ABOUT HUARAZ
Huaraz is the capital of the Department of Ancash (State) and the Chavín Region and also the climbing capital of Peru. It is located in the Santa River Valley between the Cordillera Blanca and Negro at 3200 masl and about 400 km from Lima.
Since Huaraz is a beautiful city in the heart of the Huaylas Valley, it has become the starting point for many international hikers and climbers. It offers many attractive tourist activities and a wealth of remnants from the cultures that once ruled Peru and most of South America.
The city of Huaraz is a necessary point to be visited by all those who love adventure sports in Peru, from this city you can easily access the trekking circuits and the mountains to climb in the Cordillera Blanca, Cordillera Huayhuash, the Huaraz’s climate is warm and dry, the rainy seasons are from October to April, during these months the temperature varies between 5 to 18 ºC; and from May to September are dry months that are considered as the “Andean summer”, the average temperature during these months varies between 6 to 26 ºC without rain.
MOUNTAIN SICKNESS
What you should know about altitude sickness. Sometimes people get sick at high altitudes, like in the mountains. This is called mountain sickness or altitude sickness. Contrary to common belief, there are no specific factors such as age, gender, or physical condition that correlate with susceptibility to altitude sickness. Some people get it and some don’t, and some people are more susceptible than others. Lack of oxygen causes altitude sickness. As altitude increases, the air becomes “thinner”, which means that there is less oxygen in the atmosphere. You get less oxygen into your lungs with each breath, so the amount of oxygen in your blood decreases. Anyone can experience mountain sickness, but it can be more serious in people who have heart or lung problems. Symptoms usually begin within 48 hours of arrival at high altitude. The higher the altitude, the greater the effects. People can notice effects when they go to an altitude of 2,500 to 3,000 meters. If you have heart disease (such as heart failure) or lung disease (such as emphysema), you may have symptoms at lower altitudes.
Symptoms include: headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, inability to sleep, swelling of the face, hands, and feet.
Both heart rate and respiratory rate increase as the body tries to send more oxygen to its tissues. At very high altitudes, body fluid can leak into the brain (called cerebral edema) or lungs (pulmonary edema). Both conditions can be serious or even life-threatening. The best way to avoid or lessen the effects of mountain sickness is to increase altitude slowly. Climbers and hikers can take two days to reach 8,000 feet, and then another day for every 300 to 500 meters higher. This may not be an option for people traveling to a high-altitude destination. Most people can adapt or “acclimate” to high altitude in a few days. Short activities in the Huaraz Region.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Climatic conditions in Peru – Huaraz, the Sierra is a mountainous area of the country that extends from north to south in the middle and upper areas of the Andes Mountain range. Within the geography of Peru, it constitutes a natural region. It limits to the west with the region of the Coast and to the east with the Forest. To the north it has continuity with the Inter-Andean Region of Ecuador and to the south with the Andean Region of Bolivia and Chile. For this reason, the climatic conditions in the city of Huaraz at 3,200 meters are different from any other region of the country.
April to October: The dry season of the Cordillera offers the best trekking and climbing conditions
The dry season is marked by clear, sunny days and cool nights due to the lack of clouds. This also makes it the best season for hiking and climbing, as the views become even more spectacular and the night skies fill with stars. Rain can happen, but it is very limited and concentrated mainly at night in this season. At the end of the dry season, the vegetation can turn somewhat browner as the drought has taken its toll. During the day you can expect blue skies almost all the time. As we are close to the equator and high up, the sun can be very strong so always bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. It is comfortable to walk in shorts and a T-shirt. However, when the sun comes in, it can get cold very quickly, so always have a warm jacket, fleece and long pants on hand. You also need a good 4 season sleeping bag at night and a warm jacket, woolen hat and scarf.
December: A relaxed postseason atmosphere.
Some years the rain can start as early as October. Usually though, we only get a couple of heavy rains each week and the rest of the time it’s sunny or cloudy. The rain lasts for a couple of hours and dries up pretty quickly. A good rain gear is:
January to March: Wet and rainy, but properly equipped hikers enjoy the silence.
In the wet season, Huaraz’s weather is unsurprisingly quite humid. At the beginning of the wet season this will be mainly during the day, but in January and February these showers can last almost all day. At the beginning and end of the rainy season, the sun often shines and the views can be just as spectacular due to the clouds that play across the highest peaks. In this season the nights are less cold, but due to the rain the temperatures can drop rapidly from time to time. The wet season can last until the end of March. January, February and March are at the height of the wet season. During these months you can expect rain at any time. Bring good waterproof clothing, pack your sleeping bag into several plastic bags, and bring sunscreen and a good hat. In fact, get ready for almost all four seasons in one day. Huaraz is generally very quiet during these months.
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