The highest mountain in Peru, Huascarán at 6,768 meters (22,200 feet), and what many consider to be the most beautiful in the world, Alpamayo at 5,945 meters (19,500 feet), are just the toppings on an already rich cake. Glacial lakes dot the landscape, and fresh running streams serve up tasty trout.
The days are warm and scented with eucalyptus. Snow-covered peaks stretch as far as the eye can see.
Trekkers wanting to get the legs and lungs in shape for longer treks can start with a variety of short day hikes in the Huaráz area. Just above the city is El Mirador, a scenic lookout marked by a huge white cross. The route heads uphill east along city streets which eventually turn into a footpath beside an irrigation canal lined with eucalyptus trees. Fields of wheat ripening in the sun add a serene, pastoral feel.
At the top, the highest mountain in Peru, Huascarán, dominates the northern horizon, the lower Vallunaraju (5,680 meters/1 8,600 feet) peeks out over the foothills to the east, and the city of Huaráz sprawls below.
Another choice of many is the Pitec Trail to Laguna Churup. There is no public transport to this small village 10 km (6 miles) from the center of Huaraz, but often a taxi driver can be persuaded to navigate the terribly rough road to Pitec. Walking is an option, but it's nicer to be fresh at the trailhead and then walk back down to Huaraz afterwards.
The trail begins at the "parking lof 'before the actual village of Pitec is reached. A wellworn footpath heads north up a ridgeline and the Churup massif rises just above 5,495 meters (18,000 feet) in the distance. At the base of this mountain is the destination of the hike, Laguna Churup, fed by the glacial melt-off and surrounded by huge boulders. A picnic lunch and a midday siesta in the warm sun reward the effort of getting here. A leisurely hike back to Huaráz follows a cobbled road through campesino homesteads.
