I’ll be honest, Huaraz was never on my Peru list. It’s the hiking capital of the country, and I hate hiking. Hours, days even, of walking uphill? Not for me. It looked beautiful, but no.
I was sticking to that decision until NomadMania reorganised its regions in Peru. Suddenly, I had a gap in my almost complete map of Peru. If you know, you know. If you don’t, go and check them out. Tracking how much of the world you’ve seen in tiny orange segments is a great addiction.
So I went. And it turns out there are great things here for those of us who’d rather look at a mountain than climb it. At least for a weekend anyway. And you can still absolutely experience that picturesque Huaraz scenery that you see in the photos.
Here’s everything you can do in Huaraz without hiking, so you can tick off two UNESCO sites with your knees intact.
In a rush? The Best Non-Hiking Tours & Hotels in Huaraz
🏔️ Laguna Parón – turquoise glacier lake you can drive right up to
🏛️ Chavín de Huántar – 3,000-year-old temple with tunnels to explore
🏨 San Sebastián Hotel Boutique – my pick for comfort after a long day out
🎒 Krusty Hostel – the best value base if you’re on a budget
How to Get from Lima to Huaraz
Huaraz is either a short flight or an overnight bus from Lima. For most people, the bus wins on both price and convenience.
Flying from Lima to Huaraz
LATAM flies from Lima to Anta airport in about 50 minutes. The issue is the timing. There is only one flight per day, which lands too late for most day tours.
Anta is also around a 40-minute drive from Huaraz. So you lose a chunk of your first day either way. And there isn’t much to do to fill an afternoon in Huaraz city.
The night bus from Lima to Huaraz
Enter, the night bus. Several companies run this route. I always use Cruz del Sur because they’re pretty reliable and comfortable. Their Lima Javier Prado terminal is only a 20-minute ride from central Miraflores too, which is convenient.
Book a cama (bed) seat. It reclines to 160°, and that makes a massive difference. Bring an eye mask, noise-cancelling headphones and layers. I actually always take a sleeping bag. You’ll be surprised how well you can sleep.
There are several buses leaving Lima between 9:45pm and 10:30pm, arriving between 6:30am and 7:30am. Buses in Peru can run late, but mine arrived right on time.
Things to Do in Huaraz Without Hiking
Let’s be honest about Huaraz city. There isn’t much to do in the city. Or… anything at all really except a viewpoint that you can walk to for sunset. But that involves – you guessed it – a hike. Albeit a mini one. But still.
The good stuff is out of town and people largely come for the incredible views, high altitude lakes, and mountain vibes. And most people come because they want to hike in those surroundings…
But the good news is that the area around Huaraz has not one but TWO UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There’s Chavin de Huantar, an ancient temple complex. Then there’s Huascarán National Park, home to all those lakes and glaciers. Visiting both of those involves a bus, not your two feet.
The main catch of Huaraz though, is that nearly every tour leaves at 6:30am and involves hiking. Lakes, glaciers, more lakes, all at the end of a long uphill trail. Sometimes for several days. These two day trips are the exceptions.
Chavin de Huantar day trip
Chavin de Huantar is a 3,000-year-old ceremonial centre, around three hours’ drive from Huaraz. The only effort involved is walking round the site and ducking into underground galleries. So – low effort. And you can do it in a 10 hour day tour.
Better still, the pickup is 8:30am. I made it easily straight off the night bus, with time to spare to change clothes and leave my bag in the hotel. You would likely be fine making this even with a bus delay.
What the day looks like
The first stop worth getting off the bus for is Querococha lake, at around 4,000 metres. It’s pretty, there are llamas, and you get about half an hour for photos and enjoying the view.
Then it’s 1.5 hours of winding mountain roads to Chavin. We arrived at 1pm.
There’s a lunch around 2:30pm, and you’re back in Huaraz by 6:30pm.
What you see at the site
You follow a set circuit round the ruins. The highlights are:
- The main plaza and New Temple – A vast square plaza sits sunk below the New Temple, the biggest building on site. Standing in front and taking in the history of how this was the main meeting point for communities all over the Andes is pretty cool.
- The Black and White Staircase – This wide staircase climbs from the main plaza to the New Temple. One half is white granite, the other black limestone. It’s thought to reflect the Andean belief in duality, the balance of opposites. Guides have you stand on the centre line, leave your negatives behind and channel your energy towards what you want. Honestly, I felt that powerful energy.
- Serpent Steps – A stone staircase with snake carvings, which in the Chavin religion represented the linking of the underworld with the surface world of the living.
- The Lanzón – Deep inside the Old Temple is the Lanzón. It’s a 4.5-metre granite carving of the main Chavin god, part human and part feline. It still stands exactly where it was built, and photos aren’t allowed. It is nicely lit up and was a real treat to see.
