Ancash is another fascinating region of Peru. Because of its geography and its history, Ancash is now one of the most attractive places for tourists specially adventurers. Ancash is situated in the North of Peru, bordered by La Libertad Region on the North, the Huanuco and Pasco regions on the east, the Lima region on the South and the Pacific Ocean on the West.
Huaraz is the Capital of Ancash, one of the few in Peru that consists of three geographic regions of great contrasts; the desert coastal strip, the Andean snow capped mountain and the high jungle of the Maranon River. Being destroyed many times by earthquakes, the city could not keep the typical Andean style of other towns in the region. Huaraz is however the mountain climbing capital of South America because of its highest and most beautiful snow capped mountains.
The white mountain range also known as the Cordillera Blanca is considered as the highest tropical mountain range in the world. Borders to the Callejon de Huaylas to the east, it has a length of 180 km, with 35 peaks that are higher than 6000 m. The beauty of the Cordillera Blanca is largely determined by the Cordillera Negro, because this mountain range softens the winds that come from the Pacific Ocean. There are 260 lagoons in the zone at altitude above 4000 m. and the Paron Lagoon, located east of Caraz is the biggest in the Cordillera Blanca.
Ancash is also well known among historians specially because it was there that the Chavin Culture developed between 400 and 600 BC., but also because Simon Bolivar used the city as his headquarters during his campaign to liberate Peru.
Another attractive place to visit in Ancash is the Huascaran National Park. A really outstanding conservation park with a landscape full of peaks, lakes, canyons, torrents and waterfalls. Huascaran National Park is a biosphere reservation and classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Many sport and extreme activities are done in that region. Mountaineering in the glaciers of the Cordillera Blanca, Trekking using the pre historic path, camping in the moonlight, canoeing using the Santa River, Cycling, rock climbing, Alpine skiing, paragliding, horse riding and fishing.
The region has also several beautiful lakes such as Lake Palcacocha and Lake Conococha.
In 1970 the Ancash earthquake devastated the region, killing more than 50,000 people and damaging 186,000 houses in one of the deadliest natural disaster in Peru.
A trip from Lima to Huaraz can be made in 6 hrs by car or 8 hrs by a modern bus. The distance is 408 km.
Ancash is another fascinating region of Peru. Because of its geography and its history, Ancash is now one of the most attractive places for tourists specially adventurers. Ancash is situated in the North of Peru, bordered by La Libertad Region on the North, the Huanuco and Pasco regions on the east, the Lima region on the South and the Pacific Ocean on the West. 
Ancash is also well known among historians specially because it was there that the Chavin Culture developed between 400 and 600 BC., but also because Simon Bolivar used the city as his headquarters during his campaign to liberate Peru.