Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fantastic soups are served as a first course and the juicy
lomo saltado
was the one of
the best we tried (and we tried way too many). Laughably great for S4.
Getting There & Away
If you're interested in heading straight to Chiquián and the Cordillera Huayhuash, you'll
find direct buses from Lima. However, as you'll probably need a few days to acclimatize,
note that Huaraz offers a wider selection of distractions.
Turismo Cavassa
( 44-7036;
Bolognesi 421)
has buses to and from Lima, leaving at 9am daily from either city (S25,
eight hours).
If you're starting the Huayhuash Circuit, catch the 8am
Turismo Nazario
(
78-9699; Comercio 1050)
bus to Llamac (S10, 2½ hours), which is continuing on from its
5am Huaraz (S10, two hours) departure.
Transportes San Bartolome
( 44-7084; Bo-
lognesi s/n)
also goes to Llamac (S6 to S8) and Quero (S6, 2½ hours) at 8am. From
Quero, you can hike to Mahuay and Matacancha for the trek's alternate start. There is also
a 9am
combi
to Quero (S7).
Transportes El Rapido
( 44-7096; Figueredo 209)
goes
to Huaraz at 5am and 2pm (S10).
It's possible to get from Chiquián to Huallanca, although service is erratic at best. Ask
locally. Huallanca (population 1950) has a basic hotel and transport continues on from
here to La Unión and Huánuco.
The ride between Huaraz and Chiquián, whether the fogged in morning run from
former (sit on the left) or the afternoon ride back from the latter (sit on the right), affords
some of the most beautiful scenery you will see in Peru.
Llamac
043 / ELEV 3300M
The ramshackle brick-and-mud village of Llamac is the traditional starting point for the
Huayhuash Circuit. Though a newly paved road now allows travelers to bypass Chiquián
and get an early start on the trails, there is little in the way of services here, though there's
a small Plaza de Armas with a tumbledown church that still manages to be draped in bou-
gainvillea. The trailhead sits behind the Municipalidad on the same plaza. There is a S15
entry fee to town for foreigners, the first in the fee circuit.
