, réveil vers 08h30 avec l'intention de partir en rando à la Laguna 69, mais nous apprenons pendant le petit dej qu'il fallait se réveiller ... read more

Atsikeliu 5.30, pasitikrinu kuprines ar viską pasiėmiau, papusryčiauju ir laukiu kol atvažiuos autobusiukas manes paimti. Netrukus su langais papypsina atvažiaves mikriukas, tad išbėgu į lauką. Pasirodo šis ne pas mane. Didžiąją kuprinę pasidedu į saugojimo kambariuką ir netrukus sulaukiu savojo autobusiuko. Kompanija idomi, 6 izraeliečiai, 2 britai, australas ir mergina iš naujosios zelandijos. Iš ryto visi nelabai kalbūs, gal tik išskyrus izrealiečius. Važiuojam apie valandą iki kito miestelio. Čia kas nori gali papusryčiaut kavinėj ar nusipirkti užkandžių parduotuvėj. Čia praleidžiam dar valandą ir važiuojam iki kaimelio iš kurio pradedam savo žygį. Čia mūsų jau laukia 4 asilai ant kurių sukraunami visi daigtai... palapinės, miegmaišiai, maistas. Čia nacionalinis parkas, tad prie įėjimo dar tenka papildomai susimokėti. Netrukus įlendam į gan siaurą kanjoną ir juo einam iki pat stovykl... read more

Into the mountains As we get set to leave Hauraz and the Cordillera Blanca, let me tell you about a place which is once again full of contradictions, and once again completely different from the other places we have been so far. The toughest part about Huaraz for both of us has been theses contradictions. To arrive in such a beautiful place only to be sick from the extreme altitude. To venture out into the streets only to be attacked by diesel fumes which made us both sick. To hike in some of the most beautiful places on earth, but deal with poorly run, companies to get you there. These are the things that make travel so difficult, yet so rewarding at the same time. One unexpected point about the city of Huaraz (most people's stopping ... read more