Getting there: You can get to Huaraz from Lima in around seven and a half
hours on the bus. If you take your own car, though you can shave about two hours
off the journey.
Accommodation: Huaraz has hotels catering to every wallet, including
La Casa de Zarela (US$5 a head in shared rooms), Hostal Santo Victoria (US$10-15
a night), Hotel de Turistas (US$40-80), and Hostal Andino (US$80 to 100).
Eating out: There is a good range of cuisine, from Italian at
Monterosa, international food at La Crêperie de Patrick, or a value-for-money
typical menu at El Encuentro. The local market sells freshly made fruit juices
(at a dollar a litre).
Nightlife: El Tambo is something of a local institution and a popular
hangout for climbers, especially after a descent.
Dos and Don’ts: do be nice to the plants; don’t build campfires;
don’t litter.