Huascarán National Park

Huascarán National Park is in the Central Sierra region of Peru. It's inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It's one of the biggest mountain ranges in the world, the majority of its peaks measure around 6000 m above sea level (a.s.l.)

Understand
The name Cordillera Blanca ("white range" in Spanish) in and of itself sounds imposing.

Located 100 km from the Pacific coast and measuring 180 km long, The Cordillera Blanca forms a natural barrier between the coast and the Amazon jungle. Every mountain top is more beautiful than the next, and many hiking trips can be arranged through the Cordillera’s grand mountain passes. The mountain roads were built centuries ago by the native people of the region.

The Cordillera Blanca, and its many beautiful places, is now accessible by various roads using 4x4 vehicles. Huaraz, at 3091 m.a.s.l., used to be a beautiful little town until the terrible earthquake of 1970. Though the village has been reconstructed, it is not quite as beautiful as it used to be. The National Park of Huascaran is close to Huaraz. Founded in 1975 the Park is a nature preserve for the amazing flora and fauna of the region. The surrounding landscapes are beyond beautiful, and the area is also well-known for its giant plants called Puyas de Raymondy, some of which measure more than 10 meters. Definitely worth seeing!

History
Portions of the park were first protected from logging and hunting in 1966. In 1975 the Peruvian government formally established the park at its current size of. The park was designated a in 1985.

Landscape
Located in the middle of the Andes, the landscape is mountainous. The park is named after its highlight, Huascarán, which at 6,768 m over the sea level is Peru's highest mountain. There are 663 glaciers in the national park.

Flora and fauna
Animals in the park include jaguars, cougars, tarucas (north Andean deer), vicuñas and tapirs. The most iconic plant of the park is the puya raimondii, which may grow to heights of over 10 m!

Climate
Rainy season lasts from December to March with frequent thunderstorms and temperatures ranging from to. Dry season is from April to November with sunny days and cold nights. Expect temperatures between and.

Get in
The towns of Huaraz and Caraz are located next to the park.

Stay safe
Much of the park is located at very high altitudes. Take precautions when ascending to avoid altitude sickness.

Weather can be unpredictable, and snow or rain are possible throughout the year. Ensure you have waterproof layers and appropriate warm layers during cold weather.

Due to the high elevations, snow may be encountered year around. Wear sunglasses with UV protection to prevent snow blindness and practice snow safety when crossing terrain exposed to avalanche risk.