- The underground galleries – Narrow stone passages and chambers run beneath the temples. Walking through them is a blast into the past of how the site was lived in.
- The carved head on the wall – Carved heads, part human and part jaguar, once studded the temple walls. Only one is still in its original spot, and it’s the famous photo from every Chavin tour.
Costs
I paid 20 soles to enter, by card. Lunch afterwards was 35 soles, cash only, with massive portions of classic Peruvian dishes.
The catch
The tour itself is chaos. Expect an hour of driving round Huaraz collecting people. Then random stops, and a guide who never says how long you have. And everything is in Spanish. There are very few English-speaking tours.
The site is closed on Mondays, so plan around that.
Read my full Chavin de Huantar tour review for the hour-by-hour reality. Book a Chavin de Huantar tour from Huaraz if you like ruins more than mountains. Skip it if winding roads make you carsick.
Laguna Parón day trip
Laguna Parón is the way to tick off Huascarán National Park without hiking. It’s the largest lake in the Cordillera Blanca (highest tropical mountain range in the world) and it is ridiculously turquoise. And once again, it comes perfectly packaged in a full day tour.
What the day looks like
Pickup is around 5:45am. But there is then inevitable driving around getting other passengers until 06:45. There’s a (fairly pointless) photo stop in the tiny town of Caraz around 07:30, where nowhere had a coffee machine. More driving, and then a 30 minute breakfast comes at 8:30am, at a basic but cheap spot with coffee and muña tea. Sandwiches cost 5 soles, and you order your lunch here too for later.
Then it’s another hour on truly horrific rocky roads to the lake. Take a neck pillow or something to pad your head when it inevitably bangs the side of the bus repeatedly.
The area is remote. I lost phone signal around 9am and didn’t get it back until 4pm.
At the lake
Entry was 5 soles, in cash. The tour gives you two hours. You can wander down to the lake to enjoy the view up close and take pictures. There are kayaks too that cost 20 soles to take out onto the lake for 20-30 minutes. There’s a food stall in the parking area selling soup, corn with cheese and, somehow, fried trout. Proceed with caution, but it’s there if you get hungry.
The mirador walk
You can also climb to a viewpoint. Disclaimer – this is a hike. It is totally optional and not a requirement to enjoy the lake views. The experience involves 15-20 minutes of steep uphill walking, then 10-15 minutes clambering over loose boulders.
I did it. I’m here to tell you the view is better from below. But it killed an hour of time, because two hours at the lake edge felt like too much time for me.
Getting back
Lunch is back at the breakfast spot, with a stop for local ice cream and artisanal beer on the way. You’re back in Huaraz around 4:45pm, in plenty of time for a night bus.
My full Laguna Parón review covers every stop, including the full mirador verdict. Book a Laguna Parón tour from Huaraz if you want the mountain views without the trek.
Which Huaraz day trip should you pick?
Do both if you have two days. If you only have one, pick Laguna Parón for mountain scenery. Chavin is great for history and if you’re arriving on a night bus and don’t want to waste a day. But Laguna Parón gives you the full Huaraz mountain experience.
2 Days in Huaraz: A Weekend from Lima
Two full days is plenty for a non-hiker, and it fits neatly into a weekend from Lima.
Friday night: take the overnight bus from Lima. It leaves around 9:30pm and arrives around 6:30am.
Saturday: Do the Chavin de Huantar day trip. The 8:30am pickup gives you time to drop your bags at your hotel and grab breakfast first.
Sunday: Do the Laguna Parón day trip. Pickup is around 5:45am, and you’re back in town before 5pm. I’d highly recommend booking a few hours in a cheap hostel to have somewhere to shower, then catch the night bus home.
Monday: arrive in Lima around 6:30am, just in time for wherever you’re heading next. Tired, but with two UNESCO sites ticked off.
Huaraz sits at over 3,000 metres, and both trips climb higher. Take Saturday morning gently and drink plenty of water.
The Chavin site is closed on Mondays, so don’t switch the days around on a long weekend.
Where to Stay in Huaraz
Huaraz hotels are cheap compared to Lima or Cusco. You can get a comfortable, warm room for around $40-45 a night. Often less.
San Sebastián Hotel Boutique: best for comfort
San Sebastián Hotel Boutique is higher end compared to the rest of town, at around $45 a night. It’s clean, warm and cosy, with reliable hot water. The breakfast is amazing.
The staff were brilliant. They let me take my breakfast on arrival day, because the tours meant I’d miss it the next morning. They also stored my luggage.
Two honest niggles. The rooms aren’t soundproof, so other guests, fireworks and street noise woke me up. The WiFi was also hit and miss. It’s about 20 minutes’ walk to the Plaza de Armas and 30 minutes from the bus station.
