Huaraz is Peru’s premier destination for trekking and mountain climbing in the Andes. The town itself isn’t the prettiest of places, but it has a friendly atmosphere and a real buzz during the high season, when mountaineers and trekkers of all abilities come to explore the Cordillera Blanca and Huascaran National Park, home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Peru. There’s the trek to Laguna 69, with its crystal-clear blue waters surrounded by snow-capped peaks. And the four- to five-day Santa Cruz trek, passing through landscapes that wouldn’t be out of place in a Lord of the Rings movie. Then, for true trekking enthusiasts, there’s the Huayhuash trek, a 10- to 14-day hike that takes you as high as 16,404 feet above sea level.

When you return exhilarated but exhausted from your outdoor adventures, you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants in Huaraz, where you can wind down before heading on – or setting off on yet another awe-inspiring trip into the mountains.