Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone! The Vuelta al Huascaran is an adventure and the best adventures occur in unknown territory. We have 15 years organizing trips and events in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range… we promise you that you’ll be in good hands! Read carefully what is included with your registration and what you need to organize yourself. After that, read the section which describes the logistics of the race IN ITS ENTIRETY, found in the regulations section of this site. If you are lacking some of the necessary equipment or you would like assistance planning your trip, we are here to help. We will also be sending a series of emails to each competitor starting 1 month prior to the race with details, reminders, suggestions and more.
Below you’ll find general information on Getting to Peru, Getting to/from Huaraz, Accommodations in Lima & Huaraz, Transportation, and More! Any questions, call or email us and we’ll help you find your way!
WHERE IS THE RACE??
All international flights into Peru arrive to the capital city of Lima. The airport is called Jorge Chavez Int’l and most major airlines fly there. Depending upon the arrival time of your flight, you can either stay in Lima or connect directly to Huaraz.
The city of Huaraz is located approximately 400 kilometers north of Lima in the Andes Mountains at 3050 meters above sea level. It is a friendly city of 120,000 inhabitants and has a great variety of hotels, restaurants and other services. There are many comfortable & reliable busses which make the trip, one flight per day, and also options of private transport. Calculate in approximately 8 hours to travel overland. See details below on transport for specifics.
The Huascaran National Park surrounds Huaraz to the northeast and southeast. The Cordillera Blanca (White Mountain Range) which the park manages is the most extensive and highest tropical mountain range in the world, home to 27 snow-capped peaks above 6,000m, 663 glaciers & 300 lakes! It is a spectacular place to visit!! There is incredible hiking, climbing and of course biking from the door of your hotel.
HOTELS:
There are lodging options of all types and prices in Lima and Huaraz. We recommend the following hostels and hotels (in order of least to most expensive):
HOTELS LIMA:
Mami Panchita – www.mamipanchita.com
Inka Frog – www.inkafrog.com
Hotel Senorial – www.senorial.com
Second Home Peru – www.secondhomeperu.com
HOTELS HUARAZ:
Campo Base – https://www.facebook.com/CampoBaseRestaurante/
Hatun Wasi – www.hatunwasihuaraz.com
Albergue Churup – www.churup.com
Olazas Guesthouse – www.olazas.com
Casa de Zarela – www.facebook.com/lacasadezarela
Hotel Andino – www.hotelandino.com
MOUNTAIN LODGES (great for acclimatization!):
The Lazy Dog Inn – www.thelazydoginn.com
Llanganuco Lodge – http://www.llanganucolodge.com/home/
TRANSPORTATION:
For reliable, safe and comfortable transport between Lima and Huaraz, we recommend the companies listed below. The bus trip takes approximately 8 hours, the flight is 1 hour & a private car takes between 6-7 hours. The busses will carry bicycles well-packed in boxes or bike bags for a small fee (approx. $10 USD). For private transfers we can provide vans with racks that carry up to 10 bicycles or cars that can fit racks that either you provide or we rent. Cars can take 1-3 passengers with luggage and bicycles. Flights are available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the morning, if you choose to fly your bike can be shipped to Huaraz via one of the bus companies and arrive to your destination the same day.
BUS AGENCIES (BETWEEN LIMA & HUARAZ):
Movil Tours – www.moviltours.com.pe
Cruz del Sur – www.cruzdelsur.com.pe
Oltursa – www.oltursa.pe
AIRLINES:
LC Peru – www.lcperu.pe
FOR PRIVATE TRANSFERS BETWEEN LIMA & HUARAZ, COORDINATE DIRECTLY WITH US
HOW TO GET TO THE RACE START, HOW TO GET BACK FROM THE RACE FINISH:
It’s not complicated to get to the race start or back to Huaraz from the race finish. Huaraz has a plethora of turistic transport services. Any tour agency in the city will be able to organize you a vehicle, most hotels as well will have their connections with cars and vans. Most vehicles will not have bike racks so you should either bring your own or plan to fit your bikes inside (calculate passenger numbers based upon how many bikes will fit). The station wagon taxis will fit 2-3 bikes inside and if you share a van you can ask that the back seats be taken out in order to fit more bikes.
The race start at Llanganuco is 2-2.5 hours from Huaraz, all drivers will know where it is. Tell them you are going to the parking area by the first lake (where all the bus tours go). You should be to Llanganuco by 7:30am, the race starts punctually at 8:30am. The event finish is in the city of Carhuaz, approximately 45 minutes from Huaraz. There are innumerable taxi options that you can grab right off the street or you can arrange for the same vehicle that dropped you off to pick you up again. The prize ceremony finishes around 4:30pm that afternoon.
BIKE SHOPS AND TOURIST SERVICES:
Huaraz does not have a large supply of bike parts, although there are few shops with basic components and good mechanics. We recommend you have your bike in good condition before you travel, don’t plan on doing any big maintenance jobs once here. Bring any spare parts or supplies with you from home that you think you may need or want. You can send them in your luggage to the camp if you don’t want to carry them during the race.
Montañas Mágica Bike Center – Parque Ginebra – www.facebook.com/montmagicasbikecenter
Chakinani Peru – Jr Lucar y Torre 530, 2do piso – www.chakinaniperu.com
Skyline Adventures – www.skyline-adventures.com
