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Where It's At
Huascarán National Park in the Ancash
Area is named after the Huscarán Mountain, one of the
highest peaks, standing at 20,000ft above sea level. An area
of 340,000 hectares, UNESCO declared it World Heritage Site
in 1985.
One of the richest eco-systems in the world, the Park hosts
hundreds of glaciers, lakes, mountain peaks and 41 rivers.
Rich, also, in flora and fauna, it is an extraordinary place
to visit, not only for the breathtaking scenery and views,
but also for extreme sports including rafting in Santa
River and climbing up the snowfields.
Saddle Up
Visiting the glaciers on horseback has become a highly commercialised
tourist activity, so be careful to set the price before actually
starting your journey. For the visitors interested in the
history of Peru, The Huascarán Park is the place to
find pre-Inca archaeological monuments and traditional Andean
Incan communities still speaking their original language (Quechua),
and still using traditional methods of farming and cattle
breeding.
On the Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is among the most popular treks in
the world. Thousands of trekkers arrive every year in Cuzco
to follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incas to Machu
Picchu. It is a part of the stone roads built by Incas
and it is 30 miles long up to Machu Picchu. There are different
itineraries to be followed but the most common is a tough
4 day trail.
On the way you will go through magnificent ecosystems, dense
and colourful forests, amazing landscapes and scenery along
architectural Inca remains. Halfway along the path, travellers
can stay at Winay Winah hostel for $10 a night. The
most adventurous can choose to camp and fully enjoy the experience.
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