Book San Sebastián Hotel Boutique if you want a comfortable, warm base and a great breakfast. Skip it if you’re a light sleeper, want to be right in the centre, or want a cheap stay.
Hotel Churup: best for a few hours (or a cheap private room)
I stayed at Hotel Churup on my last day, completely unplanned. The Parón tour got back way earlier than I expected. Suddenly I had five hours to kill in a town with very little to do.
And I really needed a shower. A dorm bed for $12 cost less than the coffees I’d buy to sit somewhere for five hours and wait for the bus. And meant I’d feel fresh for the night bus. Good decision.
The “dorm” was really just a hotel room with three beds in it. That might feel odd overnight, but for a few hours it was fine. Private rooms are cheap here too, around $40, and very comfortable.
There’s a supermarket just down the street. The WiFi was total garbage, though, and I only had 3G. But there were loads of restaurants only a 5 minute walk away, and the centre of town was 10-15 mins walking.
Book Hotel Churup if you need somewhere to shower and rest before a night bus, or want a cheap and cosy shared room stay. Skip it if you need to work online.
Krusty Hostel: best on a budget
Krusty Hostel is way more basic, but it’s warm and friendly. Dorms are proper bunk beds with curtains, from around $8 a night. Single rooms are around $20.
It’s rough and ready, but it very much does the job.
Book Krusty Hostel if you’re on a backpacker budget. Skip it if you want more comfort and frills.
Where to Eat in Huaraz
Huaraz has a surprisingly decent food scene for a small mountain town. After a full day trip, you’ll want something filling.
Illa does hearty Peruvian dishes, burgers, steak and even schnitzel. It’s ideal for a filling dinner after a long day on the road.
Shimei/Nikkei is a fancier Nikkei (Peruvian-Japanese fusion) spot. Think sushi, poke, ramen and ceviche, with plenty of veggie options. Sadly it’s closed on Sundays, which is when I tried to go.
Te Pizzero does artisan pizza, some of it heart-shaped! There’s also lasagne and cheesy garlic bread. You honestly can’t go wrong here.
Zenboba, because who doesn’t love bubble tea? They had matcha with fruit popping pearls. That was not something I expected to find in Huaraz. But was v happy when I did.
What to Pack for Huaraz
- Layers and a proper coat. Huaraz gets cold, especially at altitude.
- Waterproofs and spare socks. It rains a lot. I learned this walking back to my hotel in the dark, soaked.
- Cash in small notes. Lunch spots and lake entry fees often only take cash.
- Snacks. Tour stops are unpredictable, and so is coffee.
- A sleeping bag or blanket for the night bus.
- Offline maps. Phone signal disappears for hours once you leave town.
Things to Do in Huaraz FAQ
Can you visit Huaraz without hiking?
Yes. The two best non-hiking trips from Huaraz are Chavin de Huantar and Laguna Parón. Chavin involves walking round a UNESCO archaeological site. At Laguna Parón, you can simply enjoy the lake from the shore. Both are full-day tours with transport included, and neither requires any hiking.
What is there to do in Huaraz besides hiking?
The best non-hiking options are day trips. Chavin de Huantar is a 3,000-year-old UNESCO temple complex with underground galleries. Laguna Parón is a turquoise lake in Huascarán National Park. In town, there’s good food, from Nikkei to artisan pizza, but Huaraz city itself has limited things to do.
Is it better to fly or take the bus from Lima to Huaraz?
The overnight bus usually works better. It leaves Lima around 9:30pm and arrives about 6:30am, in time for a day tour with a later start. Flights take about 50 minutes, but there is only one each day that gets in too late to do a tour. Anta airport is also around 40 minutes from town.
Can you do Huaraz in a weekend?
Yes, if you don’t hike. Take the night bus from Lima on Friday and do the Chavin de Huantar tour on Saturday. Do Laguna Parón on Sunday, then take the night bus back, arriving around 6:30am on Monday. Hikers planning treks like Laguna 69 will need more time.
Is Huaraz worth visiting if you don’t hike?
Yes, if you plan around day trips. Huaraz city has little to see, but the surrounding area holds two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can visit both without hiking. Laguna Parón is genuinely beautiful and gives you the Huaraz that you see in the pictures. Go for the scenery and the history, and don’t expect much from the town itself.
Travelling Around Peru?
Check out my guides to:
- Things to do in Huacachina – sandboarding, buggies and a desert oasis a few hours south of Lima
- The vineyards of Ica – pisco and wine, without the big group tour
- Lake Titicaca from Puno – the highest navigable lake in the world, and how to see it
- Amantani Island – an overnight homestay on Lake Titicaca
- Oxapampa – an easy two day escape from Lima
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only ever recommend things I’ve actually done or would genuinely use.
