Ancash is a region in northern Peru that contains some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in South America. The Cordillera Blanca — the highest tropical mountain range in the world — runs through it, with over 30 peaks above 6,000 metres including Huascarán at 6,768m. Huascarán National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covers the heart of the range.
The main base for most visitors is Huaraz, a busy city at 3,050 metres that functions as the trekking and climbing capital of Peru. The Santa Cruz Trek and the Huayhuash Circuit are both among the classic multi-day routes in the Andes. Day hikes from Huaraz into the surrounding valleys — to glacial lakes like Laguna 69 or Chinancocha — are also outstanding.
The region also has pre-Inca ruins worth seeking out. Chavín de Huántar, built around 900 BC, is a major archaeological site with extraordinary carved stone monoliths and underground galleries; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and about 3 hours from Huaraz by road.