Huaraz sits 400 km north of Lima in the Andean highlands. The standard approach is an overnight bus from Lima's northern bus terminal. Several companies — Cruz del Sur, Movil Tours, and Linea among them — make the run in seven to eight hours, arriving in the early morning. Night buses are comfortable, arrive at a civilised hour, and save a night's accommodation.
There is no commercial airport in Huaraz. The nearest airports with regular service are in Lima and Trujillo. A small airstrip exists outside the city but handles only charter and emergency flights. Day buses from Lima run through the Pativilca junction and take slightly longer than the overnight option.
From Trujillo, the route south through the Callejón de Huaylas — the Santa Valley between the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra — is one of the most scenic drives in Peru. Buses and shared taxis connect Huaraz with Carhuaz, Caraz, and other valley towns throughout the day.