Active Pursuits

Mountain Climbing

Climbing in the Cordillera Blanca ranges from highly technical, multipitch ascents to rigorous but nontechnical climbs. The optimal climbing season is May through September. Huaraz serves as the principal hub for contracting qualified guides and tour operators and renting gear, but some similar infrastructure, on a smaller scale, can also be found in Caraz. The Casa de Guías in Huaraz (tel. 043/421-811) is one of your best preclimb resources, with a list of registered guides.

For experienced climbers up to the challenge, the Cordillera Blanca is nirvana. The range includes 50 permanently snowcapped mountain peaks of more than 5,610m (18,400 ft.), amazingly packed into an area just 177km (110 miles) long and 19km (12 miles) wide. Tested mountaineers can hope to bag several 6,000m (19,680-ft.) summits in just a 2- or 3-week trip. Less experienced climbers can choose among several easier and more popular climbs. For anyone, though, acclimatization is paramount. Allow between 3 days and 1 week before attempting any serious ascent.

The snowy peaks of Ishinca (5,534m/18,156 ft.) and Pisco (5,752m/18,871 ft.) -- essentially 3-day climbs -- require appropriate gear, conditioning, and guides, but can be undertaken by inexperienced climbers. Peru's most beautiful mountain, Alpamayo (5,957m/19,544 ft.) is an appropriate climb for those with some experience. Huascarán (6,768m/22,205 ft.), the highest mountain in the Peruvian Andes and the tallest tropical mountain in the world, takes between 6 and 9 days and poses a very challenging climb, suitable only for those with technical knowledge and extensive experience.

Hang Gliding

Yungay's hill Pan de Azúcar is the most common spot for hang gliding. For more information, contact Monttrek (tel. 043/421-124; www.monttrekperu.com).

Ice Climbing

The Cordillera Blanca is a great spot to give this serious sport a try. The best mountains for ice climbing are Pisco, Ishinca, Huascarán, Alpamayo, Chopicalqui, and Artesonraju. Contact Pony Expeditions (tel. 043/391-642; www.ponyexpeditions.com) or Monttrek (tel. 043/421-124; www.monttrekperu.com) for more information.

Mountain Biking

The Callejón de Huaylas is one of Peru's top destinations for mountain bikers, with hundreds of mountain and valley horse trails cutting across fields, bridges, and creeks, and past traditional Andean villages. Dedicated cyclists can also look forward to the thrill of climbing to 5,000m (16,400 ft.) through mountain passes.

In Huaraz, you can rent mountain bikes for an hour, a day, or a week. During the annual Semana del Andinismo in June, there's a mountain-bike competition. Two of Peru's best mountain-bike agencies operate in the area: Mountain Bike Adventures in Huaraz (tel. 043/424-259; www.chakinaniperu.com) and Pony Expeditions in Caraz (tel. 043/391-642; www.ponyexpeditions.com). Both have equipment rental and excellent biking itineraries.

River Rafting

Near Carhuaz, the Río Santa, which runs the length of the Callejón de Huaylas from Laguna Conococha, is where rafting in the area is practiced. Sections differ in degree of difficulty from easy (Classes II and III) to technical (Class V). The section that's most often rafted is between Jangas and Caraz. The season is May through September, when water levels are low. Monttrek (tel. 043/421-124; www.monttrekperu.com) and a handful of other tour operators in Huaraz offer rafting.

Rock Climbing

Several agencies in Huaraz offer full-day rock-climbing tours in Caraz and Yungay, ranging from easy to moderate. Monterrey's Rocódromo and Uquia are the most popular spots. For more information, contact Monttrek (tel. 043/421-124; www.monttrekperu.com); the agency even has an interior climbing wall at its headquarters in Huaraz.