In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Peru
Caraz
Caraz is a 1–2 night stop for the Santa Cruz trek and Laguna Paron, not a base: day-hike or trek-prep, then move on.
Caraz is a small, earthquake-preserved colonial town at 2,270 m, the gateway to the Cordillera Blanca's Santa Cruz trek and Laguna Paron. Most travellers use it for one night before or after a multi-day trek, or as a day-trip from Huaraz (1 h by colectivo). The town itself has a pleasant Plaza de Armas, a few cafés and hostels, but the real draw is the national park.
- Country
- Peru
- Best months
- May–September (dry season)
- Avoid
- December–March (rainy season; trails may be closed)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PEN
- Money
- Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/). Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants in Lima and Cusco; markets, small towns, taxis and entrance fees in villages need cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget S/ 40–70 excl. bed · Mid S/ 70–120 excl. bed · High S/ 120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel sell prepaid SIMs; register with your passport at official shops.
- Emergency
- Police 105 · Fire and ambulance 116 · Tourist Police (Huaraz) +51 43 421 341
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US devices need to be dual-voltage (most chargers are).
- Tipping
- Restaurants: About 10% if service is not included.; Inca Trail porters and cooks: Per the operator's guidance; pooled at the end.; Guides: S/ 20–50 per person for a day tour.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Paper in the bin; carry tissue and coins for public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Menu del día (lunch set) | S/ 10–15 |
| Coffee in a café | S/ 5–8 |
| Beer (bottle) | S/ 5–7 |
| Colectivo Huaraz – Caraz | S/ 8 |
| Mototaxi ride within town | S/ 3–5 |
| Laguna Paron entry (Huascarán National Park) | S/ 30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HUU · Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani (Huaraz)
- About 1 h by car; flights from Lima are infrequent — check.
Typical fares
- Colectivo Huaraz → Caraz
- about S/ 8, about 1 h (check)
- Colectivo Caraz → Laguna Paron
- about S/ 15, about 1 h (check)
- Mototaxi across town
- S/ 3–5
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Caraz is walkable. Taxis and mototaxis cover the town for S/ 3–5. For Laguna Paron or trailheads, hire a colectivo or taxi from the plaza.
See and do
Known for
- Santa Cruz Trek
- Laguna Paron
- Colonial Plaza de Armas
- Gateway to Huascarán National Park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Laguna Paron | Colectivo from Caraz plaza, about 1 h, then 30 min walk to the lake | About 2 h |
| Huaraz | Colectivo from Caraz, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Cañon del Pato | Colectivo from Caraz, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (Plaza de Armas)
- Walk to everything; most hostels and guesthouses are here.
- Carretera Central (main road)
- Cheaper options, but a 10–15 min walk to the plaza.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hola |
| Thank you | Gracias |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto? |
| Where is the bus stop? | ¿Dónde está el paradero? |
| I would like to go to... | Quiero ir a... |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; one cheek kiss among acquaintances; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Food pride: Ask about local dishes; avoid: Comparing pisco or ceviche unfavourably with Chile's
- Photos: Ask and pay if asked; avoid: Photographing people without asking
- Politics: Listen; avoid: Taking sides in protests
Scams and watch-outs
- Altitude: 2,270 m is moderate, but the Santa Cruz trek goes above 4,700 m — acclimatise in Huaraz first.
- Rainy season (Dec–Mar) can close trails; check the park office.
- ATMs are limited; bring enough soles from Huaraz or Lima.
- Mototaxis are cheap but not metered; agree the fare before you ride.
Caraz is safe for tourists; petty theft is rare. The main risks are altitude sickness on treks and slippery trails in the rainy season. Keep valuables in your hostel safe.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Caraz yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Santa Cruz Trek
- Laguna Paron
- Colonial Plaza de Armas
- Gateway to Huascarán National Park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Huascarán National Park official site: www.sernanp.gob.pe/huascaran
- Wikivoyage: Caraz, revision 5096682 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5096682
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Caraz
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police105
- Fire and ambulance116
- Tourist Police (Huaraz)+51 43 421 341
Most embassies are in Lima; the US has a consular agency in Huaraz (check the address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/caraz). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.