CARAZ - HUASCARAN NATIONAL PARK

Caraz is the last town in the Huaraz Valley. At 2,235 meters, it is surrounded by the snowcapped peaks of Huandoy (6,535m.), Santa Cruz (6,259m) and Alpamayo (6,120m.). This area is famous for its fruits and the quality of its sweets, known as "cuarteados". .The most interesting features of this town are Parón Lake, which reflects the snow-capped peaks, and the Pato Canyon, where the Black and White Mountain Ranges are separated by just five meters.

Huascaran National Park, has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Center and Biosphere Reserve. It has a surface of 340,000 hectares. The park contains a great variety of unique ecosystems, all in the White Mountain Range ("Cordillera Blanca"). Plants such as , escorponera, huamaripa, quishuar, shascshas, queñuales, rimarima, shakapa and the llancahuasi as well as wild animals such as gray deers, tarucas, pumas, spectacled bears, vicuñas, foxes, ducks, wild cats, vizcachas and hundreds of birds can be found here. The famous Puya Raimondi, a plant known as "cunco" which can reach 10 meters high, can also be seen here.

ADVENTURE SPORTS

The Callejon offers a number of adventure sport possibilities like climbing, skiing, canoeing, hang-gliding and trekking. The glaciers of the Cordillera Blanca are considered by some as the best in the world for mountaineering, especially from May to September. The snows of Huascarán, Vallunaraju, Pastoruri, Copa, Hualcán, are good for skiing. Walkers and cyclists will find a many pre-Hispanic paths in the area excellent for appreciating the local wild flora and fauna. The Santa River is ideal for canoeing and kayaking. A great challenge to rock climbers are the granite belts surrounding the glaciers.