Caraz City
City in Ancash known for its beautiful landscapes
At the foot of the Cordillera Blanca, Caraz is a mountain town with a busy market, thermal baths nearby, and straightforward access to the Santa Cruz trek and highland trails favored by climbers and muleteers.
Caraz at a Glance#
Costs: $30-60 daily (budget to mid) - hostels, local markets, and trekking costs vary by season.
Safety: Generally safe; mountain awareness - low city crime; take altitude and mountain hazards seriously.
Best Time: May-September (dry season) - cool, clear weather perfect for trekking and glacier views.
Why Visit Caraz?#
Perched below the Cordillera Blanca, this Andean town is a waypoint for mountain lovers drawn by Huascarán National Park and nearby Laguna Parón, yet it also offers a rich local culture. Traditional Quechua markets, artisan textiles and Andean culinary specialties give a warm sense of place, and small museums and colonial-era plazas hint at the town’s history. The combination of high-mountain access and genuine rural life makes it appealing to trekkers and culture seekers alike.
Best Things to Do in Caraz#
Caraz Bucket List#
Plaza de Armas - Shaded central plaza surrounded by colonial façades and cafés, social and cultural center.
Museo municipal - Small municipal museum with archaeological finds and traditional highland artifacts.
Callejón de Huaylas viewpoint - Valley viewpoint overlooking the Callejón de Huaylas and serrated Andean ridgelines.
Mercado local - Local market selling Andean textiles, cheeses, and fresh mountain produce.
Laguna Parón - Laguna Parón, a high-altitude turquoise lake with trails and peak reflections.
Cashapampa village - Cashapampa village serving as trailhead for Alpamayo and other high-mountain routes.
Local hot springs - Local hot springs pools used by residents to relax after mountain treks.
Pastoruri Glacier and Huascarán Park - Pastoruri Glacier and Huascarán National Park for ice walks and high-altitude landscapes.
Huaraz - Huaraz city for mountain guides, museums, equipment shops, and trek departures.
Best Time to Visit Caraz#
Caraz is at its best in the dry season (May-September) with sunny days and stable trekking weather. The wet season brings afternoon storms and lush scenery, while mid-year nights are distinctly cold.
May - September
5°C to 18°C (41°F to 64°F)
Clear, sunny days and cold nights - ideal for trekking, high-altitude views, and reliable road conditions around the Cordillera Blanca.
October - April
8°C to 20°C (46°F to 68°F)
Afternoon rains and cloudier skies make trekking muddier; landscapes are lush but expect disrupted mountain views.
June - August
0°C to 12°C (32°F to 54°F)
Chillier, especially at night - excellent for crisp, dramatic mountain photography if you can handle freezing nights.
Caraz's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 9°C to 25°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 11°C. The wettest month with 72 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 11°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 10°C. Almost no rain.
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June
June is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 9°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 9°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and mostly sunny skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 10°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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September
September is the coolest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall.
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October
October is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 11°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 11°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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How to Get to Caraz#
How to Get Around Caraz#
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Where to Stay in Caraz#
Caraz town centre - PEN 30-90/night
Caraz has small family-run hostels and basic hotels popular with trekking travellers. Many proprietors respond by phone or local booking sites rather than large OTAs.
Central Caraz / near Plaza - PEN 90-180/night
Mid-range family hotels and guesthouses offer comfortable stays with mountain views. Facilities vary-read recent guest reviews before booking, especially for hot water and heating.
Huaraz / Lima for luxury - PEN 200+/night
There are few true luxury hotels in Caraz. For high-end services, consider staying in Huaraz or Lima and arranging guided excursions to the Cordillera Blanca.
Where to Eat in Caraz#
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Caraz’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Shopping in Caraz#
Local markets and small shops sell textiles, alpaca garments and everyday goods. You can find artisan workshops nearby, but for specialised shopping larger towns like Huaraz offer more options.
Nightlife in Caraz#
Evenings are relaxed with a few restaurants and bars around the central plaza. There is limited late-night entertainment; most visitors head out early the next day for mountain activities.
